Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city’s expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas. Consent agenda items are routinely passed by the City Council with little or no discussion from elected officials or the public. However, many of the items have been part of public discussion in the past.
CITY HALL — “The Big Wave” — a sculpture commissioned in 1989 that spans Wilshire Boulevard at Franklin Street and marks the gateway to Santa Monica — has seen better days.
In the past 20 years, the sculpture has rusted and corroded, and its lighting system no longer works.
Tonight, the City Council is expected to approve a $75,000 contract with Exclusive Welding, Inc., to clean and re-paint the sculpture, and replace its broken fiber optics system and its damaged Plexiglas cover. The Santa Monica Public Art Committee in 2007 determined the sculpture was due for refurbishing.
The contract is part of a $2.5 million spending package included on the council’s consent agenda for tonight’s meeting.
The council is also expected to approve an additional $38,000 for PCR Services Corp., a historic preservation firm under contract to evaluate whether properties should be designated structures of merit, landmarks or historic districts. The company also analyzes proposed changes to historically significant buildings.
The added money will bring the PCR’s two-and-a-half year contract to $107,950.
Also on the agenda is a proposed deal to lease three street scrubber/sweepers for four years for $328,673.
The proposed lease agreement with Tennant Sales and Service Co. would allow Third Street Promenade Maintenance to replace three 6-year-old sweepers that have become costly to maintain, according to a City Hall report.
The council is also expected to renew for another year a contract with General Petroleum Corp., which provides City Hall with biodiesel fuel for use in the Big Blue Bus fleet.
The City Council in January approved a fuel agreement with the company but asked City Hall staff to seek a deal with a local company if possible.
In recommending the contract extension, which is worth $2.05 million for the year beginning July 1, City Hall staff said there is no viable local fuel provider.
“Although the biodiesel market is continuing to evolve, staff is not aware of any local suppliers or producers that can consistently provide large amounts of biodiesel fuel that meet the City’s minimum standards from a single local source,” a City Hall report stated.
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