REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Director
Capital Projects Department
SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Fourth Amendment to the Consultant Service Agreement with SWCA Environmental Consultants of San Luis Obispo, California in the amount of $8,554 to provide additional environmental and technical memoranda services for the Ashlan Avenue Widening Project from Polk Avenue to Cornelia Avenue, for a total contract value of $95,888 with no contingency remaining (Council District 1).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve a Fourth Amendment to the Consultant Service Agreement with SWCA Environmental Consultants, in the amount of $8,544, to provide additional environmental and technical memoranda services to complete the right of way and construction phases of the Ashlan Avenue Widening Project between Polk Avenue and Cornelia Avenue and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the Fourth Amendment to the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Due to design constraints, one parcel within the project limits will require a full take and relocation of existing tenants/owners. Therefore, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) clearance must be revalidated to accommodate this full take. To comply with the NEPA and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements for the revised project, additional study is necessary based on feedback provided by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Staff recommends approval of this Fourth Amendment to the Agreement with SWCA in the amount of $8,554 to provide additional environmental and technical memoranda services to complete the right-of-way and construction phases of the Ashlan Avenue Widening Project between Polk Avenue and Cornelia Avenue.
BACKGROUND
On October 06, 2021, the City entered into a consultant agreement with SWCA to prepare environmental studies and technical memoranda for the Ashlan Avenue Widening Project from Polk Avenue to Cornelia Avenue. The preliminary engineering is locally funded through New Growth Area Major Street Impact Fees, while the right-of-way and construction phases are funded by the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program administered through Caltrans.
The Agreement underwent amendments in the past, including one on August 24, 2021 (First Amendment) for additional environmental services supporting a CEQA determination. Another amendment on September 21, 2022 (Second Amendment) extended the Consultant's performance period to complete Task 2 and additional services until December 30, 2022. No additional compensation was provided with this Second Amendment. Another amendment on September 15, 2023 (Third Amendment) was made for additional environmental services supporting a NEPA revalidation.
The City now desires to amend the Agreement (Fourth Amendment) with SWCA Environmental Consultants in the amount of $8,554 and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign on behalf of the City. The SWCA team will prepare the required documentation to support NEPA determinations for the proposed project. The revised project also includes the full take of one parcel and relocation of existing tenants/owners. The funding for this Fourth Amendment will be sourced from New Growth Developer Fees.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved this Amendment as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 the contract amendment approval does not qualify as a project as defined by the CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented for this project due to it being funded through a Federal STBG program, which precludes local preference.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Ashlan Avenue Widening Project from Polk Avenue to Cornelia Avenue, situated in Council District 1, will have no impact on the General Fund. The funding for this Amendment will be sourced from New Growth Developer Fees, as included in the project budget adopted in the current fiscal year City Budget.
Attachments:
Consultant Agreement
First Amendment to the Agreement
Second Amendment to the Agreement
Third Amendment to the Agreement
Fourth Amendment to the Agreement
Vicinity Map