REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK THORPE, Director of Aviation
Airports Department
BY: FRANCISCO PARTIDA, Assistant Director
Airports Department
CRISTAL DE LA TORRE, Projects Administrator
Airports Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project (Bid File 12602229) (Council District 3)
1. Adopt a finding of a Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination, pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, Environmental Assessment signed July 3, 2026
2. Approve an agreement with Hill International, Inc. of San Jose, California in the amount of $318,000 for Construction Management Services for the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport Runway 12-30 Project
3. Award a Construction Contract in the amount of $1,543,391 with Terra West Construction, Inc. of Clovis, California, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that Council 1) adopt a finding of a Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination, pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Environmental Assessment signed July 3, 2026; 2) award a Construction Contract in the amount of $1,543,391 to Terra West Construction, Inc. of Clovis, California, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project (Project); and authorize the Director of Aviation or designee to sign the standardized construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno Airports Department seeks to award a construction contract to Terra West Construction, Inc. following a competitive bidding process which identified them as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in the amount of $1,543,391. The Project will mill and overlay the existing asphaltic concrete Runway 12-30. The construction contract will be funded utilizing Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) and Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Funds.
BACKGROUND
In 2022 the Airports Department retained a design consultant to perform an update to the Airport Pavement Management System (APMS) for Fresno Chandler Executive Airport (FCH). The resulting Pavement Condition Index (PCI) for FCH Runway 12-30 was 51 out of a scale of 0 to 100. A PCI of 41 - 55 is rated as Poor which requires a major rehabilitation of the pavement. The runway exhibited no signs of structural damage therefore a mill and overlay project will accomplish the desired outcome of resetting the PCI to 100.
On October 31, 2023, staff received three Statements of Qualifications in response to a published Request for Qualifications inviting consultants to submit for construction management services for construction inspection and administration for projects at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) and Fresno Chandler Executive Airport (FCH) on an on-call basis. Hill International, Inc. was selected as an on-call Construction Management consultant.
Staff recommends that City Council approve the agreement with Hill International, Inc. of San Jose, California in the amount of $318,000 for construction management services for the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project and allow the Airports Director or designee to sign on behalf of the City. The consultant agreement has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
On June 12, 2025, Council approved the Consultant Services Agreement with Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc. for engineering design and construction phase services for the FCH Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in Planet Bids and posted on the City’s website on May 22, 2026. The Project plans and specifications were posted at three (3) building exchanges. Six (6) electronic bids were received and opened in a public bid opening on June 16, 2026, with bid amounts ranging from $1,543,391 to $1,817,690. Terra West Construction, Inc. was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in the amount of $1,543,391. The bids will expire on August 19, 2026. If the bids are rejected or expire, the Project must be rebid which will result in a delay to the Project.
The Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, applies to this contract because the engineer’s estimate for this project is over $1 million, pursuant to the terms of the PLA.
Staff recommends Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination, pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines, signed July 3, 2026, award a construction contract to Terra West Construction, Inc. of Clovis, California, in the amount of $1,543,391, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project, and authorize the Director of Aviation or designee to sign the standardized construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. The Fresno Chandler Executive Airport Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project will be utilizing Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) and Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Funds.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the standardized construction contract as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has determined that a CEQA Guidelines Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) Categorical Exemption is appropriate. Section 15301/Class 1 consists of minor alterations of existing public or private facilities, involving no expansion of existing or former use. Because the Project proposes to mill and overlay the existing asphaltic concrete (ac) pavement of Runway 12-30, which is a repair to an existing facility that will involve negligible expansion of existing use, the Project qualifies for a Class 1 exemption from further review under CEQA.
Furthermore, staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this Project. Staff recommends that Council, based upon its own independent judgment, adopt the finding of a Categorical Exemption per Staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines for the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Terra West Construction, Inc. is a local business, as defined by the Fresno Municipal Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Fresno Chandler Executive Airport Runway 12-30 Rehabilitation Project is in Council District 3 and will have no impact to the General Fund. The Project will be funded utilizing AIG and AIP Grant Funds.
Attachments:
CATEX - Environmental Assessment
Consultant Agreement
Standardized Construction Contract
Formal Procurement Evaluation
Vicinity Map
Location Map