REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Director
Capital Projects Department
Scott L. mozier, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: JESUS AVITIA, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
BRANDON CHACON, Projects Administrator
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the Third Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with UltraSystems Environmental Inc. of Irvine, California extending the consultant’s performance period by one year to September 30, 2024, to continue professional environmental services and preparation of technical memos for the McKinley Avenue Widening Project between Marks Avenue and Hughes Avenue (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends the City Council approve the Third Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement dated September 8, 2021, with UltraSystems Environmental Inc. to extend the consultant’s performance period by one year to September 30, 2024, for the McKinley Avenue Widening Project, and to authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the Third Amendment to the Agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno is seeking to construct street improvements and widen the north side of McKinley Avenue from Marks Avenue to Hughes Avenue, including curbs, gutters, sidewalks, bicycle facilities, street lighting and a high-intensity activated crosswalk beacon (HAWK) pedestrian signal near Addams Elementary School. The preliminary engineering, right-of-way, and construction phases are federally funded with the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program administered through Caltrans, on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The federal funding requires a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) determination, in addition to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) assessment, prior to commencing right-of-way acquisition and construction. Environmental investigations including studies, evaluations, and reporting are required for the completion of the NEPA process. Due to the complexity of the studies and detailed level of review by Caltrans Staff, the expected duration to complete the studies has exceeded the original estimate. Staff recommends approval of this Third Amendment to extend the consultants performance period to September 30, 2024, for the McKinley Avenue Widening Project between Marks Avenue and Hughes Avenue. No additional compensation shall be rendered as a result of this Amendment.
BACKGROUND
McKinley Avenue currently exists as a two-lane arterial roadway, lacking curbs, gutters, sidewalks, street lighting, and drainage facilities on the north side of McKinley Avenue between Marks Avenue and Hughes Avenue. The purpose of this project is to widen McKinley Avenue to its ultimate configuration and improve accessibility and multimodal travel options.
The design and preparation of street improvement plans, specifications and engineer’s estimate for the widening project is currently being completed by City staff.
In October of 2017, the City of Fresno applied for, and was successful in getting awarded, a federal STBG program grant for the design engineering, right-of-way, and construction phases of the McKinley Avenue Widening Project. These funds will be used to widen the north side of McKinley Avenue between Marks Avenue and Hughes Avenue, including curbs, gutters, sidewalks, bicycle facilities, street lighting and a HAWK pedestrian signal near Addams Elementary School.
On September 8, 2021, the City entered into a consultant agreement with UltraSystems Environmental Inc. for total fee not to exceed $113,553, with a $5,000 contingency, to prepare environmental studies and technical memoranda for the McKinley Avenue Widening Project. On September 7, 2022, the First Amendment to the consultant agreement was executed, which extended the Consultant’s performance period to complete the environmental services to September 30, 2023. On February14, 2023, the Second Amendment to the consultant services agreement increased the total fee by $32,716 for a revised total contract amount of $146,269, with a $5,000 contingency, which included additional environmental studies, investigations and reporting required to comply with the federal grant.
The City now desires to amend the Agreement with UltraSystems Environmental Inc. to extend the consultants performance period to September 30, 2024, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign on behalf of the City of Fresno. UltraSystems Environmental Inc. continues to prepare the required documentation to support the NEPA determination for the proposed project.
The City Attorney’s office has reviewed and approved the 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; this is an amendment to an existing agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project, which is located in Council District 3, will not have any impact to the General Fund. The amendment only extends the consultants performance period.
Attachment(s):
Third Amendment to the Agreement
Vicinity Map