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
MELISSA BLAU, Projects Administrator
Public Works Department, Transportation Project Management
SUBJECT
Title
Approve an agreement for Professional Engineering Services with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. for $455,407.11, with a $45,000 contingency, for design and construction support services for the Midtown Trail Segment 1 (Phase II) Project (Council District 7)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council approve an agreement for professional engineering services with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. for $455,407.11, with a $45,000 contingency, for design and construction support services for the Midtown Trail Segment 1 (Phase II) Project and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The approval of this agreement will allow the consultant to begin and complete final engineering design plans, specifications, construction estimates for the construction of the Midtown Trail Segment 1 (Phase II) Project. The limits of the Midtown Trail Segment 1 (Phase II) Project are from the Manchester Center entrance intersection to Fresno Street, along the south side of Shields Avenue. The scope of the project will include the paved trail surface, signage and striping, landscaping, lighting, signal and curb ramp modifications and user protection facilities including fencing. The scope of the project also includes structural and roadway improvements within the Caltrans SR 41 and Shields Avenue interchange. This contract will be funded with local Measure C Trail and Measure P Safe Walking and Biking Trails funding allocations budgeted for the project.
BACKGROUND
On September 1, 2016, the City Council approved the funding agreement allowing Measure C to be used for the design and construction of the Midtown Trail (then referred to as the “Metro Trail”). The Midtown Trail was split into five segments to be designed and constructed as stand-alone projects.
The Midtown Trail Segment 1 Project, along Shields Avenue from Blackstone Avenue to Fresno Street is the first segment of the Midtown Trail program, a planned seven-mile pedestrian and cycle multipurpose trail, which will ultimately provide connectivity between the Fresno Area Express hub at Manchester Center and the Clovis Old Town Trail. The planned corridor will follow the Herndon Canal alignment along Shields Avenue, from Shields Avenue and First Street to McKinley Avenue, then along the Mill Creek alignment south of McKinley Avenue to Clovis Avenue, then northerly along Clovis Avenue to Shields Avenue.
A Request for Project Scope Change was submitted to Caltrans on July 13, 2021, proposing to separate Segment 1 to two phases. The scope change was approved by Caltrans on October 7, 2021. The first phase, currently in construction, is located on the north side of Shields Avenue and extends from Blackstone Avenue to the Manchester Center entrance intersection. The second phase shifts the trail at the Manchester Center entrance intersection to the south side of Shields Avenue and continues east to Fresno Street.
In accordance with the Administrative Order 6-19, City staff sent out requests for Statement of Qualifications (SOQs) on March 4, 2022, via Planet Bids, email and the Business Journal. The RFQ was advertised for thirty-one (31) days. Two (2) Statement of Qualifications were received, and staff interviewed the two (2) qualified respondents on April 12 and 13, 2022. Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. was determined to be most qualified and responsive based on consultant interviews. Staff negotiated a fee of $455,407.11, with a $45,000 contingency, for the preparation of plans, specifications, cost estimates, bidding support services and construction support services for this project.
Staff is recommending City Council approve the agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. for $455,407.11, with a $45,000 contingency, for the Midtown Trail Segment 1 (Phase II) Project and authorize the Public Works Director or designee, to sign and execute the contract on behalf of the City.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, the award of this contract does not qualify as a “project.”
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because a portion of this project uses federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Midtown Trail Segment 1 (Phase II) Project is located in Council District 7. This project will not impact the General Fund. The design phase and this contract will be funded with local Measure C Trail and Measure P Safe Walking and Biking Trails funding. All funds necessary for the contract award are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by the Council.
Attachments:
Consultant Agreement
Vicinity Map