COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM: Havasu Vision 20/20, Pillar 4 - Water
SUBJECT:Title
Environmental Learning Center Update (Kelly Garry)
Body
FUNDING SOURCE:
N/A
PURPOSE:
To provide an update of the Environmental Learning Center (ELC) (Project No. FA1040).
BACKGROUND:
Beginning in 2016, Lake Havasu City competed in the America’s Best Communities (ABC) contest, sponsored by Frontier Communications, The Weather Channel, CoBank, and DISH Network, and ultimately won second place. The contest included 350 communities across the country and sought to revitalize smaller communities across the U.S. by emphasizing long-term vision and community engagement. ABC’s contest brought residents together with local government officials to come up with ideas for improving their own communities. The Havasu Vision 20/20 plan for revitalizing Lake Havasu City garnered a $2 million prize to further the Havasu Vision 20/20 goals.
The official plan for revitalizing Lake Havasu City involves five separate areas known as “pillars.” Several local community members, businesses, government officials and city employees make up each pillar. Each group has their own plan for achieving the goals set up within each pillar.
Pillar 4 is water and its goals include ensuring a stable long-term supply of domestic water and protecting and maintaining the health of Lake Havasu. This is to be accomplished through increased conservation, reclamation and reuse of water; creating a plan for design and development of an Eco/Environmental Learning Center; hiring an architect to explore the scope and feasibility of the facility; creating meetings to explore funding to implement a water research and environmental science center; and, building on current public/private partnerships for long-term stability.
Water plays a huge part in the Lake Havasu lifestyle. It is the community’s life blood. Years of drought conditions put a strain on the local water supply. A healthy water system means good drinking water as well as a healthy eco-system for lake inhabitants.
In November of 2017, City staff and members from the Vision 20/20 Pillar 4 performed a consultant selection process to obtain professional services for the design of an Environmental Learning Center. The selection process used was a qualifications based process, which required response to a request for qualifications and subsequent interviews. Jones Studio, Inc., chosen by the selection committee, provided the professional services to the City on behalf of Pillar 4.
The members of Pillar 4 worked with Jones Studio over the last couple years to complete the design and master plan for the Environmental Learning Center, which is attached to this report. Members of Pillar 4 continue to present the Environmental Learning Center concept to obtain sufficient interest, shareholders, and funding to ultimately construct the project.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
This project is a component of the City’s Vision 20/20 Plan, a program developed by the community that led to the City winning $2 million in the ABC competition.
The ELC can serve multiple disciplines, including the multitude of government agencies, water authorities, special districts, schools, universities and Lake Havasu City.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact resulting from this update.
ATTACHMENTS:
ELC Roadshow Document
SUGGESTED MOTION:
No action necessary..Recommended Action