HomeMy WebLinkAbout16 - CC-12 - Streetscape and Median Development Stan. - 1/7/2014CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: JANUARY 7, 2014
SUBJECT: STREETSCAPE AND MEDIAN DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
ITEM NUMBER:
DATE: DECEMBER 17, 2013
FROM: PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MAINTENANCE SERVICES DIVISION
PRESENTATION BY: ERNESTO MUNOZ, PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BRUCE A. HARTLEY, (714) 754-5123
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize staff to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to secure consultant services to assist in
revising the Streetscape and Median Development Standards.
BACKGROUND
At the regular Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) meeting of October 24, 2013,
the Commission directed staff to forward to the City Council a request for authorization to
initiate an RFP process to retain a consultant to assist City staff and the Commission in
developing a more contemporary Streetscape and Median Development Standards
document.
The Streetscape and Median Development Standards (Standards) were adopted by City Council
on September 7, 1999, and were last amended on April 15, 2008. The Standards represent the
adopted "Vision" for the future of the City of Costa Mesa streetscapes. The intent of the
document was to adopt an urban design emphasizing an extensive tree and landscaping
program within the public rights-of-way and on street setback landscaped areas for private,
industrial, commercial and multi -family properties, with the goal of enhancing the visual
quality of the City's public spaces.
The Standards were created to meet the goal of providing a unique urban design for the City, to
enhance recreational opportunities, and to improve and protect the future visual quality of Costa
Mesa. The City of Costa Mesa has met the requirements for and has the privilege of being
designated a "Tree City USA." Consequently, the Standards focus particularly on increasing and
improving the inventory of trees in the community. Consideration and attention was given to the
preservation and protection of existing healthy trees, especially in the residential parkways. The
Standards also encourage the use of appropriate species of canopy trees along the parkways, in
the street medians, and in the street setback landscaped areas. Consistent, yet distinct
streetscape corridors were intended to be created through the use of cohesive median and
parkway development along with city-wide standardized street furniture: entry signs, bus
benches, street -side rest benches, trash receptacles, and specialized furniture.
ANALYSIS
Over the past fourteen years the Standards have been amended twelve times. The
amendments dealt primarily with modifying planting palettes on arterial streets or in addressing
arterial block wall issues. However, an amendment was also approved at the direction of the
City Council to designate the Parks and Recreation Commission to be the final authority on tree
removal issues and to make modifications to the Standards without City Council action, thus
empowering the Commission with greater decision making authority and reducing the number of
appeals necessitating Council action.
Over the past few years, as the Commission addressed unique issues relating to the urban
forest and the public rights-of-way, it became apparent that there may be issues that are not
adequately or appropriately addressed by the Standards in their current form. Updating and
revising the Standards will provide an opportunity for the Parks and Recreation Commission, the
public, City staff and the City Council to identify and resolve the issues determined to be most
relevant to present day challenges.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Council could deny the request.
FISCAL REVIEW
Staff estimates the contract cost for a consultant to be $25,000. Funding for the consultant
services will be requested by staff for allocation through the FY 2014-2015 Budget process.
LEGAL REVIEW
No legal review is required for this item.
CONCLUSION
The Streetscape and Median Development Standards were adopted by City Council fourteen
years ago. Since that time they have been amended twelve times; confirming the dynamic
nature of the document. The Parks and Recreation Commission and City staff rely upon this
document as a guiding policy in regards to many issues affecting the City's urban forest and
certain aspects of the public right-of-way. Updating this document is one of the Parks and
Recreation Commission's goals (Goal #4). Therefore it is appropriate that the Commission
request approval from the City Council for staff resources to accomplish this important goal.
BRUCE A. HARTLEY
Maintenance Services Manager
C: Parks and Recreation Commission
ERNESTO MUNOZ
Public Services Director
KA