02-04-1997 - Approval of the Master Landscaping Plans for Azusa Avenue Median from Amar Road to Badillo Street0
City of West Covina
Memorandum
TO: City
and City Council
AGENDA
ITEM No. D-2
DATE February 1 1997
FROM: Patrick J. Glover
City Engineer/Public Works Director
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE MASTER LANDSCAPING PLANS
FOR AZUSA AVENUE MEDIAN FROM
AMAR ROAD TO BADILLO STREET
SUMMARY: On November 19, 1996, the City Council authorized the City Engineer to
retain the services of, a Landscape Architect to develop a master
landscaping plan for the Azusa Avenue median. Steven A Ormenyi and
Associates was retained to develop the master plan for the Azusa Avenue
BACKGROUND
Azusa Avenue through West Covina is one of the busiest north/south traffic corridors in
the San Gabriel Valley. With average daily traffic counts ranging from 39,000 to
57,000, it has long been recognized as a critical transportation link used by residents
and commuters between work, home and. shopping destinations. While its length in
West Covina is only a little over four miles, it covers more than half the distance
between the Pomona and San Bernardino freeways. Because of its high usage and
wide right-of-way, Azusa Avenue is important to the City's appearance and image.
Of the four -and -one -quarter miles of Azusa Avenue located in West Covina
approximately two nj iles have center medians that contain landscaping and irrigation.
Last year, approximately one mile of the landscaped median was wired for the lighting
of trees for the holiday season.
Over the past few years, the lack of landscaping on the remainder of Azusa Avenue
has come into focus for a variety of reasons ranging from -the BKK closure to the fact
that the City of Industry has improved their center median landscaping. In addition, it is
evident as one drives from the City of Industry to the base of the San Gabriel Mountains
in Azusa that.most of the center medians have been landscaped.
The City Council at their November 19, 1996 meeting recognized the need to develop a
master landscape plan and authorized the City Engineer to retain the services of a
Landscape Architect. Steven A. Ormenyi and Associates was retained to provide this
service. Staff and Mr. Ormenyi meet on several occasions to develop and review
alternatives. During these meetings, a number of issues were discussed that would
determine the selection of the appropriate specie, size and form of the trees. These
issues include the relationship to the existing median planting north and south section
of the roadway, the relationship of the medians with the surrounding improvements, and
Caltrans landscaping guidelines. Also, in order to look at the project systematically, it
was decide to segregate the project into five (5) distinct sections: 1) Badillo Street to
Garvey Avenue North, 2) Amar Road to Aroma Drive, 3) Garvey Avenue North to
Garvey Avenue South, 4) Garvey Avenue South to Francisquito Avenue, and 5)
Francisquito Avenue to Aroma Drive.
1. Garvey Avenue North to Badillo Street
The one mile portion of Azusa Avenue between Garvey Avenue North and
Badillo Street is part of the State Highway system and is, therefore, under the
jurisdiction of Caltrans. With inadequate maintenance of the median and
roadway, this section of Azusa Avenue is in poor repair. This fact along with the
lack of landscaping. on both sides of the .street makes this portion of roadway
particularly noticeable for the wrong reasons. If the City wants to install
landscaping in the median, a plan of the proposed modifications would need to
be submitted to Caltrans for review and approval. In preliminary discussions with
Caltrans, they have indicated that!if the City installs, maintains and pays for the
landscaping and utilities it should' not be a problem. The City of Covina has
done this type of improvement with Caltrans permission. However, Caltrans has
advised staff:that any trees used in the median would need to be small enough
so that the motoring public would not be subject to the increased injury potential
of hitting substantial trees.
A portion of the median between Badillo Street and Puente Avenue is in the City
of Covina and would require their approval. Preliminary discussions with Covina
have been good and to date they have indicated a willingness to participate in
funding construction and maintenance costs associated with landscaping
pending a design review which they could then take to the Covina City Council.
