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BACKGROUND <br /> The City inspects the playground equipment in every city park annually. The Park <br /> Division's certified playground safety inspectors review the physical condition and age <br /> of play equipment, safety and accessibility concerns, and the availability of replacement <br /> parts. Based on the evaluation for the current two-year workplan, it was determined that <br /> the playgrounds at Ken Mercer Sports Park, Vintage Hills Park, and Tawny Park were in <br /> the greatest need of replacement. <br /> Engineering, Operation Services, and Library and Recreation Departments staff jointly <br /> developed a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the identified playground renovations. <br /> The RFQ was advertised on October 21, 2020. Six qualification packages were <br /> received by the advertised due date of November 18 from the following consultants: <br /> • Kompan <br /> • Miracle Playsystems <br /> • MRC Recreation <br /> • Park Planet <br /> • Ross Recreation <br /> • Specified Play Equipment Company (SPEC) <br /> In December, the City's selection committee (comprised of representatives from the <br /> Engineering, Operations Services, and Library and Recreation Departments) completed <br /> the review of the designs and capabilities of the consultants as shown in the <br /> qualification packages. Based on the qualifications, the selection committee determined <br /> to work with Ross Recreation on the Ken Mercer Sports Park and Vintage Hills Park <br /> playgrounds and Park Planet on the Tawny Park playground. <br /> The City conducted public outreach with social media posts and virtual meetings. A <br /> website link was created (www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/parkoutreach), three virtual <br /> meetings were held, the project was advertised on social media (NextDoor, Facebook, <br /> and the City's website), signs were posted at all playgrounds and the City sent <br /> notifications to all property owners and tenants within 500 feet of Ken Mercer, Vintage <br /> Hills, and Tawny parks. Virtual public outreach meetings were held on Saturday, <br /> January 23. Meetings were for one-hour periods starting with Ken Mercer Sports Park, <br /> then Vintage Hills Park, and finally Tawny Park. City staff, along with a representative <br /> from the playground manufacturer, attended the meetings. Ten residents attended the <br /> Ken Mercer Sports Park meeting, and four residents attended both the Vintage Hills <br /> Park and Tawny Park meetings. In addition to the virtual meeting comments, the City <br /> received input by phone or email from 25 residents. <br /> During the virtual meeting, a group of parents expressed their desire for a more <br /> traditional play structure instead of the proposed play structure for the eastern <br /> playground at Ken Mercer Sports Park. The parents felt that the proposed structure did <br /> not have as much play value, height, and connectivity as the existing equipment. They <br /> also felt it was too enclosed and would present visibility and parent access challenges. <br /> Multiple residents (virtual meeting attendees and residents that emailed the City) <br /> Page 2 of 4 <br />