REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
February 13, 2020
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
BY: HAN NGO, PE, Professional Engineer
Public Works Department, Project Management Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Veterans Trail from Hayes to Polk Avenues Project - Bid File No. 3630 (Council District 2)
1 Resolution-adopting findings pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15091 and 15093 as required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15096
2 Award a construction contract in the amount of $1,006,790.00 to Avison Construction, Inc. of Madera, California
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution adopting findings pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15091 and 15093 as required by CEQA Guidelines 15096, and award a construction contract to Avison Construction, Inc., of Madera, California in the amount of $1,006,790.00 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
Veterans Boulevard Trail between Hayes and Polk Avenues will provide connectivity between the Herndon Avenue trail and the existing neighborhoods. This is the first segment of the proposed Veterans trail that will eventually be constructed alongside Veterans Boulevard from Herndon Avenue to Shaw Avenue. The project consists of a Class I multi-purpose trail per the City’s Asphalt Multi-Purpose Trail standards, landscaping, irrigation system, and curb and gutter along the Veterans Boulevard alignment. Street lighting infrastructure including conduit, pull boxes, and pole foundations for future street lights will also be part of the project. The trail and landscaping were included in the list of features of the Community Facilities District (CFD) for the subdivision backing up to Veterans Boulevard, Tract No. 5141, and will be maintained through the CFD upon completion.
BACKGROUND
The construction of Veterans Boulevard Trail between Hayes and Polk Avenue, previously referred to as “bicycle/pedestrian trail” along North Grantland Avenue (diagonal alignment), was a condition of approval for the adjacent Tract No. 5141. However, due to uncertainties at the time (2005) about the Veterans Boulevard geometric layout, the City chose to accept a cash-in-lieu payment from the developer for the curb, gutter, trail and landscaping along the tract frontage to Veterans Boulevard. As the Veterans Boulevard Project progressed in the design and the alignment was refined, the decision was made to move forwarded with these deferred improvements. The project was initiated in FY2016 when the project was first included in the adopted City budget. With the Veterans Boulevard Project fully funded, this segment will soon provide connectivity for trail users along Veterans Boulevard between Shaw and Herndon Avenues.
The proposed project consists of a Class I multi-purpose trail along the Veterans Boulevard alignment between North Hayes and Polk Avenues. It will consist of a 12-foot wide multi-purpose trail, landscaping, irrigation and curb and gutter along the Veterans Boulevard alignment. Street lighting will also be included in the project. Measure “C” Trail funding will be utilized consistent with program requirements and only for the trail. Project components such as curb and gutter are to be funded by the cash-in-lieu deposit from the subdivider.
The trail as proposed reflects current standards. Measure “C” Trail funding is being utilized to cover the additional funding needs beyond the original cash-in-lieu deposit from the developer, and Regional Street Development Impact Fees are being utilized for the limited amount of street-related infrastructure needing to be installed in conjunction with the trail. Maintenance of the trail, landscaping and irrigation is fully covered by the Community Facilities District for Tract No. 5141.
The Notice Inviting Bids was advertised and published in the Business Journal on November 6, 2019, and posted on the City’s website. Eleven building exchanges received the Notice Inviting Bids. The specifications were distributed to nine prospective bidders. Nine sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on December 3, 2019, with the bids ranging from $1,006,790.00 to $1,281,013.00. Avison Construction, Inc., was deemed the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids will expire 87 days after the bid opening on February 28, 2020.
If the bids are rejected, the project will be rebid resulting in a delay of approximately 60 days.
Staff is recommending award of a construction contract to Avison Construction, Inc., in the amount of $1,006,790.00 to construct the Veterans Trail from Hayes to Polk Avenues and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. The City Attorney’s office has reviewed and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The California Department of Transportation, as lead agency, prepared an EIR for the Veterans Boulevard/State Route Interchange Project/Veterans Boulevard Grade Separation Project, identified by SCH No. 2010021054 (the “Veterans Boulevard EIR”). The Veterans Boulevard EIR was certified on June 16, 2013 and analyzed several components of the Veterans Boulevard project, including but not limited to a new interchange at State Route 99 and Veterans Boulevard, grade separated crossings to connect Veterans Boulevard and Golden State Boulevard, the construction of Veterans Boulevard as a six-lane super arterial from West Shaw Avenue to Herndon Avenue, drainage basins, and landscaping. The Veterans Boulevard EIR also contemplated a 12 foot wide Class 1 trail from Herndon Avenue to Shaw Avenue on the North Side of Veteran’s Boulevard. This approval is to implement a portion of that trail segment.
An analysis has been performed pursuant CEQA Guidelines § 15162 to determine whether subsequent environmental review is required for this approval. Based upon this analysis the following findings are made to support the determination that no subsequent environmental review is required:
1. No substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the previous EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. In this case, the trail alignment has not changed from what was proposed by the Veterans Boulevard EIR.
2. No substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the project was undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects.
3. There is no new information, which was not known and could not have been known at the time of the previous EIR showing that:
a. The project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR;
b. Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous EIR;
c. Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found to be not feasible are now feasible and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project.
Based upon these findings, it has been determined that a subsequent EIR is not required for this approval.
Pursuant to the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15096(h), the City adopts the findings attached as Exhibit A to the Resolution, as required by CEQA Guidelines 15091 and 15093.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented for this project because the lowest responsive and responsible bidder is a local business.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project is located in City of Fresno Council District 2. The overall cost of the project is $1,339,900 and is locally funded by Measure “C” Trails, Regional Street Development Impact Fees and Developer Cash-in-Lieu Improvements. The project will not have any impact to the General Fund. Of the total project cost, $1,006,790 will be used for the construction contract award. All funds necessary for the contract award are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by the Council.
Attachments:
Resolution Adopting findings pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15091 and 15093
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map
Standardized Contract