The total length of median from North Garvey Avenue to Badillo Street is 4,102
feet. The median width varies between 14.5 feet at the mid -sections and 3.5 feet
at the turn pockets. Approximately 600 feet of the median between Puente
Avenue and Badillo Street is in the City of Covina.
The proposed landscapings consist of a main median tree, the Fern Pine
(Podocarpus gacilior) and an accent tree, the Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana
`Bradford Chanticleer). The Fern Pine is one the approved Caltrans median tree
that will provide a tall vertical canopy necessary for this wide street section. The
Flowering Pear is a narrow columnar tree featuring white spring flowers and
reddish fall colors which will be planted near the median noses. The proposed
groundcover is predominantly turf except for the areas under the Flowering Pear.
This area will be planted with Agapanthus, the official flower of West Covina.
The turf areas will be graded to create slight mounding. - The hardscape will
consist of cemented granite cobbles in the median noses and a 12-inch
concrete border adjacent to the existing median curb to minimize the irrigation
water from flow on to the street surface. Also, a small section of existing median
hardscape (cemented Mexican Pebbles) between North Garvey Avenue and
Workman Avenue requires minor repair, estimated to cost $500.
The estimated cost to install landscaping, irrigation and holiday, lighting is
$286,000 with annual utility and maintenance costs of $10,524. The following is
a cost breakdown for the section from Workman Avenue to Badillo Street, which
includes the cost for the minor repairs to the median hardscape between North
Garvey Avenue and Workman Avenue. .
• Construction. Costs
a) Landscaping and Irrigation = $204,340
b) Holiday Lighting = $ 45,200
c) Design = $ 6,000
d) Inspection and Material Testing = $ 6,000
e) Contingencies @ 10% _ $ 24.460
f) TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS = $286,000
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2.
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• Annual Maintenance Costs i
Landscaped areas - 17,935 S.F. @ $0.02/S.F. per month
$358.70/month @ 12 months = $ 4,304
Tree maintenance - 28 trees @ $40.00 = $ 1,120
TOTAL ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS = $ 5,424
• Annual Utility Costs
Water and Power $425 erlmonth 12 months =
@ P � @ $ 5,100
Amar Road to Aroma Drive
This section is located completely within the City of West Covina and is 6,515
feet in length with medians that range from 14 feet to 3.5 feet in width. The
majority of this section (4,1.00 feet) is located in front of the BKK landfill site. As
part of the 19196-97 Capital Improvement Program, the City Council approved the
use of 130,000 from the BKK extended payments for landscaping on Azusa
Avenue.
The preliminary design proposed starting at Aroma Drive and moved south as far
as the funding of $130,OOO would go. It is estimated that the funding would allow
landscaping to progress south from Aroma Drive to about Autumn Drive.
The proposed landscaping for this section is made of two main median trees; the
Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica) and the Canary Island Pine (Pious canariensis).
The Atlas Cedar will be planted at 150 feet on center and will be illuminated for
the holiday season. The Canary Island Pine is darker green tree and will be
planted between the Atlas Cedar. The Chinese Fringe (Chionanthus retusus), a
small white flowering tree, is the accent tree , which will be planted near the
median noses. Potah Creek will be the predominate groundcover, planted
mostly under the pines and cedars. This groundcover is a low growing
evergreen plant that requires far less water and maintenance than turf. The
areas under the Chinese Fringe will be planted with Agapanthus. The proposed
hardscape will consist of cemented granite cobbles in the median noses and a
12 inch wide concrete border adjacent to the existing median curb.
The estimated cost to install landscaping, irrigation and holiday lighting is
$603,900 for the full 6,515 feet with annual utility and maintenance costs of
$21,248. The following is a cost breakdown for the section from Amar Road to
Aroma Drive.
