REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
July 16, 2020
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: WILLIAM C. HERR, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Facilities and Construction Management Divisions
BY: L. NATHAN SANCHEZ, Supervising Engineering Technician
Public Works Department, Facilities Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the City Hall UB&C Counter Remodel Project (Bid File 3720) (Council District 3)
1. Adopt finding of a Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301(a)/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Award a construction contract with Next Stage Construction, of Fresno, CA, for $148,000
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption and award a construction contract with Next Stage Construction for $148,000 for the City Hall UB&C Counter Remodel project and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Utilities, Billing, and Collections (UB&C) customer service counters in City Hall provide vital access to paying water, disposal, sewer and sanitation bills for the general public. The remodeled counters will deliver improved compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provide improved security and privacy for customers at each counter.
BACKGROUND
Consistent with the funding in the adopted City budget, the City of Fresno Finance Department wishes to remodel the UB&C counters at City Hall. The counters average 90,000 customer service transactions each year and the remodel will be a welcome makeover to provide the public greater access and improved privacy. The remodel will provide four standard service windows and one dedicated ADA service window as well as a private conference room and vestibule area.
Pursuant to AO 6-19 staff prepared and entered into an agreement for consultant services on behalf of the City of Fresno for the design and preparation of construction documents for the UB&C Counter Remodel Project. Plans and specifications were prepared by TAM+CZ, Inc. A Notice Inviting Bids was published on March 30, 2020, published in the Business Journal on April 1, 2020, distributed to ten building exchanges and posted on the City’s website. The specifications were distributed to twenty-seven prospective bidders. Two sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on April 28, 2020, with bid amounts of $148,000 and $309,000.
Next Stage Construction submitted a bid price in the amount of $148,000 and is the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Staff is recommending that Council adopt finding of a Categorical Exemption and award of the construction contract to Next Stage Construction for $148,000 for the City Hall UB&C Counter Remodel and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has determined that a Categorical Exemption is appropriate, based on Class 1 Section 15301(a) of the CEQA Guidelines, which exempts projects consisting of the operation, permitting, or minor alteration of existing public facilities (including additions to existing structures) that involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination because this project involves remodeling the existing room and finishes without expansion of the existing footprint and without major utilities modifications. Furthermore, staff has determined that note of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Staff recommends that the Council, based upon its own independent judgment, adopt a finding of a Categorical Exemption per Staff determination, pursuant to Sections 15301(a)/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines for the City Hall UB&C Counter Remodel Project
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference did not affect this Construction Contract. The lowest responsive and responsible bidder is a local business pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-109(b).
FISCAL IMPACT
The City Hall UB&C Counter Remodel project is included in the adopted City of Fresno Budget. The project will not impact the General Fund as UB&C operations are funded by Enterprise revenues.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standard Contract