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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH PENDULUM STUDIO LLC, TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL REQUIRED UPGRADES TO THE BANNER ISLAND BALL PARK
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Stockton City Council adopt a Resolution:
1. Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with Pendulum Studios, LLC (Pendulum) (Exhibit 1 to the proposed Resolution), to develop construction drawings for the Banner Island Ball Park upgrades required to meet the new Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium standards;
2. Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to consolidate project funding as follows, transfer $150,000 from CIP Project #EED8601 (Reso. 2021-06-22-1602, Attachment A), and one-time FY 2021-22 year-end funding ($500,000, Reso. 2021-11-16-1501, Recommended Project #33, Attachment B) into existing CIP Project EV23607, designated for the Banner Island Ballpark Upgrade;
3. Finding an exception to the competitive bidding process pursuant to SMC Section 3.68.070 through use of a competitive request for proposals; and
4. Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to take all appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this Resolution.
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Summary
Approval of this Resolution will authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with Pendulum studios, LLC for the development of construction drawings needed for the Banner Island Ball Park to meet MLB stadium standards. The City’s lease with Seventh Inning Stretch, Inc., Stockton Ports (Ports) ownership company, requires that the City maintain the ballpark in a first-class manner in compliance with governing baseball standards, including MLB stadium requirements (Attachment C).
DISCUSSION
Background
The City entered a license agreement with Seventh Inning Stretch, parent company of the Stockton Ports baseball team for the use of the Banner Island Ballpark. Within the terms of this lease, the City is responsible for the upkeep of the ballpark, including meeting specifications set by MLB for its league affiliates. (Attachment D)
MLB surveyed all minor league ball parks in 2021 using their newly released facility standards. The Stockton Ballpark's major areas of deficit are in separate full commissary areas for each team (home and visiting), women’s locker room facilities for umpires, and in meeting square footage requirements for areas such as pitching tunnels, coaches' offices, training rooms, etc. The City has worked with architectural firm, Pendulum, Inc. to review the existing facility to assess how space can be reconfigured to meet the new requirements, adding square footage/new-build only when necessary to minimize scope, time, and overall cost. Once a conceptual space utilization plan was created, it was sent to MLB for approval. MLB has approved the current plan, which now needs to be fully designed and engineered.
Present Situation
On February 17, 2023, the City released an RFP (PUR 23-022) to identify qualified architect firms with experience to upgrade the Banner Island Ball Park to meet the newly released MLB Stadium standards. After five weeks of posting, one proposal was received from Pendulum. Pendulum was selected for the original conceptual design phase of this project after contacting four California architectural firms with known ballpark design experience, including HKS, the original architect of the ballpark. Pendulum was selected based on their keen ability and creativity in re-using space, experience in meeting MLB standard requirements, and pricing. To date, City staff, facility managing company, ASM, and Ports leadership have been pleased with Pendulum’s efficiency, availability, and ability to meet the needs of not only the MLB, but also the operational team with reference to park use.
The Pendulum team, led by Jonathan O’Neil Cole, is an assembly of design professionals with extensive experience in large scale ballpark, public development and similar-complexity projects that have consistently materialized into built work. The requirements and scope of the Banner Island Ball Park upgrade most closely aligns with Pendulum’s successful execution of renovations at Neuroscience Group Field in Appleton, WI and the Dayton Dragons in Dayton, OH at Day Air Ballpark, among several other current ballpark renovation projects underway.
This project is aligned with the initiative’s goal to enhance and promote greater economic activity in the downtown core. Investment into the Stockton Banner Island Ball Park supports the Uplift Downtown Initiative, and the goals of the adopted Economic Development Strategic Action Plan. This investment will create additional experiences for the community, drive tourism, and attract additional sports tournaments.
The following findings justify and support the exception to competitive bidding, as stated under SMC Section 3.68.070:
1. Due to the specific nature of the project and industry, use of the RFP process is appropriate since it relies on evaluation of a service provider’s established professional experience, conduct, and performance as it relates to the design required for professional baseball stadiums focused on player and fan experience criteria.
2. The project involves a specialized field, and its success requires an experienced professional who has successfully implemented and performed such services.
Based on the above facts, staff recommends the award of the attached agreement to Pendulum for architectural services to develop construction drawings for the MLB upgrades needed at the Banner Island Ball Park.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The contract amount with Pendulum is Four hundred seventy-eight thousand ninety dollars ($478,090.00). Funding for the project has been appropriated by Council through the FY 2021-22 capital improvement budget ($150,000 Project #EDD8601, Reso. 2021-06-22-1602, Attachment A) and one-time FY 2021-22 year-end funding ($500,000, Reso. 2021-11-16-1501, Recommended Project #33, Attachment B).
Authority is requested to consolidate previous project allocations into one existing CIP Project #EV23607, created for the Banner Island Ballpark Upgrade project. This project was not created at the time when the funding amounts were appropriated. This action is administrative, to simplify the accounting of the project.
Attachment A - Resolution 2021-06-22-1602
Attachment B - Resolution 2021-11-16-1501
Attachment C - Stockton Facilities Audit MLB 2021
Attachment D - Lease and Amendments with Ports