REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Director
Capital Projects Department
AARON A. AGUIRRE, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
BY: francisco V. magos ii, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Utilities and On-Site Project Management Division
MIKE MOONEYHAM, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer
Capital Projects Department, Utilities and On-Site Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve an agreement for professional architectural engineering services with NJA Architecture, of Lodi, CA for $1,072,670, with an $80,000 contingency, for community outreach, infrastructure assessment, master planning, and schematic development services for the West Fresno Community Centers Rehabilitation Planning Project (Council District 3).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve a consultant services agreement for professional architectural engineering services with NJA Architecture in the amount of $1,072,670, with an $80,000 contingency, for community outreach, infrastructure assessment, master planning, and schematic development services for the West Fresno Community Centers Rehabilitation Planning Project and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department (PARCS) has identified four West Fresno community centers, located in highest-needs neighborhoods, that are in need of varying levels of repair or redevelopment. The proposed project will engage community stakeholders and analyze existing site conditions to identify highest priority community needs and develop a rehabilitation plan for each of the four community centers. The improvements will increase accessibility, provide needed features and amenities, and create vibrant, safe, and comfortable community spaces for the residents of southwest Fresno.
Council approval of the consultant agreement between the City and NJA Architecture will initiate the professional architectural engineering services necessary to complete the rehabilitation planning project. The project is fully funded with FY 2024 Measure P Expenditure Category 1 funds. Additionally, the consultant services for Frank H. Ball rehabilitation planning will be partially funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
BACKGROUND
On January 25, 2018, Council adopted the Parks Master Plan (PMP), which provided an assessment of existing park facilities and public needs, and identified prioritization and improvement strategies to repair, maintain, and enhance the City’s park system. Following the passage of the Fresno Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Tax Ordinance (Measure P), PARCS has worked to address the findings and recommendations detailed in the PMP and proposes a rehabilitation planning project for four community centers in West Fresno, including Frank H. Ball, Mary Ella Brown, Maxie L. Parks, and Sunset.
Frank H. Ball Neighborhood Center, built in 1922, was assigned a “Poor” condition rating in the 2017 PMP and was targeted for tier 2 renovations, recommending strategic enhancements that improve or change the user experience. According to the PMP, these improvements may include site, amenity, and facility upgrades and removal of barriers to access for people with disabilities. In July 2020, Council awarded a construction contract with Next State Construction to remodel existing restroom facilities.
Mary Ella Brown Community Center, built in 1973, was assigned a “Poor” condition rating in the 2017 PMP and was targeted for tier 3 renovations, recommending re-master planning and potential complete redevelopment. Since the publication of the 2017 PMP, the City of Fresno partnered with Building Healthy Communities (BHC) to develop a BMX track, which opened in November 2019. In July 2020, Council awarded a construction contract with Next State Construction to remodel existing restroom facilities.
Maxie L. Parks Community Center, built in 2010, was assigned a “Fair” condition rating in the 2017 PMP and was targeted for tier 1 renovations, recommending critical park improvements including repair and lifecycle replacement of existing parks, facilities, and amenities. Since the publication of the 2017 PMP, Council approved an agreement with SOMAM, Inc. in April 2022 for design and preparation of construction documents to replace the existing swamp coolers with a split-system Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. Additionally, Council approved an agreement with O’Dell Engineering, Inc. in April 2023 for design and preparation of construction documents for play structure improvements.
Sunset Community Center, built in 1977, was assigned a “Poor” condition rating in the 2017 PMP and was targeted for tier 1 renovations, recommending critical park improvements including repair and lifecycle replacement of existing parks, facilities, and amenities. Since the publication of the 2017 PMP, no significant renovations or improvements have been completed, with the exception of routine maintenance.
The proposed rehabilitation planning project will consist of an inclusive community outreach campaign paired with extensive engineering analysis of the existing conditions at each site, that will form the basis of design for master planning and schematic development. Community outreach will consist of a series of community meetings and events, an online portal and interactive community board, and a neighborhood-focused survey. Each site will be assessed for code compliance and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, in addition to geotechnical and utilities analysis. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements will be identified for each site, however, fulfilling CEQA requirements will be included in the scope of any future projects.
The project deliverable will be a final master planning report that will include results from community outreach, summary of site analysis, basis of design, and schematic designs and estimates for each site. The project will coordinate with any ongoing improvement efforts to ensure all in-progress facility enhancements are addressed in the rehabilitation master plan.
In accordance with AO 6-19, staff advertised a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on PlanetBids on July 7, 2023, and in The Business Journal on July 12, 2023. The RFQ was structured for the prospective consultants to provide detailed information regarding experience of their teams and project approach. Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) were received from two (2) architectural engineering firms by the deadline of July 27, 2023, and both consultants were invited to interview with the City. Interviews were conducted on August 15 and August 17, 2023, and the consultant’s qualifications were evaluated by a selection committee consisting of five (5) staff members from PARCS and Capital Projects. NJA Architecture was determined to be the most qualified based on consultant interviews. Staff negotiated a fee of $1,072,670, with an $80,000 contingency, for community outreach, infrastructure assessment, master planning, and schematic development services for this project.
Staff recommends Council approve the proposed agreement with NJA Architecture in the amount of $1,072,670, with an $80,000 contingency, for the West Fresno Community Centers Rehabilitation Planning Project and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the proposed agreement as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Design of plans and cost estimates are not a “project” pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines § 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was implemented, because NJA Architecture will subcontract over 15% of the contract price to local businesses.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed project sites are located in Council District 3. The West Fresno Community Centers Rehabilitation Project is funded by Measure P funding included in the FY 2024 Annual Appropriation Resolution adopted June 22, 2023. Additionally, the consultant services for Frank H. Ball rehabilitation planning will be partially funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
Attachment(s):
Consultant Agreement
Vicinity Maps
Location Maps