Long Beach City Council Will Discuss Belmont Plaza Pool Demolition Contracts

The demolition of the Belmont Plaza Pool could get one step closer after the City Council meeting slated for Aug. 19.

City staff will be asking the council to authorize contracts with Psomas Corporation and Exbon Development, for a combined $3.146 million, which will cover the demolition of the Belmont Plaza Pool complex and allow for temporary facilities as necessary (like bathroom and shower areas).

There is still the Coastal Commission process to go through, but this is the contractor process for the demolition part of the pool, said Tom Modica, deputy city manager.

The city is using what is called a JOC (job order contracting) method, which gives staff the ability to have contractors that are already qualified and specced out for certain types of projects, officials said.

Modica said timing was important for the demolition because the city staff want to begin the demolition before the January 2015 bird-nesting season begins which could potentially delay the project.

The demolition will not begin until the California Coastal Commission has given final approval of the project. Modica said that the commission likely will here the permit request in the next few months.

The City Council also will hear from a stakeholder committee at the end of August, which is made up of 13 business, residential and aquatic stakeholders from the area, about the ultimate design of the future complex.

In June, city staff presented the estimated cost for a new Belmont Beach and Aquatics Center as $99 million about a third more than original estimates. That recommendation could be completed by late 2016 should all approvals and construction go smoothly. It would be paid for by Tidelands money and is necessary due to seismic concerns that closed the facility at the beginning of last year.

Originally, the estimated cost was about $62 million, but former Assistant City Manager Suzanne Frick said the more recent concept and its price tag were largely based on Coastal Commission requirements, like raising the entire building off of the sand to allow for sea level rise, the addition of a restaurant and banquet facility and 2,500 permanent seats.

The $99 million would pay for indoor and outdoor 50-meter pools, a recreational pool and the building with all support facilities. It would include a platform diving component as part of the indoor pool rather than as a separate diving well.

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Long Beach City Council Will Discuss Belmont Plaza Pool Demolition Contracts