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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHazardous Condition at Edison Community ParkREQUE* FOR CITY COUNCi� ACTION Date August 2, 1993 Submitted to: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Submitted by: Michael T. Uberuaga, City Administrator Prepared by: Ron Hagan, Director, Community Services APPROVED BY CITY COUNa~16,L, Subject: HAZARDOUS CONDITION AT EDISON COMMUNITY PARR 19, Consistent with Council Policy? [ ] Yes [ ] New Policy or Excepti CrrYCL, Statement of Issue, Recommendation, Analysis, Funding Source, Alternative Actions, Attachments: G24V STATEMENT OF ISSUE There have been sink holes developing at Edison Community Park. This condition requires comprehensive subsurface investigation to determine if remedial measures are necessary. RECOMMENDATION Direct Public Works to prepare a Request for Proposal to solicit consultants to prepare a comprehensive subsurface investigation at Edison Community Park. ANALYSIS Edison Community Park is built on a former county landfill site. Sink holes or depressions have been developing as a result of decomposition of the subsurface and past heavy rains. The most recent sink hole was discovered this past spring. Public Works utilized a large piece of equipment such as a land grader to proof roll (run the equipment over the site to determine if the park can withstand the weight of the equipment without creating significant depressions or holes) the site to insure that the current conditions are safe. There was no significant settlement at the time of the test. The concern is that with future heavy rains there could be additional settlement or development of sink holes. Public Works and Community Services concur that a consultant needs to be hired to conduct a comprehensive subsurface investigation to determine what, if any, remedial measures are needed on the park site. The estimated cost for this investigation is $50,000, but could vary between $50,000 and $100,000. It is anticipated that the Park Acquisition and Development Fund would be used to pay for the consulting work. O FUNDING SOURCE None PIO 5/85 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Page two Do not hire a consultant to do a comprehensive subsurface investigation and, instead, utilize periodic proof rolls of the site to determine stability. ATTACHMENTS July 1 and April 26, 1993 memos from Steve May, Principal Engineer. Location Map RH:JBE:am LJ,Ajoie CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH L0- " INTER -DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION HUNTINGTON BEACH To: Jim Engle, Deputy Director of Community Services From: Steve May, Principal Engineer - Date: July 1, 1993 subject: EDISON PARK This is a follow up to my memo to Ron Hagan dated April 26, 1993, in which I recommended that portions of Edison Park be closed due to the possibility of sink holes developing. Following the April 26th memo I visited the site, and I could see no evidence of additional settlement or development of sink holes. I then suggested to you that the play fields might be safe for the summer dry season, but that we should test the integrity of the field by rolling it with heavy equipment. On June 24, 1993 I arranged for a Caterpillar 824, rubber tired Dozer to proof role the site. The equipment was provided at no cost to the City by Roadway Construction. The Dozer spent approximately two hours rolling the southerly most ball field and the grass play area to the east of that field. I observed the operation and did not see any evidence of surface failure under the load. Therefore, I believe that the field is safe, for the time being, until next winter. There is a lot of surface irregularity which should be fixed to reduce the risk of leg injuries due to tripping. The possibility of unsafe conditions developing in the future still exists. I recommend that a comprehensive subsurface investigation be conducted to determine what remedial measures might be needed. Such an investigation might cost between $50,000 and $100,000. As you are aware, a limited subsurface investigation was conducted over one year ago, at a cost of $2,000. The result of that investigation was that the existence of buried debris was confirmed, and that much more investigation is needed to define the limits of buried debris and to identify remedial measures. There is a report on file at the County of Orange Integrated Waste Management District which might have some very useful subsurface information. That report should be reviewed before defining a scope of work for further subsurface investigations. If you would like Engineering assistance on this problem, then that should be arranged through the City Engineer Bob Eichblatt. cc: Bob Eichblatt Jim Jones Daryl Smith CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH INTER -DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION HUNTIVGTON BEACH To: Ron Hagan From: Steve May Director, Community Services Principal Engineer Subject: HAZARDOUS CONDITION AT EDISON PARK Date: April 26, 1993 A hazardous condition at Edison Park has been brought to my attention. After investigating the situation I have come to the conclusion that portions of the park should be closed until the condition can be remedied. I believe that there is a significant risk to children that use the park daily, and to maintenance personnel who work in the park. Portions of the park are built over a landfill of tree stumps which are decaying and causing the earth to subside. Sink holes have developed on occasions. The subsidence that I witnessed recently was so severe that it suggests the possible development of cavernous, subsurface voids. If such voids exist, then there could be a tragic accident. This situation was brought to my attention several months ago. Since then I have been coordinating with your staff and the contractor for the Santa Ana River Project to bring in fill material to fix the surface settlement problem. However, something happened this past weekend that caused me to reevaluate the situation. In New Jersey a child was killed after falling into a sink hole over a landfill of tree stumps. I think we have the potential for the same kind of accident at Edison Park. I am recommending that portions of the park be fenced off until the City can undertake remedial measures. An engineering study should be conducted to determine the specific remedial measures needed. I expect that excavation of up to 10 feet might be necessary. It would be difficult to guess what the costs could amount to, but remedial costs could be between $100,000 and $300,000. The area involved includes one of the baseball diamonds. Closure of this portion of the park would effect the upcoming softball league. Nevertheless, I think it would be best to treat this as a potential life threatening situation, and act accordingly. cc: Jim Engle Robert Eichblatt C:\MAY\EDIS0N.01 ING ZONING DM 14 DISTNII - l N/liAP [{` C r- <D DRIED N<FCr: >, 156J --^.i[•c[D o -[ cc..i[x CITY COUNCIL. zCNE ORD:N<N CE NO. 754 zoNE -- 0• `n, EGEND< w[ vP TRESIOENCE DisrNici AMENDED CASE ORDN0. AMENDED CASE ORD.NO `Jxc:[ Tr.O E YILT RESIDENCE D5TRICT JNTINGTON BEACH 03-6-61 29 794 3-6.61 131 821 4 -49-676666 30 6 -19-67 E6661330 RESIDCpru D.TRCT AAL q$TR CT YQ RIDYSTRIAI OpTRKT 5-7-62 237 900 , IS-62 253 908 7 - 1 - 68 68.17 1426 9 - 3 - Q LI-T IYDYSra— INSTRR:T ,NGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 66698 668i EDISON COMMUNITY ' CENTER/PA1