REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Public Works Manager
Engineering Division, Design Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Citywide Countdown Pedestrian Head Project - Bid File 12300990 (Citywide)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 and Section 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $214,934 to Pelagic Engineering, of Oxnard, California
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15302/Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction), award a construction contract with Pelagic Engineering, of Oxnard, California in the amount of $214,934 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) project was awarded to the City of Fresno in 2021 with the Preliminary Engineering phase approved in the fall of that year. The proposed Citywide Countdown Pedestrian Head Project will remove and replace existing pedestrian signal heads at many of the signalized intersections along Barstow Avenue, Butler Avenue, Cedar/Champlain Avenue, Jensen Avenue, Clovis Avenue, McKinley Avenue, West Avenue, Ashlan Avenue, California/Ventura Avenue, Fresno Street, and Elm Avenue. The award of the construction contract will facilitate the construction of the proposed improvements, which include the removal of existing, non-countdown, pedestrian heads at these intersections which will then be replaced with countdown pedestrian heads. This project is State funded through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).
BACKGROUND
The Citywide Countdown Pedestrian Signalization Upgrade Project will remove and replace existing pedestrian signal heads at many of the signalized along segments of Barstow Avenue, Butler Avenue, Cedar/Champlain Avenue, Jensen Avenue, Clovis Avenue, McKinley Avenue, West Avenue, Ashlan Avenue, California/Ventura Avenue, Fresno Street, and Elm Avenue, totaling eighty-nine (89) intersections. The proposed work includes the removal of existing pedestrian heads at each intersection, which will then be replaced with countdown heads to provide pedestrians clear notice of when to proceed with crossing the intersections and how many seconds remain in the pedestrian (walk) phase so they know if they will have adequate time to get through the intersection. The engineering and design took approximately 12 months to complete.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal and posted on the City’s website on January 4, 2023 and sent to 10 building exchanges. Specifications were distributed to 21 prospective bidders. Five (5) sealed bids were received and opened in the public bid opening held at City Hall on February 21, 2023 with bid proposals ranging from $214,934 to $997,850. Pelagic Engineering, with their bid of $214,934, was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids expire on April 26, 2023. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid which will result in a delay of approximately 60 days.
The Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, does not apply to this contract because the engineer’s estimate for this project was less than $1 million, pursuant to the terms of the PLA.
Staff is recommending award of a construction contract to Pelagic Engineering in the amount of $214,934 for the Citywide Countdown Pedestrian Head Project as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed an environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and 15302/Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction). Section 15301/Class 1 exempts the repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing structures or facilities, which includes existing streets, sidewalk and gutters, and no further expansion of existing use. Section 15302/Class 2 which exempts the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced. Furthermore, staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented based on conditions of the state grant funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Citywide Pedestrian Head Project is state funded by a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) state grant. Required local match is funded by SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds. All funds necessary for the contract award are included in the City Council adopted current fiscal year budget.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
CEQA Environmental Assessment
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract