$71,500 more goes to beach

June Casagrande

Renovations at Corona del Mar State Beach are expected to begin this

fall, but it’s still unclear whether the city will have the money to

do all the work planned or whether they will have to do it in phases.

The City Council on Tuesday voted to increase the contract amount

for the architect working on the project by $71,500 to $214,500.

Council members had postponed the decision at their last meeting in

December after Councilman Steve Rosansky asked for evidence to show

that the city would be getting more services for the extra money it

will give to architectural firm Robbins Jorgensen Christopher Inc.

“We’re paying more. Are we getting more?” Rosansky asked.

“Yes,” Public Works Director Steve Badum answered Tuesday.

The architect’s planning costs are higher because the city last

summer decided to go ahead with planning the full project, even

though there is only enough money to do a portion of the work. About

$1.2 million is available, but $2.4 million will be needed for the

whole job.

The money already in place comes in part from a settlement

agreement with the American Trader Oil Co., which was set aside for

coastal improvements, and from a grant from the state.

In a controversial decision last summer, the council voted to move

forward with a plan for complete renovation of beach facilities at

Corona del Mar. The plans they approved include replacing the

existing restrooms, concession stand and parking-attendant booth with

new structures. Plans also call for adding a lifeguard station at the

beach.

City engineer Lloyd Dalton, who helps oversee the project, said

that the city will apply for grants from the state’s Parks and

Recreation Department to cover the cost of the larger project. The

council could also opt to pay for the project out of its reserves.

The city will likely hear back on its grant application in the

spring, and that will determine how much work will begin in the fall.

If grant money doesn’t come through, the city will work on the

restrooms and parking attendant station. If the city gets the grants,

they will do all the buildings at once, including the concession

stand. Either way, demolition is expected to begin the day after

Labor Day this year. Work will be finished before next summer, Dalton

said.

Councilman Dick Nichols said on Tuesday that he opposed changes to

the architect agreement because he opposed the project.

“I don’t believe there’s a meeting of the minds about what’s

supposed to go down there,” Nichols said.

His colleagues said that the project was already decided upon by

the City Council last summer and that it was inappropriate to revisit

that decision in the context of Tuesday’s contract talks.

The council approved the new contract 5 to 1 with Nichols

dissenting and Councilman Gary Adams absent.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.