Pasadena’s Central Park May be Getting a New $650,000, Vandal-Resistant Restroom

Pasadena’s City Council is likely to approve a Department of Public Works proposal to build a modern, energy-efficient, vandal resistant and American with Disabilities Act-compliant restroom building at Central Park at a cost of $650,000.

The proposal recommends that the City Council authorize Interim City Manager Steve Mermell to enter into a contract with Glendale-based Shenk Developers, which won from among six competing bidders that responded to the invitation published in April.

The project will consist of demolishing the existing 1930s-era restroom building in the park, removal of the old concrete pavement, and putting up the new building with site improvements including concrete walks and amenities, plus installation of a new irrigation pump and control system, according to an Agenda Report prepared by Public Works for Monday’s City Council meeting,

The restroom replacement project was part of a larger Central Park Master Plan Initial Study submitted to the City Council in 2007 before designs for the project were prepared. In the study, Public Works said the 300 square foot building located directly north of the Lawn Bowling Clubhouse is a “simple stucco building with no distinguishing features” whose location detracts from the aesthetic appeal of the historic clubhouse.

The study said the restroom structure is “deteriorated and is difficult to maintain,” and the quality of the building and fixtures is “below the current standard for park facilities.”

Shenk’s base contract amount as proposed will be $588,500 plus a contingency fund of $61,500 to provide for necessary change orders, according to the Agenda Report. The bid was 16 percent lower than the engineer’s estimate of $700,000.

Shenk has also indicated that the award will result in two new hires to their present workforce. Included in the project specifications is a Local Hiring Provision intending to employ qualified Pasadena residents for 75 percent of new labor work hours on the project.

Shenk Developers has not performed any previous work for the City of Pasadena, the Public Works department said.

Once approved, construction on the new restroom building project will begin in September and is expected to be completed by March 2017.