COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS

 

DATE:

May 7, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 19, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks

SUBJECT:

Request to Waive Request for Proposal Process and Authorize Agreement with Chiodo Art Development for an Artistic Educational Outdoor Exhibit at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

A)

Waiving the Request for Proposal process;

B)

Authorizing the execution of an Agreement with Chiodo Art Development to fabricate, deliver, and install an artistic educational outdoor exhibit at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve for the term of May 19, 2009 through May 30, 2010 in the amount of $429,314.00, and no Net County Cost; and

C)

Authorizing the Director of Parks, or the Director’s designee, to execute contract amendments which modify the county’s maximum fiscal obligation by no more than $25,000 (in aggregate), and/or modify the contract term and/or services so long as the modified term or services is/are within the current or revised fiscal provisions.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

Goals 14 and 15: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship. Residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities.

 

This Agreement contributes to these goals by supporting education and stewardship of the unique ecological resources at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (Reserve). This both facilitates residents’ use and enjoyment of the Reserve and provides information related to protecting our environmental resources.

 

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2009-10 Actual

FY 2009-10 Target

Enhance Environmental Education

1)

Design and Fabricate

Installation of Artistic Educational Sculpture Exhibit and Fabrication of Signage

2)

Installation

3)

Publicity and Outreach

 

BACKGROUND:

The Reserve is designated as a “State Marine Park” and an “Area of Special Biological Significance” (ASBS) by the State of California to protect the over 439 unique marine plant and animal species found there. Annually, more than 23,000 students from Grade 3 through college, as well as over 110,000 others visit the Reserve. High visitation creates a critical need for the County to offer marine education programs and facilities.

 

The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Master Plan (Brady/LSA, 2002), the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Resource Assessment Plan (Tenera Environmental, 2004), and the Conceptual Plan for Interpretation at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (Acorn Group, 2004), have identified the need for an educational outdoor exhibit (sculpture) and information signage to educate visitors about the Reserve’s significant natural resources.

 

Toward that goal, the County received a $424,080 federal earmark from the Department of Commerce for a “Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Exhibit to enhance the public awareness of the Sanctuary and human dependence upon a healthy ocean ecosystem, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, San Mateo County, CA.” These funds were approved by this Board for acceptance at the April 22, 2008 meeting. A Request for Proposal was distributed for the development of a model for an educational exhibit at the Reserve with the intent that the actual outdoor artistic educational exhibit would be fabricated and installed through a subsequent contract.

 

DISCUSSION:

Chiodo Art Development, a professional art studio devoted to custom public sculptural projects, was selected to design a model and prepare conceptual plans for an outdoor educational exhibit to show low, medium and high tide zones of the Moss Beach reef with authentically sized, colored and located plan and animal species. The exhibit itself would measure about 47-feet in length, 4-to-6-feet high, fabricated in concrete and surrounded by a rubberized surface creating an accessible climbable structure. Interpretive signage located independently from the exhibit would identify the species and describe the tidal zones.

 

The model was displayed in the lobby of 455 County Center for public comment from October 28 to November 12, 2008 and forms were provided for public comment. Web viewers were also able to view the proposed model at the County Parks website and comment until November 19, 2008. A public meeting was held at the Harbor House in Princeton on November 12, 2008. At the December 4, 2008 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, the Commission approved the final plans and design.

 

At this time, staff is requesting a waiver of the request for proposal process so that Chiodo Art Development can fabricate, deliver and install the artistic Outdoor Educational Exhibit for which they have done the artistic design, model and conceptual plans that have been publicly reviewed. The firm of Chiodo Art Development is internationally recognized for its staff’s expertise in designing and creating artistic educational sculptures for public projects.

The County will bid a separate contract to construct the concrete and rubberized base to support the educational sculpture.

The term of the proposed agreement is May 19, 2009 to May 30, 2010. The agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel and Risk Management.

The contractor has assured compliance with the County’s Contractor Employee Jury Service Ordinance, as well as other contract provisions that are required by county ordinance and administrative memoranda, including but not limited to insurance, hold harmless, non-discrimination, equal benefits, and intellectual property.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

To fund the project and the base installation, the County will use the $424,080 in funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) grant and the balance from a $200,000 Area of Special Biological Significance grant. There is no net County cost.