City will repair park

Barbara Diamond Coastline Pilot

City officials voted unanimously on Tuesday to move ahead with

long-awaited repairs to Heisler Park, at an estimated cost of

$475,000.

“For over 15 years those of us involved in the North Laguna

Community Assn. Board of Directors have been concerned with slope

stabilization and park preservation at Heisler,” Mayor Elizabeth

Pearson-Schneider said. “This is the best possible solution for that

sensitive area.”

Repairs will include stabilizing the bluff at Rockpile Beach,

removing existing stairs and building new stairs at the south end of

beach and renovating restrooms. With a concept plan completed and

reviewed by the Design Review Board recommending two major revisions,

and a March 11 deadline for public comment on the environmental

impact report, the next step is the preparation of detailed plans and

specifications.

“We support the changes recommended by DRB,” Assistant City

Manager John Pietig said. “One of the most significant changes was

eliminating a proposed seawall at the toe of the bluff, which was

opposed by ocean conservationists, in favor of a retaining wall at

the top.

“You have made a lot of people happy,” said Councilwoman Toni

Iseman, who was among the opponents of a seawall.

“The retaining wall will be about $300,000 cheaper than the

bulkhead and that will pay for the new stairs, which a lot of groups

wanted,” Pietig said.

Pietig also supported a board recommendation to keep the restrooms

at the present location, rather than moving them closer to Cliff

Drive, which staff originally thought would be an improvement. A

unanimous council approved a contract not to exceed $318,000 to LA

Studio for detailed plans that will included the recommended changes;

two contracts not to exceed a combined maximum of $60,000 to Geofirm

and Geosoils for geological and engineering services.

Due to the size of the park, the number of visitors it serves and

the complexity of the improvements -- some of which may not be

completed for several years -- the staff is requiring a professional

design-related insurance policy of at least $2 million to be

maintained for five years after completion of the design. The special

policy will be in addition to general liability insurance of $1

million in place during the design and construction oversight

process. The project will be funded by a $225,000 California Coastal

Conservancy grant awarded in 2002 and previously matched by the city.

The council appropriated an additional $25,000 Tuesday to cover

current estimates.

“The budget was set several years ago for a conceptual plan,”

Pietig said. “Now we know more about the project. With all the

changes and the [lapsed] time, an additional $25,000 is pretty good.”

Comments from the California Coastal Conservancy, the Design

Review Board, the council and the public will be included in the

draft report. A coastal development permit will be issued after the

report is certified by the city. For more information, call (949)

497-0754.