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SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: May 19, 2010 AGENDA ITEM:
DEPARTMENT: Public Works CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson
PREPARED BY: John Cherbone DIRECTOR: John Cherbone
Public Works Director Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Historical Park Landscape Improvement Project – Budget Amendment
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Approve Budget Resolution.
REPORT SUMMARY:
Background
The City and the Historical Foundation have worked together over the last few years to develop
landscape improvement plans to renovate the landscaping at Historical Park. To help fund the landscape
improvements the City funded $37,200 through the Capital Improvement Plan and the Saratoga
Historical Foundation donated $26,000 towards the project. In addition, the City has allocated CDBG
funds to improve ADA access to the Park.
Discussion
In light of the tight funding for the project, staff determined that there would not be enough funding to
hire a general contractor to manage all the necessary contractor disciplines to complete the project so
City staff took on that role. The work to date including clearing and grubbing, irrigation improvements,
grading/retaining wall work, and ADA improvements were performed by separate contractors.
It was hoped that the donation received from the Saratoga Historical Foundation in the amount of
$26,000 would be enough funds to complete the landscape improvements for the entire park. After
receiving estimates for each portion of the work it was determined that the funding available would only
complete the landscape improvements around the Museum and McWilliams House leaving the landscape
improvements around the Book-Go-Around unfinished. Additionally, it was determined the internal
decomposed granite paths in the Park would need to be rebuilt due to their age and poor condition.
In light of the high use and visibility of Historical Park, staff recommends supplementing the project
budget in the amount of $25,000 in order complete the project. $14,000 will go towards finishing the
landscape improvements and $11,000 will go towards rebuilding the pathways.
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Staff has identified the source of the Historical Park Project funding request in the Capital Improvement
Project Budget. Over the past few months staff has been working on an alternative fix for replacing the
large culvert that runs underneath Sobey Road. By lining the bottom of the culvert it will be possible to
repair the damage without replacing it. By implementing this alternative fix the City can reduce the cost
of this project from $150,000 to $50,000, a savings of $100,000. In summary, $75,000 will be available
for future capital projects and $25,000 would augment the Historical Park Landscape Project.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
Funding in the amount $25,000 and $75,000 will be transferred to the Historical Park Landscape Project
and to the Unallocated Fund Balance, respectively.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The budget amendment would not be approved and the landscape improvements at Historical Park would
not be completed.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
None in addition to the above.
FOLLOW UP ACTION:
If the budget amendment is accepted the landscape work will be completed in July.
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
This item was posted as a City Council agenda item and was included in the packet made available on
the City’s web site in advance of the meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is also made available at the
Saratoga Branch Library each Monday in advance of the Council meeting and residents may subscribe to
the agenda on-line by opting in at www.saratoga.ca.us.
ATTACHMENTS:
Budget Resolution.