Bond Projects Updates

Background:
The District placed a bond measure on the ballot in August 2009 for the residents to consider funding for a new Senior Center, Community Center, Teen Center, Pleasant Oaks Park upgrade, and additional restrooms at Pleasant Hill Park, Rodgers-Smith Park, and Brookwood Park. The District residents regarded these projects as important and necessary and, even in a difficult economic climate, voted 75.7% in favor of taxing themselves for these improvements.

Update January 11, 2011

Construction Process Begins

The very first visible step in the construction of Pleasant Hill’s new Senior Center and new Teen Center took place in mid-January as Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District carefully removed selected trees in Pleasant Hill Park.    

These new senior and teen construction projects were made possible by the support of the people in the successful passing of Measure E in August of 2009.

“It’s exciting in that this will show the first steps in our construction projects,” said Bob Berggren, General Manager of Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District.

The plan called for careful preservation of mature oaks, and was scheduled to avoid nesting season, which begins February 1. The District plans to remove trees near the existing Teen Center and on the Pleasant Hill Park side of the Senior Center as well as some nearer to the buildings. Trees that are distanced from the demolition area will be preserved.

Update August 23, 2010

Board Actions and Completed Tasks

• Hired Project Manager, Ron Johnson, Critical Solutions, Inc.
  
• Approved budget for bond projects for Senior Center at $9.3 million, Teen Center at $3.3 million, Community Center at $10.6 million and Pleasant Oaks Park at $4.3 million.
  
• Approved placing two manufactured buildings at the Winslow Center to house childcare facilities
  
• Approved Milani & Associates to design permanent facilities at the Winslow Center
  
• Approved new set of plans by Harriman & Associates revising the Teen Center design and schematic drawings
  
• Completed reports include arborist, soils, noise, and traffic.

See the Teen Center page for new floorplan and elevation.

Update July 23, 2010

The Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration document is available here (in pdf format, 160 pages, 5.2Mb). This document includes the potential impacts of all four projects, the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, Community Center, Teen Center, and improvements to Pleasant Oaks Park.

Public comment on this document is open now through August 20, 2010. Please send your comments on this document to Robert Berggren, General Manager, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, or via email to Robert Berggren.

Update April 8, 2010:

Finances – Bond Sale

As a result of the successful Measure E Bond Election last summer, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District sold $20 million in bonds on March 17, 2010. The funds were delivered to the District’s account on April 1. With an A+ rating, the District received a total of seven bids from four financial institutions. The winning bidder was Morgan Stanley & Company. The District will meet its taxpayer promise to keep the tax rate below $21 per $100,000 in assessed value for the Bonds. The projected tax rate is $20.91 per $100,000 in assessed value. Investors interested in purchasing some of the bonds should contact their financial services firm.

Project Manager Hired

At the Board of Directors meeting April 2, 2010, Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District Board unanimously selected Critical Solutions, Inc. for Project and Construction Management Services (www.csipm.com). The assignment is expected to last approximately four years.

Update January 29, 2010:

Fifteen applicants for the Citizens Oversight Committee were interviewed on Monday January 25, 2009 by Sandy Bonato and Sherry Sterrett. At the Board of Directors Meeting on January 28, seven were selected to serve.

At the Board Meeting Sterrett said, "we have a very nice blend of ages, abilities, and genders. The kinds of people to keep a good eye on us. Everyone showed a real understanding of what the job will be.
They all understand that it will be 4-year commitment."

The new Citizens Oversight Committee members will determine their own chair and meeting schedule. The committee is expected to be active once the bonds are sold.

Update January 27, 2010:

Board Actions & Completed Tasks | Ongoing Action and In-Process Tasks | Schedule & Priority

Board Actions & Completed Tasks as of January 27, 2010:

• Retained the services of Bond Counsel Brian Quint of Quint & Thimmig LLP.
• Retained the services of Financial Advisor Craig Hill of Northcross, Hill & Ach, Inc.
• Completed an RFP for project and construction management services and received 19 proposals for these services.
• Hired Interim Project Manager Hamid Sarvi.
• Selected Jerry Haag as the CEQA Consultant to meet the requirements of the Environment Quality Act for all the projects.
• Updated and approved CEQA procedures.
• Selected Bond Oversight Committee.
• Approved the Senior Center preliminary floor plan.
• Approved the Teen Center preliminary floor plan.
• Submitted the preliminary plans of the Senior Center to the City of Pleasant Hill Architectural Review Commission.
• Submitted the preliminary plans of the Teen Center to the City of Pleasant Hill Architectural Review Commission.
• Completed the update of the District’s Consultant Agreement.
• Approved Design and Construction Schedule for District Bond Projects with the Senior and Teen Centers to begin first, followed by the Community Center, the update of Pleasant Oaks Park, and the additional park restrooms.
• Agreed with and retained the services of Stephen E. Harriman A.I.A. & Associates for architectural and related services for the new Senior and Teen Centers. Harriman will also oversee the Landscape Architect, the Civil Engineer, and sub-contractors.
• Established Rules and Procedures for the Bond Oversight Committee.
• Selected Rhoads, Purcell & Associates to complete the Geotechnical Report for the Senior and Teen Centers.

Ongoing Actions & In-Process Tasks

• Approve the selection of the Bond Oversight Committee Members.
• Review of District’s front-end specifications, defining and prescribing the rights, responsibilities, and relationships of the contracting parties, and make provisions for the contract’s administration.
• Schedule the preliminary issuance of General Obligation Bonds.
• Meet with City of Pleasant Hill staff to review projects and issues.
• Negotiate with Karl Danielson of the Dahlin Group in regard to architectural services for the Community Center.
• Continue Community Center inspections by Structural Engineer Alan Horeis.

Bond Schedule & Project Priority

Interim Project Manager Hamid Sarvi has created a preliminary draft of schedules of the District projects. The Board of Directors approved the following schedule for the projects:

1. 1. Senior Center and Teen Center (simultaneous start)
2. 2. Community Center
3. 3. Pleasant Oaks Park
4. 4. Restrooms at Rodgers-Smith and Brookwood Park