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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 1990 1017 CC REG ITEM 11FBERNARDO M. PEREZ Mayor SCOTT MONTGOMERY Mayor Pro Tern ELOISE BROWN Councilmember CLINT HARPER, Ph.D. Councilmember PAUL W. LAWRASON, Jr. Councilmember LILLIAN KELLERMAN City Clerk TO MOORPARK .. 1 STEVEN KUENY R ?ARK, CALIFORNIA City Manager :rily Council Meeting CHERYL J. KANE City Attorney of. d 19P.&ICK RICHARDS, A.I.C.P. Director of ACTION: Community Development R. DENNIS DELZEIT "— City Engineer JOHN V. GILLESPIE Chief Police RICHARD T. HARE City Treasurer MEMORANDUM The Honorable City Council FROM: Philip E. Newhouse, Director of Communit Services DATE: October 10, 1990 SUBJECT: Consider Report Related to Overseeding Peach Hill Park Turf The initial seeding of the Peach Iiill Park turf was completed in the latter part of October or early November, 1987. The seed mix consisted of: 26% Unhulled Common Bermuda, 37% Pen Fine Rye; 37% Manhattan Rye and appropriate fillers, binders and fertilizer. Additionally, prior to planting of trees, shrubs and turf, the entire park was conditioned by incorporating the following into the top six inches of soil (per 1,000 sq. ft.): 3 cubic yards of nitrolized wood residual; 5 pounds of ammonium -phosphate,- 20 pounds of fertilizer - Kellogg's (8 -8 -4); 20 pounds of soil sulphur. The grass seed mix selected was determined by considering two factors; the rye grasses were selected as they are a cool weather grass and would germinate and provide the initial turf for the park as the hydroseeding was done during the cool season of the year. The Bermuda grass was selected as it is a warm weather grass and a: the weather warmed, the rye 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, California 93021 (805) 529 -6864 The Honorable City Council Page 2 10/10/90 grass would decline and the Bermuda would germinate and establish itself as the permanent grass for the park. However, the Bermuda grass did not fully establish itself. In reviewing why the Bermuda did not fully establish itself, one factor alone does not stand out but could be related to several factors: 1. Bermuda grass requires a minimum soil temperature of 55 degrees F. As the turf was hydroseeded in early winter, the Bermuda seed probably remained dormant for approximately four months. During those four months, an above normal amount of water was applied to the turf to establish the rye grass. As the rye grass seed germinated and grew, the Bermuda seed remained dormant. Some of the Bermuda seed probably rotted because of the amount of moisture (water) on the ground. 2. Another factor could have been mother nature. During the establishment period when the rye grass was growing, birds probably ate a pertion of the dormant Bermuda seeds. 3. Another factor could have been runoff. Due to the amount of water needed to establish the rye grass and promote its growth, some of the Bermuda seed probably was washed away. The current condition of the turf can be related to the following: 1. Due to only a small portion of the Bermuda seed germinating, the primary park grass is rye grass. Rye grass is a cool season turf grass which languishes in hot dry summers. To be fully established, it needs to be periodically overseeded. Rye grass is a thin blade annual or perennial lawn grass. Plants clump instead of running and do not mak- a tight turf. Heavy sowing helps to overcome this. 2. Coupled with factor (1) above is the extreme use the park has received sinc,� dedication in the Spring of 1988. The adult softball program has played throughout the year and Little League baseball, girls softball and youth soccer all use the park for practice during their respective seasons. En ddtion there is relatively high use by the general public because it is the only City park with a lighted ba:_lfi.eld, restroom and picnic shelter. The high usa,— hay, corn away much of the The Honorable City Council Page 3 10/10/90 grass as a tight, thick turf was not initially established for the previously stated reasons. To reestablish the turf, the park must be overseeded. The most cost effective method to quickly establish the turf would be by hydroseeding. Staff is recommending two grasses for Council's consideration; Common Bermuda and Triple Crown Fescue. A. Common Bermuda grass - subtropical turf grass FEATURES Fine texture. Deep root system. Heat tolerant. Drought tolerant. Thatch buildup. Browns out in winter. Mowing height 1/2 " -1" a perennial BENEFITS warm season Spreads aggressively by surface runners. Disease tolerant. Low Maintenance. Extremely hardy to high traffic areas. Pest free. Drought tolerant. Requires less water than most grasses. B. Triple Crown Fescue - Coc,L season grass FEATURES Medium fine texture. Deep root system. Heat tolerant. Shade tolerant. Grows in wide range of soils. No thatch buildup. Durable leaf blades. Mowing height 2 -311. BENEFITS Drought tolerant. Requires less water than most other type grasses but more than bermuda grass. Traffic tolerant. Disease tolerant; exhibits a wide t)lerance to diseases. L o w f e r t i l i z e r it-quirement. I, )w maintenance. The Honorable City Council Page 4 10/10/90 