City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Request to Accelerate the Upgrade of the Athletic Facility at Armistead L. Boothe Park due to the Delay in the Completion of Outdoor Recreation Facilities on the Patrick Henry School and Recreation Center Site.
BODY
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ISSUE: Improvement of outdoor recreation facilities in the City’s West End.
RECCOMMENDATION: That City Council (1) approve the acceleration of the Armistead L. Boothe Park recreation improvements, and (2) acknowledge the plan to reschedule the Patrick Henry School and Recreation Center outdoor recreation improvements in the City’s Capital Improvement Program to FY 2023.
BACKGROUND: On April 4, 2019, the Alexandria City School Board approved school staff’s recommendation to delay completion of the new Patrick Henry K-8 School and Recreation Center Project and utilize the old Patrick Henry Elementary School building as a swing space during the modernization of Douglas MacArthur Elementary School. The decision to keep the old elementary school as swing space will delay the construction of a new synthetic turf rectangular field with softball overlay for a minimum of four years. Prior to the construction of the new facility, the school and recreation site had a dedicated natural turf rectangular field and a natural turf ballfield with an overlay natural turf rectangular field. After construction an artificial turf, rectangular field, and artificial turf ballfield were planned to be installed at Patrick Henry.
The upgrade of the athletic facility at Armistead L. Boothe Park would consist of the conversion from a natural grass diamond field with traditional dirt infield and natural grass overlay rectangular field, to a full synthetic turf diamond field with synthetic turf overlay rectangular field. In addition, upgrades to the field lighting, dugouts, bleachers, scoreboard, and press box would be included in the project. The existing restrooms could be upgraded to year-round use in coordination with this project if sufficient funding is available. Currently, the restrooms are only open during warm weather due to lack of heat and insulation.
The proposed project would be completed in two phases. Phase I would consist of the design and cost estimating to implement the project as proposed and would be completed in FY 2020. Phase II would include the conversion to synthetic turf and other site improvements and would be completed in the summer of 2020. The proposed conversion of the Armistead L. Boothe Park would not delay the current schedule of athletic field improvement projects (Attachment).
The Park and Recreation Commission has endorsed the conversion of the Armistead L. Boothe Park athletic facility. In addition, staff provided an update to the Youth Sports Advisory Committee and there was no opposition to this proposal. Since this new proposed scheduling of both the Boothe Park athletic field improvements and the Patrick Henry athletic field improvements were material in relation to scope, cost and timing, City Council authorization was determined necessary.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total project cost is estimated at $2.5 million. The project is proposed to be funded by transferring $1.1 million of balance funds currently in the Patrick Henry Recreation Center Construction account, and anticipated refund of $1,000,000 from the cancelled contract and work not performed as a result of the decision to keep the old Patrick Henry Elementary School on site totaling $2.1 million. The remaining funding will be provided from the Athletic Field Improvement CFMP. This $2.1 million (initiated to construction year dollars) will need to be planned for in the FY 2023 City CIP.
ATTACHMENT: Athletic Field Improvement Schedule
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
James Spengler, Director, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities
Jack Browand, Division Chief, Park Planning & Capital Development, RPCA
Bethany Znidersic, Principal Planner, Park Planning & Capital Development, RPCA
Judy Lo, Urban Planner III, Park Planning & Capital Development, RPCA
Faye Maslaki, Division Chief, Administrative Services, RPCA
Jeremy McPike, Director, General Services
Donna Poillucci, Deputy Director, General Services
Morgan Routt, Director, Office of Management & Budget
Arthur Wicks, Budget Analyst III, Office of Management & Budget
Liz Butterfield, Capital Budget Analyst, Office of Management & Budget