• Construction Cost
a) Landscape and Irrigation --
b) Holiday Lighting
c)
d) Inspection and Material Testing
e) Contingencies @ 10%
f) TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST
_ $388,400
_ $ 142,500
_ $ 7,500
_ $ 12,500
53,000
_ $603,900
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• Annual Maintenance Costs
Landscape area - 55,690 S.F. @ $0.02/S.F per month
$1,114/month @ 12 months = $ 13,368
Tree maintenance - 77 trees @ $40 = $ 3,080
TOTAL ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS = $ 16,448
• Annual Utilitv Costs
Water and Power @ $400 per month @ 12 months = $ 4,800
3. Garvey Avenue North to Garvey Avenue South
This section of the Azusa Avenue median is adjacent to the San Bernardino
freeway and is approximately 900 feet in length and is under the jurisdiction of
Caltrans. An y work to be done within this section would require approval from
Caltrans. The existing landscaping of consists of Oleanders, ground cover, and
meandering strip of stamped concrete that was built as a CIP project in 1985.
There are two alternatives for the rehabilitation of this section of Azusa Avenue
median. The first calls for the removal of the Oleanders and groundcover and
maintaining the existing meandering strip of stamped concrete. Agapanthus will
then be planted. The other alternative is to remove all existing plant material and
stamped concrete from the median, construct a 12-inch wide border adjacent to
the existing curb and plant a lower growing specie of Indian Hawthorn
(Raphiolepis) and Agapanthus.
The estimated cost to rehabilitate the existing landscaping, and irrigation per the
first alternative is $20,100 with annual utility and maintenance costs of $1,356.
The estimated cost for the second alternative is $37,180. The following is a cost
breakdown of the first alternative for the section from North Garvey Avenue to
South Garvev Avenue:
• Cons
a) Land;
b) Desig
c) Inspei
d) Contir
e) TOTA
• Annual
Land
• Annual
Water
Cost
pe and Irrigation --
n and Material Testing
encies @ 10%
CONSTRUCTION COST
Costs
area - 1,900 S.F. @ $0.02/S.F per month
$ 38/month @ 12 months
Costs
Power @ $75 per month @ 12 months
_ $.15,510
_ $ 1,500
_ $ 1,500
1,590
_ $ 20,100
_ $ 456
_ $ 900
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4.
Garvey Avenue South to Francisquito Avenue
This section is located completely within the City of West Covina and is 7,340
feet length with medians that range from 16 feet to 4 feet in width. The entire
length of the median is irrigated and landscape. The existing landscaping
consists of turf and trees, with the Olive tree being the most prominent.
The proposed landscaping for this section call for the existing Olive trees (Olea
europaes) to remain as the dominate median tree and maintain as much existing
turf as possible. The four existing Olive trees that are too close to the median
nose will be transplanted to other medians within this section, at approximately
150 feet on center. To maintain the consistency of 150 feet on center, two new
Olive trees will be planted. The accent tree to be planted near the median noses
is the White; Flowering Crape Myrtle (Langerstoemia indica). The existing
mounds under the Olive trees will be extended and lengthen for a more smooth
transition. This extended mounding will be covered with jute netting for protection
from erosion and planted with Purple Trailing Lantana (Lantana montevidensis).
The areas beneath the White Flowering Crape Myrtle will be planted with
Variegated Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea `Variegata'). The existing
irrigation and holiday lighting will be modified and updated to accommodate the
added landscaping features. The proposed hardscape will consist of cemented
granite cobbles in the median noses and a 12 inch wide_ concrete border
adjacent to the existing median curb.
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The estimated cost to rehabilitate the existing landscaping, irrigation and minor
revision to the existing holiday lighting is $299,000 with annual utility and
maintenance !costs of $21,140. The following is a cost breakdown for the section
from Garvey Avenue South to Francisquito Avenue:
• Construction Cost
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a) Landscape and Irrigation -- _ $247,246
b) Holiday Lighting = $ 15,000
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c) Design = $ 4,500
d) Inspection and Material Testing = $ 5,500
e) Contingencies @ 10% = 26,754
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f) TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST = $299,000
• Annual Maintenance Costs
Landscape area - 60,500 S.F. @ $0.02/S.F per month
$1,210/month @ 12 months = $ 14,520
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Tree maintenance - 38 tree @ $40 = $ 1,520
TOTAL ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS = $ 16,040
• Annual Utility Costs
Water and Power @ $425 per month @ 12 months -$ 5,100
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5. Francisquito Avenue to Aroma Drive
In this section of the median, the entire length .of 870 feet is landscaped. The
existing landscaping consists of numerous trees of various types, stamped
concrete and, some ground cover that was built in conjunction with the La Solana
condominium in 1984.
