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Arcadia council discusses $137,760 City Hall lawn fence, staff says it will reduce vehicle risk
Summary
City staff described Resolution 7,679, a request to appropriate $137,759.78 and award a contract to MDJ Management to install about 660 linear feet of wrought‑iron fencing and an interior hedge on the City Hall lawn to reduce vehicle intrusion at events. Council members raised access and safety trade‑offs and pulled the item for discussion.
City Manager Dominic told the Arcadia City Council on April 7 that staff is seeking approval of Resolution 7,679 to amend the budget and appropriate $137,759.78 for a City Hall Lawn Fenced Installation Project and to approve a contract with MDJ Management.
"The project cost itself is expected to be $125,236.16 with a contingency on top of that to get you to the 137," City Manager Dominic said, describing a proposed roughly 660 linear feet of 4‑foot‑high wrought‑iron fencing with an interior hedge to deter climbing and improve appearance.
The proposal was presented as an alternative to repeatedly renting concrete rails for summer events; staff said the city spent about $40,000 last year to rent concrete rails for the concert series. "We discussed as a staff that if we're going to do this every year, it's going to cost $40,000 every year. Maybe there's a more permanent solution that will cost us less in the long run," Dominic said.
Council member Kwon, who pulled the item for discussion, questioned whether the wrought‑iron fence would provide protection equivalent to the heavy concrete railings used at recent events. "I don't see that's… that's solid, with the comparison of the concrete barrier," Kwon said, asking whether the fence would reliably stop a vehicle in a worst‑case scenario.
Dominic responded that the proposed fence would be set in concrete and is expected to deflect and slow a vehicle, allowing people to exit the area; traffic‑rated barriers used on freeways are designed to withstand high‑speed impacts and would be costlier and less aesthetic. "We could upgrade the fencing, but it would be significantly more expensive. And there's an aesthetic impact to that as well," Dominic said.
Staff said openings would be limited to the ends of the fenced frontage and the existing walkways to City Hall; they recommended against adding arbitrary openings in the middle of the lawn because of the risk of children or attendees wandering toward Huntington Drive during evening events.
The council did not vote on the fence project on April 7; the item was pulled for discussion and further consideration. The proposal includes the $137,759.78 appropriation and a contract with MDJ Management; staff framed the project as a long‑term alternative to annual rental of concrete rails.
Next steps: the council pulled item 8C (the fence) from the consent calendar for discussion; staff will return with any requested follow‑up information before a final council vote.
