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City reports plaza topographical survey complete; irrigation RFP and cultural landscape survey planned
Summary
Staff reported completion of a topographical survey of the Sonoma plaza (BKF Engineering) and outlined an irrigation RFP to evaluate and replace the decades-old system; staff also said a cultural landscape survey will be pursued because the plaza is a national historic landmark.
City staff updated the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission on Sept. 10 that the plaza topographical survey, prepared by BKF Engineering, is complete and that staff is preparing an RFP to retain a design professional to evaluate and modernize the plaza irrigation system.
The irrigation scope under development includes evaluating existing power and water supply, coverage and distribution for turf, trees and planted areas, backflow prevention, mainline and lateral piping, valves, controllers, sprinkler assemblies and technologies such as weather-based controllers and soil‑moisture sensors to reduce water use and improve efficiency. The RFP will request preliminary and final designs and bid-ready construction documents.
Parks Director Dave Jans told the commission the irrigation work will feed into a broader plaza master maintenance plan to move the city from reactive to proactive maintenance of the historic plaza. Jans also said staff is preparing to commission a cultural landscape survey to identify features and contributing elements of the plaza historic landscape; that survey will inform whether and how irrigation and planting work should proceed to preserve historic character.
Commissioners asked about including the plaza's two water features in the scope and whether the RFP will seek modern soil‑moisture or weather-based controllers; staff said both considerations are being evaluated and that budget and existing contract scope will determine what is included.
Staff indicated the RFP will be issued in short order and that the irrigation design will be coordinated with the city arborist to ensure proper watering for plaza tree species.