The proposed landscaping consist of removing the existing trees, groundcover,
and stamped concrete in the middle of the medians. The existing cemented
granite cobbles and stamped concrete within the median noses will remain. The
proposed median tree is the Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atantica) and the accent tree is
the White Flowering Crape Myrtle (Lagerstoemia indica). The Atlas Cedar
provides for a transition to the southern section of Azusa Avenue. The areas
beneath the White Flowering Crape Myrtle will be planted with Variegated
Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea `Variegata) and the remaining area will be
turf.
The estimated cost to install new landscaping, and holiday lighting and modify
the existing irrigation is $42,000 with annual utility and maintenance costs of
$2,402. The following is a cost breakdown for the section from Francisquito
Avenue to Aroma Drive:
• toonsrru
a) Land:
b) Holid,
c) Desig
d) Inspei
e) Contir
f) TOTA
• Annual A
Landscap
Tree mair
TOTAL Al
• Annual U
Water anc
ANALYSIS
ion Cost
ape and Irrigation
Lighting
on and Material Testing
encies @ 10%
CONSTRUCTION COST
intenance Costs
area - 3,840 S.F. @ $0.02/S.F per month
$76.80 month @ 12 months
ance - 7 trees @ $40
NUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS
Costs
Power @ $100 per month @ 12 months
_ $ 26,197
_ $ 7,000
_ $ 3,500
_ $ 2,000
3,303
_ $ 42,000
_ $ 922
_ $ 280
_ $ 1,202
_ $ 1,200
Providing landscaping, irrigation and electricity for holiday lighting for the entire stretch
of Azusa Avenue is a large and complex project with two outside agencies involved:
Caltrans and the City of Covina. The project must be reviewed and approved by each
in order for the City to start construction if the entire project is to be constructed at one
time. Of course any section or even part of a section could be constructed with a
corresponding reduction in cost.
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Because the Azusa Avenue corridor is such an important component of the City's visual
image, staff began to look at Azusa Avenue from the City of Industry to the City of
Azusa. The landscape palette used by Azusa, Glendora, Covina and the City of
Industry were compared to the landscaped sections within the City of West Covina.
Because there is no consistent design parameter or similar palette, the landscaping has
taken on patch work look as Azusa Avenue runs between cities. With the center
section of Azusa Avenue landscaped within West Covina, the north section between
Badillo Street and Workman Avenue and the south section between Aroma Drive and
Temple Street become important transitions.
In order to design a median which transitions between Covina to the north and the City
of Industry to the south, City Council authorized staff to retain the services of a
landscape architect,) Steven A. Ormenyi and Associates, to provide a landscaping
master plan design at a cost to exceed $7,500. Several issues were considered in -
developing the plan. First, to select a tree palette that is compatible with the existing
Azusa Avenue medians, both within and. outside the City of West Covina. Second,
taking into consideration the surrounding improvements, such as the street width,
height of buildings, and existing landscaping adjacent to the street. Third, the Caltrans
established guidelines relative to the appropriate tree species and size, planting and
maintenance in order to minimize hazards to motorist and impact on the street
improvements. Lastly, the cost of installing the proposed landscape and the future
maintenance and utility costs.
Staff requested the Steven A. Ormenyi and Associates provide the City with a proposal
to prepare the formal plans and specification, including a work schedule for each
section. The following is the cost and completion time for the preparation of the plans
and specifications:
1)
Garvey Avenue North
to Badillo St.
