CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: June 17, 2015
PREPARED BY: Julie Behzad, Senior Civil Engineer/Public Works Department
APPROVED BY: City Manager
Title
AWARD CONTRACT FOR THE MONTEREY ROAD STREETSCAPE PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution approving the following actions:
1. Approve project plans and specifications.
2. Award a contract to Stockbridge General Contracting for the Monterey Road Streetscape Project in the amount of $2,151,523.85.
3. Authorize expenditure of construction contingency funds not to exceed $322,728.58.
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute and administer that certain construction contract with Stockbridge General Contracting, Inc.
BODY
COUNCIL PRIORITIES, GOALS & STRATEGIES:
Ongoing Priorities
Enhancing public safety
Maintaining fiscal responsibility
2015 Focus Areas
Stimulate Economic Development
Advance Downtown Revitalization
REPORT NARRATIVE:
At the May 21, 2014 City Council Meeting, Council approved the Downtown Placemaking and Investment Strategy for expenditure of 2008 Bond proceeds that includes streetscape improvements, pedestrian safety improvements, landscape/irrigation upgrades to the Monterey Road median, parking lot improvements and undergrounding of the overhead utilities.
At the October 1, 2014 City Council Meeting, staff presented the basis of design concepts for the
Downtown Placemaking and Investment Strategy program. The concept design themes that were presented by the consultant, Janecki and Associates, were developed from an extensive community engagement process.
The Monterey Road Streetscape Improvement Project spans between Main Avenue and Dunne Avenue. The concept design was presented to the Council on May 20, 2015 and includes the following improvements: irrigation upgrades, electrical upgrades, gathering space upgrades, landscaping, and pedestrian safety enhancements. The design team has selected elements from the basis of design which will be most functionally and visibly beneficial, while meeting the overall budget.
At the May 20th meeting, Council made a variety of suggestions for staff to evaluate. These included: 1) Providing shades at the intersection of First and Monterey as a gathering space, 2) Ensuring the horizontal metal panels in the noses of the medians are able to sustain the weight of pedestrians, 3) Widening the median to provide an active gathering place, and 4) Providing safe crosswalks for pedestrian.
As a result of further evaluation, the project as recommended includes the following: 1) The tall grasses proposed at the intersection of First and Monterey will be revised to trees to provide shade, 2) Although the horizontal metal panels may withstand the weight of a pedestrian, the median noses are not intended to serve as refuge. Crosswalk signals are timed to ensure all pedestrian will clear the intersection, 3) Widening the median will need to be a long term goal for future improvements as financial resources do not allow this to occur at this time, and 4) Staff will continue to evaluate other effective measures to make the crosswalks safer.
The bid opening was held on June 11, 2015 and 2 bids were received. The low bidder, Stockbridge General Contracting, Inc. has 4 years of experience in construction and is located in Clovis, California. Staff contacted references and found Stockbridge General Contracting, Inc. to be both responsible and qualified to perform the work. Stockbridge General Contracting, Inc construction bid of $2,151,523.85 was 12% higher than the engineer's estimate of $1.90M.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Involve
Staff presented the design concepts for Monterey Road Streetscape Improvement Project at the following events:
Symposium on September 19, 2014
Coffee with the Mayor on April 11, 2015
Downtown Association on April 9, 2015
PBID meeting on April 22, 2015
City Council on May 20, 2015
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
1. Council could choose to not complete the project and direct staff to reject all bids.
2. Council could choose to reject all bids and re-bid the project. This alternative will delay the completion of Monterey Road Streetscape Improvements project.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMISSION ACTIONS:
At the May 21, 2014 City Council Meeting, the Council approved the Downtown Placemaking Investment Strategy for expenditure of 2008 Bond proceeds that includes streetscape improvements, pedestrian safety improvements, landscape/irrigation to the median along Monterey Road, parking lot improvements and undergrounding of the overhead utilities.
At the June 4, 2014 City Council Meeting, Council approved the retention of Sandis to develop the basis of design related to the Downtown Placemaking Investment Strategy.
At the October 1, 2014 City Council Meeting, Council accepted the Monterey Road Streetscape basis of design.
At the October 15, 2014 City Council Meeting, Council approved Sandis' second amendment for the final design of the Monterey Road Streetscape Improvement.
FISCAL AND RESOURCE IMPACT:
The approved FY 2014/15 and FY 2015/16 CIP Budgets includes the downtown projects and associated implementation costs. Funding is from former RDA bond proceeds (Fund 250). These expenses were included in the approved ROPS 14-5B and the ROPS 15-16A submittal approved by the Oversight Board and by the State Department of Finance.
CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act):
Categorical Exemption
The activities allowed under this action are to repair, maintain and operate existing City facilities (CEQA Guideline Section 15301 - Existing Facilities).
LINKS/ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Vicinity Map