Moorpark lies in a subtropical climate; high temperatures, scant rainfall, dry soils. Hardy grasses include fescues, bluegrasses and bents, but require above normal water as compared to Bermuda, Zoysia and St. Augustine. However, with new blends now available, the fescue recommended is used widely throughout our area and has proven to be a good performer. It should be noted that Campus Canyon Park was seeded with Triple Crown Fescue and so will South Meadows Park. Hydroseeding of Peach Hill Park would be a two -phase operation; preparation of area to be hydroseeded and the hydroseeding itself. Staff has solicited informal bids based upon the following specificati,ns for hydroseeding: Area to be hydroseeded - ? to 8 acres; 304,920 - 348,480 sq. feet. Seed: Bermuda, 5 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. Fescue, 10 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. Mulch: 1,500 lbs. per acre Binder: 1 lb. per 1,000 ..sq. ft. Fertilizer: 400 lbs. per acre COMPANY BERMUDA TRIPLE CROWN FESCUP, Dietz Hydroseeding Co. $ 8,'_j30.00 $ 8,782.00 (Based on 7 acres) Sandcastle Hydroseeding $11,4)0.00 $12,197.00 (Based on 8 acres) Bids have not been solicited for field preparation, but representatives of Dietz and Sandcastle estimate the costs to be between $2,000 to $4,000 depending on total area and condition of existing area to be hydroseeded. City staff may be able to do all or part of t?ie soil preperation work. The time period to hydroseed tt.e park will depend on the type of grass to be used. If Bermuda seed is used, the hydroseeding would be done in late February or March and the area seeded would be closed t:-.rough May or June. If fescue seed is used, the hydroseedirl would be done in December or January, and the area would be �lesed through March or April. Alternatives for hydroseeding would be: 1) all of the area as identified in attachment "a" at- on,- at time; or 2) a two phase program which would the southern half of the The Honorable City Council Page 5 10/10/90 athletic field which is predominately the softball field March through June and the north half of the athletic field June through September as identified in attachment "b ". This alternative would allow partical use of the park by the community. Staff is still evaluating these options.. After the initial planting and first full year of growth, the park turf was reasonably well established. The Bermuda was observed not to be as dense and established as it should have been; however, staff and the current landscape contractor were reasonably satisfied tf,e Bermuda would continue to germinate to produce the desired turf The following year, 1989, the turf again appeared reasonably well maintained, however, concern was voiced periodically that the park maintenance needed to be improved. In observing the turf at that time, the Bermuda did show signs of growth, but was not producing as thick thatch as should have been established by that time. To compensate, additional fertilization of the park was added to the maintenance contract. During this time period, the park was under heavy use through such programs as Little League, adult, softball, soccer and the general public. This extensive use of the park partially inhibited the turf's growth and establishment. Recently, staff and the current landscape contractor have noticed new Bermuda growth. However, witu. the heavy use of the park, we feel it would not have an oppcturi-ty to establish itself. Since the park's soil is preiominantly clay, staff suggests the maintenance contract be am -r -ided t- add the following: 1. Increase areation from 3 t.: 4 times yearly; costs $200 2. Increase fertilization frc.- 7 to 4 times yearly; $300 3. Add Gypsum to soil annuall,; $600 4. Drop one season of adult s, tabu to allow for turf repair and rejuvenation. We would have three 10 to 12 week seasons remaining. Staff is currently proceeding ,;filth soil samples to determine if the soil condition should b. amended as part of the work program. FUNDING: Related costs for the hydroseeding program can be taken from the anticipated savings of the Park Maintenance Assessment Fund. Should costs exceed the anticipated fund balance it can be funded from subsequent year assessments. A portion of the costs could be funded from t recrE.,ation fund or from the general fund. The Honorable City Council Page 6 10/10/90 Estimated costs for this program are: 1. Hydroseeding $8,000 to $12,000 2. Turf preperation $2,000 to $ 4,000 (including soil amendment,:. WATER SAVINGS: As bermuda grass is very dorught tolerant we should experience a minimum of 10 Pel -cen savings.Staff will monitor the water usage SUMMARY: From the information received by staff, Common Bermuda would be more suited to our climate and has the advantage of self - rejuvenation over fescue grass and uses less water than Fescue grass. Fescue is somewhat less costly to maintain, does not turn brown in the cool months of the year, but does require more water to retain its appearance and must be reseeded to maintain a tight, t rf . Approve use of Bermuda seed and direct staff to prepare planting plan and final cost ea-- imates. 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