$6,000
15 working days
2)
Aroma Drive, to Amar Road
$7,500
20 working days
3) Garvey Avenue North to South Garvey, Avenue $1,500
4) Garvey Avenue South to Francisquito Avenue $4,500
5) Francisquito A
6) Additional in
The estimated total
$28,300.
ue to Aroma Drive $3,500
cost $5,300
15 working days
15 working days
15 working days
of engineering for the preparation of plans and specifications is
In addition, if all the sections are prepared as one project, the time needed to prepare
the plans and specifications would be 30 working days (6 weeks).
The estimate project cost to install the landscaping and holiday lighting for the entire
length of the Azusa Avenue median is $1,251,000. The estimate maintenance and
utility cost is $56,676 for one year.
FISCAL IMPACT
With a total project cost of approximately $1.25 million dollars, the possible funding
sources become a critical project component. If a portion of the project was to be
constructed, the funding necessary will be proportionate to the amount of work desired.
Some possible funding sources are listed below.
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• Review the approved Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for projects that have
been funded but may not be as high a priority. An example would be the Aroma
ballfield park which was funded with $200,000 from the BKK Business License Tax
settlement agreement. This site could still be developed with some form of park as
a component of a possible housing development.
• Commit future use of the $330,000 annual extended payments to be received from
BKK as part of the Business License Settlement Agreement.
• Use part of the BKK Augmentation Fund.
• Use the BKK Augmentation Fund for the portion of Azusa Avenue, in front of the
BKK site, and have BKK Corporation reimburse the cost as development along
Azusa Avenue occurs in the future. The estimated cost to fund the portion of the
project in front of BKK is approximately $380,000. Using the BKK Augmentation
Funds and waiting for development to occur will result in an annual interest loss of
about $23,000.
• Sell Proposition "A" funds at an approximately exchange rate of .6 (i.e., the City
receives 60 cents for each dollar sold).
• Use Citywide Maintenance District reserves; currently approximately $1.2 million
which are held to fund cash flow and emergency repairs. There are no provisions of
Proposition 218 that address District Reserves.
• Use Gas Tax Fund which has been earmarked for road resurfacing but can be used
for basic median landscaping.
• Use RDA reserves. The City of Covina used Redevelopment Agency to fund the
Azusa Avenue landscaping in Covina.
In addition to the $
approximately $57,
added to the Citywii
the Citywide budge
approval of Propos
District are uncertai.
Proposition 218 wa
ensure that all tax
approval. It establi,
assessments and r
assessments. In tl
created under the 1
election. The resul
each ballot is weigl-
the extent of eligible
$3.3 million in asse
landscaping mainte
are found to be eli,
majority of negative
.25 million dollar construction cost, the landscaping would require
100 annually to fund maintenance and utilities. If this cost were
e Maintenance District, the increase would represent a 1.8% rise in
and may necessitate an increase in the Citywide rates. With the
:ion 218, the revenues of the Citywide Lighting and Maintenance
s approved in the last November 1996 election and is intended to
es and most charges on property owners are subject to voter
hed a system of voting requirements for certain existing taxes and
Ilandates extensive balloting requirements for new and increased
Pe case of the Citywide Lighting and Maintenance District, which
a72 Lighting and Landscaping Act, it requires a mailed ballot protest
:s of this election are based on the number of ballots receive and
ted according to the assessment. The most important question is
service to be funded by the District. Currently, the District collects
ssments to fund Street lighting, traffic signal maintenance, street
lance, and park maintenance. Even If all maintenance activities
3ible, the annual mail in ballot election process could result in a
ballots and thus the entire District would be dissolved.
Et
ALTERNATIVES
f.
The City Council may consider the following alternatives:
• Reject the entire proposed plan.
• Request certain modifications to proposed plan.
• Direct Staff to prepare formal plans and specifications and direct the City Engineer
to call for bids.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the conceptual master landscaping
plan for Azusa Avenue median and reconsider the construction of part or all of the plan
during the 1997-981 Capital Improvement Program at which time the full financial
impacts of Proposition 218 will be known.
Patrick J. Glover
City Engineer/Public Works Director
PJG:MH:gc
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