REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 27, 2020
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
BY: AUSTIN BAIN, EIT, Engineer I
Public Works Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Veterans Boulevard South Extension Project (Council District 2):
1. RESOLUTION - Adopting findings pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15091 and 15093 as required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15096
2. ***RESOLUTION - 7th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2020-159 appropriating $2,003,400 for the Veterans Boulevard South Extension Project (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
3. Award a construction contract in the amount of $6,563,662.00 to Avison Construction, of Madera, California for the Veterans Boulevard Project - South Extension Package from Barstow Avenue to Shaw Avenue - Bid File No. 3755
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council (1) adopt CEQA findings pursuant to Section 15096, (2) adopt the attached 7th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2020-159, (3) award a construction contract with Avison Construction of Madera, California in the amount of $6,563,662.00 for the Veterans Boulevard Project - South Extension Package 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
The City of Fresno seeks to construct the southern extension of Veterans Boulevard from Barstow Avenue to Shaw Avenue. The associated work includes the construction of concrete curb, gutter and sidewalks, the installation of asphalt street paving, storm drain piping, inlets and manholes, the installation of sewer and water mains, the installation of a multipurpose asphalt trail, and the construction of traffic signal improvements. This construction contract is phase 4a of the overall Veterans Boulevard Project. This phase is being funded by a grant from the State of California Local Partnership Program (LPP), local Measure “C” funding, and City of Fresno Developer Impact Fees.
BACKGROUND
Veterans Boulevard, originally referred to as the Herndon-Grantland Diagonal, was originally part of the 1984 General Plan and is now a planned six-lane super arterial in the 2035 General Plan. In recent years, staff has completed the Project Study Report (PSR), Project Report and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and progressed the design of the various phases of Veterans Boulevard from Shaw Avenue to Herndon Avenue with the help of Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) and Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) with the funding for completing the final design and right-of-way acquisition. The project proposes a new partial cloverleaf interchange connecting State Route 99 and Veterans Boulevard. The new roadway will have six travel lanes, a Class I bicycle lane/pedestrian trail on one side and Class II bicycle lanes on both sides. The project will include three bridge structures, one to cross over State Route 99, one to cross over future Golden State Boulevard and one to cross over the existing UPRR tracks and the future HSR tracks.
The first phase of the Veterans Boulevard Project, the Bullard Extension package, funded by the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), was opened to traffic on September 24, 2019. The Veterans Boulevard Grade Separation Project, also funded by the CHSRA, was the second phase of the overall project and is under construction as of May 21, 2020. The Veterans Boulevard South Extension Project, which is referred to as Phase 4a, is the next segment in the overall project scheduled to commence construction. The construction work of this package will result in the southern segment of Veterans Boulevard from Barstow Avenue to Shaw Avenue. The associated work includes the construction of concrete curb, gutter and sidewalks, the installation of asphalt street paving, storm drain piping, inlets and manholes, the installation of sewer and water mains, the installation of a multipurpose asphalt trail, and the construction of traffic signal improvements.
The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on June 23, 2020, posted on the City’s website and was sent via fax to ten (10) building exchanges. The plans and specifications were distributed to twenty three (23) prospective bidders. Eight (8) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on July 21, 2020, with the bids ranging from $6,563,662.00 to $7,416,198.50. Avison Construction Company of Madera, CA, with their bid of $6,563,662.00, was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The expiration date of the bids is September 23, 2020. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days.
Staff is recommending award of a construction contract to Avison Construction in the amount of $6,563,662.00, to construct the Veterans Boulevard South Extension Project 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 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 arterials from West Shaw to Herndon Avenues, drainage basins, and landscaping. This approval is to implement phase 4a of the overall project.
An analysis has been performed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 to determine whether subsequent environmental review is required for this project. 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 to the EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects because the project is being implemented as planned.
2. No substantial changes occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the project was undertaken which will require major revisions to the 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 because the lowest responsive and responsible bidder is a local business as defined by the Municipal Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Veterans Boulevard - South Extension project is located in Council District 2. The project will not have any impact to the General Fund. The overall cost of the project is $7,956,700, of which $6,563,662 is for the construction contract award. The project is funded by State Local Partnership Program grant, Local Measure “C”, and Developer Impact Fee Funding. Adoption of the attached AAR amendment resolution will appropriate the necessary funding to award the construction contract in the current fiscal year. Additional appropriations for the remaining project costs will be included in the City’s fiscal year 2022 budget.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
Location Map
Resolution Adopting CEQA findings
7th Amendment to Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2020-159
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standard Construction Contract