REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: NICHOLAS D. MASCIA, PE, Assistant City Manager
Interim Director - Capital Projects Department
SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Department of Public Works
BY: Scott p. sehm, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
STEVE DELSID, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Wishon Avenue and Cortland Avenue Mini-Traffic Circle Project (Rebid) - Bid File 12500545-1: (Council District 7)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $489,995 to Cal Valley Construction, Inc. of Fresno, California.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the CEQA guidelines and award a construction contract with Cal Valley Construction, Inc. of Fresno, California in the amount of $489,995 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Capital Projects Department Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Works, through an approved Council budget motion, planned and designed the Wishon Avenue and Cortland Avenue Mini-Traffic Circle Project (Rebid) as a traffic calming measure for the segment of Wishon Avenue between Shields and Ashlan Avenues. To accomplish the traffic calming, the project proposes to reconstruct the roadway within the intersection and install raised concrete medians along Wishon Avenue, immediately south and north of Cortland Avenue, which will narrow and channelize the travel lanes and direct traffic around a proposed raised concrete traffic circle that will be constructed at the center of the intersection. Other improvements include pedestrian facilities at each leg of the intersection and striping and signage enhancements within the limits for the project.
These improvements will slow traffic, enhancing the safety of the corridor for residents, vehicles, and cyclists travelling along Wishon Avenue and the local streets intersecting Wishon. No right-of-way was needed for this project. This project is fully funded using SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds with no impact to the General Fund.
BACKGROUND
The design phase of the Wishon Avenue and Cortland Avenue Mini-Traffic Circle Project (Rebid) was initiated in FY24 when the project was budgeted using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which was later changed to the current funding source, SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) revenue. The project’s topographic survey, engineering design, and project management took approximately 12 months to complete and was completed by the Capital Projects Department for the Department of Public Works.
Wishon Avenue is a north-south route through the Van Ness/Old Figarden neighborhood and is currently a paved two-way street with no curbs, gutters or sidewalks, and wide shoulders comprised of dirt and gravel. Cortland Avenue lies within the one-mile segment of Wishon Avenue, between Shields Avenue and Ashlan Avenue, where there are currently no stop controls or other traffic calming measures in place. The proposed traffic circle improvements at the intersection of Wishon and Cortland Avenues will provide traffic calming by interrupting the flow of traffic, forcing drivers through narrowed travel lanes located between raised medians along the middle of Wishon Avenue and curb and gutters that will be constructed along the shoulders before they navigate around a large raised concrete center median. A future project, currently in the early design phase, will implement a similar mitigation measure at Wishon Avenue and Fountain Way, just north of Cortland Avenue.
This project was originally advertised on September 13, 2024, but the advertisement was cancelled before the bid due date over concerns the project might not award at Council in time to meet the early December 2024 deadline for ARPA funding encumbrance. Public Works changed the funding source to SB1, and the project was rebid.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on October 28, 2024, posted on the City’s website, and distributed to two (2) building exchange. The specifications were distributed to seven (7) prospective bidders. Four (4) bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on November 26, 2024, with bids ranging from $489,995 to $829,878. Cal Valley Construction, Inc. of Fresno, California submitted the apparent low bid in the amount $489,995 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. Local Preference was considered but did not affect the determination as the low bidder is a Fresno-based business. The bids will expire on February 28, 2025; if the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days.
The Project Labor Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, does not apply to this project because the engineer’s estimate for this project was not in excess of one-million dollars, pursuant to the terms of the PLA.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the project’s environmental determination and standardized contract as to form.
Staff recommends that Council award a construction contract with Cal Valley Construction, Inc., in the amount of $489,995 for the Wishon Avenue and Courtland Avenue Mini-Traffic Circle Project (Rebid) as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and authorize the Capital Projects Department Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Class 1 Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines, section 15301(c) as this project will make alterations to the intersection of Wishon Avenue and Courtland Avenue that will not result in the expansion of existing use and the proposed project does not include the acquisition of right-of-way. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference was considered with this project’s bid evaluation but did not affect the outcome as Cal Valley Construction, Inc. is a local business, as defined by the Fresno Municipal Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Wishon Avenue and Cortland Avenue Mini-Traffic Circle Project (Rebid) is located in Council District 7. The overall cost of the project is $702,895 and is locally funded by SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds. Of the total project cost, $489,995 will be used for the construction contract award. All funds necessary for the contract award are included in the current fiscal year budget, as previously adopted by the Council. The project will have no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments:
CEQA Environmental Assessment
Vicinity Map
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract