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
ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ, PE, Supervising Professional Engineer
Public Works Department, Transportation Project Management
SUBJECT
Title
Approve an agreement for Professional Engineering Services with Provost and Pritchard Consulting Group for $1,650,000, with a $62,500 contingency, for design and construction support services for the River West Eaton Trail Extension Project (Council District 2)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve an agreement for Professional Engineering Services with Provost and Pritchard Consulting Group for $1,650,000, with a $62,500 contingency, for design and construction support services for the River West Eaton Trail Extension 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 City of Fresno to begin and complete final engineering design plans, specifications, construction estimates for the River West Eaton Trail Extension Project. The project will extend the existing Lewis S. Eaton Trail approximately 2.4 miles starting at the Perrin Avenue alignment near Highway 41 and ending at the City’s Spano Park near Palm Avenue. The trail will be approximately 22-feet-wide, with a 12-foot-wide paved surface, a parallel 8-foot-wide hard natural surface for equestrian use, and a 2-foot shoulder in accordance with the San Joaquin River Conservancy Master Plan.
BACKGROUND
In 2018, the San Joaquin River Conservancy updated the San Joaquin River Parkway Interim Master Plan (Master Plan) that was originally adopted in 1997. The updated Master Plan describes public access and recreational improvements along a 22-mile stretch of the San Joaquin River between Friant Dam and Highway 99. This update provided a plan to guide future improvements that would improve public access and recreational facilities in the area located along the south side of the San Joaquin River just north of the Palm Bluffs, between Highway 41 and Spano Park.
The River West Eaton Trail Extension will provide increased public access to the river for all residents of the City of Fresno, including nearby disadvantaged communities, by extending the existing Lewis S. Eaton Trail from Woodward Park westward under Highway 41 and downstream along the San Joaquin River for approximately 2.4 miles. The Project will also create designated access points with parking areas at the following three locations within the project site:
• Highway 41 and Perrin Avenue
• Spano Park (near the intersection of Palm and Nees)
• Riverview Drive (near the intersection of Audubon and Del Mar)
The project will create parking for 105 vehicles, 3 horse trailers, and create a school bus drop off location along with new restrooms, park benches, approximately three miles of multi-use trails, and two viewing areas. The proposed design elements will generate opportunities for the public to engage in a variety of activities such as walking, jogging, trail running, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
The San Joaquin River Conservancy Board approved the River West Eaton Trail Extension grant application on September 1, 2021. The Wildlife Conservation Board approved the grant on November 18, 2021.
On December 9, 2021, the City Council approved the application for grant funds from the Wildlife Conservation Board and authorized execution of grant related documents for the River West Eaton Trail Extension Project.
In accordance with the Administrative Order 6-19, staff sent out requests for Statement of Qualifications (SOQs) on April 18, 2022, via Planet Bids, email and the Business Journal. The RFQ was advertised for twenty-nine days. Four (4) Statement of Qualifications were received, and staff interviewed the three (3) qualified respondents on June 7 and 9, 2022. Provost and Pritchard Consulting Group was determined to be most qualified and responsive based on consultant interviews. Staff negotiated a fee of $1,650,000 with a $62,500 contingency, for the preparation of plans, specifications, cost estimates, bidding support services and construction support services for this project.
Staff is recommending the Council approve the agreement with Provost and Pritchard Consulting Group for $1,650,000, with a $62,500 contingency, for the River West Eaton Trail Extension 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 for this project because this contract is utilizing State funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The River West Eaton Trail Extension Project is located in Council District 2 and is being funded by a grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board. This project will not impact the General Fund, and all funds necessary for the contract award are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by City Council. Future operations and maintenance are planned to be funded under the Measure P Safe Walking and Biking Trails program, San Joaquin River Parkway subprogram.
Attachments:
Consultant Agreement
Vicinity Map