June 21, 2005
SUBJECT: Authorization for City Manager to Execute Grant Funding Agreement for the Murphy Avenue Streetscape Project and Award of Contract for Project Design
REPORT IN BRIEF
The City of Sunnyvale has been awarded grant funding for the Murphy Avenue Streetscape project from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) Planning Grant program. This project would produce a Murphy Avenue Streetscape Plan to revitalize the streetscape of the existing Murphy Station Landmark District. The goal is to integrate this vestige of the historic downtown with the new Sunnyvale Multimodal Station and the redeveloped former Town Center Mall site, and create a showcase environment for the rest of the downtown.
The total project cost is $90,000. The City has been awarded $75,000 in funding from the MTC TLC Planning Grant program. The City is required under the MTC TLC Grant to provide a total of $15,000 in matching funds. The matching funds will be used to partially cover staff’s time for completion of this project. The grant and matching funds are budgeted in the FY 2005/06 budget in the Murphy Avenue Enhancements Phase 1 project (825770). This report recommends Council authorize the City Manager to execute the funding agreement.
If Council authorizes the City Manager to execute the Grant Funding Agreement, approval is also requested for the award of a contract to Royston, Hanamoto, Alley & Abey of San Francisco for planning, design, and public outreach services for the Murphy Avenue Streetscape project.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the MTC TLC Program is to support community-based transportation projects that bring new vibrancy to downtown areas, commercial cores, neighborhoods, and transit corridors, enhancing their amenities and ambiance and making them places where people want to live, work and visit. TLC provides funding for projects that are developed through an inclusive community planning effort, provide for a range of transportation choices, and support connectivity between transportation investments and land uses.
This year, $18 million was available region wide for Capital grants, and another $500,000 was available for Planning projects. These funds were allocated on a competitive basis through a rigorous written application. MTC approved the projects with instruction to secure Federal expenditure obligation by June, 2006, and implement the projects within three years of the funding year. The City will implement the approved projects and then submit paperwork to Caltrans District 4 for reimbursement of the money expended.
On August 10, 2004, Council authorized staff to file grant proposals for various downtown transportation and land use enhancement projects (RTC 04-279).
On March 16, 2005, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued, seeking proposals from qualified engineering, architecture, and landscape architecture firms to assist with the preparation of a streetscape revitalization plan for Murphy Avenue. More than thirty RFQs were distributed, and responses were received from the following four firms:
- Sugimura and Associates of Campbell
- Ralph J. Alexander & Associates of Novato
- Robert Bruce Anderson of San Francisco
- Royston, Hanamoto, Alley & Abey of San Francisco
An evaluation team, consisting of City staff, reviewed and evaluated the qualifications of each responder; and three firms were invited for oral interviews. The evaluation team determined that the firm of Royston, Hanamoto, Alley & Abey was the most qualified to perform the required services, based upon its experience and expertise and its demonstrated understanding of the project.
EXISTING POLICY
The following documents contain policy direction on this issue:
Land Use and Transportation Element R1.3: Promote integrated and coordinated local land use and transportation planning.
Fiscal Sub-Element 7.1B.4d: Pursue and use intergovernmental assistance for projects in the Ten-Year Capital Improvement Plan.
DISCUSSION
The purpose of this project is to create a plan and stand-alone project(s) to revitalize the streetscape of the existing Murphy Station Landmark District, the City of Sunnyvale’s downtown commercial/entertainment district. The goal is to integrate this vestige of the historic downtown with the new Sunnyvale Multimodal Station and the redeveloped former Town Center Mall site and create a showcase environment for the rest of the downtown.
Historic Murphy Avenue has undergone one chapter of revitalization, from a rundown token remnant of a historic downtown to a vital commercial area. However, the current renovations began in the late 1980s and peaked in the mid-1990s. Since that time, planning for the re-birth of the rest of the downtown has taken precedence. At this time, with many pieces of the livable community envisioned by Sunnyvale’s Downtown Specific Plan identified or in place, a streetscape and façade plan for the Murphy Station Landmark District is needed to make it the cornerstone of the downtown core.
The City of Sunnyvale currently uses the Murphy Avenue Design Guidelines to regulate any proposed changes in the historic Downtown area. These guidelines were first adopted in 1980 and last updated in 1994. This study would complement the existing Murphy Avenue Design Guidelines but would focus primarily on the view of the street (primarily the sidewalk area) between the building faces on opposite sides of the street and would create updated policies and guidelines. The streetscape revitalization plan would not review or regulate architecture on Murphy Avenue.
The primary goal of the project is to create a collaborative and inclusive planning process among residents, businesses, property owners, and users. A focus group of business owners, property owners, Sunnyvale’s Heritage Preservation Commission, and downtown residents will be augmented by a professional design consultant and City staff.
If Council chooses not to accept the grant award from the TLC Planning Grant program, the Murphy Avenue Streetscape Project would not be completed at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated project cost is $90,000. The City has been awarded $75,000 in funding from the MTC TLC Planning Grant program and a $15,000 local match is required under the MTC TLC Grant. The matching funds will be used to partially cover staff’s time for completion of this project. The grant and matching funds are budgeted in the FY 2005/2006 budget (Murphy Avenue Enhancements Phase 1 project 825770). Funds for future construction of projects identified in this plan ($260,000) are budgeted for FY 2006/07. City funds for this project are from the Downtown Public Improvements fund.
Conclusion
The City has been awarded $75,000 in funding from the MTC TLC Planning Grant program for the Murphy Avenue Streetscape Project. This project would produce a Murphy Avenue Streetscape Plan to revitalize the streetscape of the existing Murphy Station Landmark District. The total project cost is $90,000. City matching funds of $15,000 are required. In order to accept the grant award, City Council must authorize the City Manager to execute the funding agreement.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City's official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City's web page, and the availability of the report in the Library and the City Clerk's Office.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute the grant agreement for the MTC TLC Planning Grant Program.
2. Award a contract to Royston, Hanamoto, Alley & Abey, in substantially the same form as the attached draft and in an amount not to exceed $75,000 for planning, design, and public outreach services for the Murphy Avenue Streetscape project.
3. Do not accept the MTC TLC Grant award.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends Alternative 1 and 2: Authorize the City Manager to execute the grant agreement for the MTC TLC Planning Grant Program, and award contract to Royston, Hanamoto, Alley & Abey, in substantially the same form as the attached draft and in an amount not to exceed $75,000, for planning, design, and public outreach services for the Murphy Avenue Streetscape project.
Reviewed by:
Robert Paternoster, Director, Community Development
Reviewed by:
Marvin Rose, Director, Public Works
Prepared by: Steve Lynch, Associate Planner; and Dieckmann Cogill, Transportation Planner
Reviewed by:
Mary J. Bradley, Director, Finance
Approved by:
Amy Chan
City Manager
Attachments
A. Draft Contract