REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: NICHOLAS D. MASCIA, PE, Assistant City Manager
Interim Director-Capital Projects Department
SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Scott p. sehm, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
AUSTIN M. BAIN, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Fourth Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with BKF Engineers, a California Corporation in the amount of $150,138 for a total increased contract amount not to exceed of $1,293,263, with a $3,700 remaining contingency, for additional professional engineering services required for the design of plans and general construction documents for the Herndon Avenue Widening between Polk Avenue and Milburn Avenue Project (Council District 2).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve a Fourth Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with BKF Engineers, a California Corporation, in the amount of $150,138 for a total increased contract amount of $1,293,263, with a $3,700 remaining contingency, for additional professional engineering services required for the design of plans and general construction documents for the Herndon Avenue Widening between Polk Avenue and Milburn Avenue Project and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the Fourth Amendment on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) is proposing to widen Herndon Avenue between Polk Avenue to Milburn Avenue. The City entered into a Consultant Services Agreement with BKF Engineers, a California Corporation, (BKF) to provide professional engineering services for the design of plans and general construction documents for Herndon Avenue Widening between Polk Avenue and Milburn Avenue on March 23, 2017. As part of design coordination efforts with BKF, it has been identified that additional professional engineering services are required beyond the original scope of the project. The additional scope of services included are exchanging the method of rehabilitation in select areas, including interconnection of traffic signals due to recently installed/modified, and updating plant species within the landscape plans. Therefore, the City desires to amend the original Consultant Services Agreement to include additional professional engineering services. This Fourth Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement includes additional consultant design work, plan modifications, and fee rate increases. Staff recommends approval of the Fourth Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with BKF in the amount of $150,138 for a total increased contract amount of $1,293,263. The project is funded with Measure C Tier 1 funds, Measure C Trails funding, State Local Partnership Program (LPP) funds and local Development Fees.
BACKGROUND
Herndon Avenue is designated as a six-lane expressway in the City of Fresno 2035 General Plan. Over the past twenty years, the City has widened Herndon Avenue from four to six lanes in segments as funds have become available through Federal and State grants, as well as Measure C and development impact fees. The remaining four-lane segment of Herndon Avenue between Polk Avenue and Milburn Avenue is anticipated to begin construction in the next year. The existing four-lane segment between Polk Avenue and Milburn Avenue is the only remaining bottleneck along the route.
The scope of work includes widening Herndon Avenue between Polk Avenue and Milburn Avenue from two lanes to three lanes in each direction; widening the existing bridge over the railroad; constructing a Class I bicycle and pedestrian trail on the north side of Herndon Avenue; and performing utility relocations, as well as constructing retaining walls and associated barrier fencing.
Measure C Tier 1 funding in the amount of $1,435,000 was amended by the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) in the 2016-17 fiscal year for an Advance Planning Study (APS) to perform preliminary engineering work to better define the project scope and cost estimate related to the widening of the Herndon Avenue and Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) overpass and associated roadway approaches. The preliminary engineering work included topographic survey work, project management, and engineering consultant costs for the preparation of the APS. The APS was completed in November 2014. In March 2017, City Council approved a contract with BKF to provide professional engineering services for the design of plans and general construction documents for Herndon Avenue Widening between Polk Avenue and Milburn Avenue.
The original agreement dated March 23, 2017, with BKF totaled $869,526 with a $52,000 contingency. During the development of design, City staff identified the need to field verify existing utilities to determine any impacts with the proposed improvements and requested BKF to provide positive utility locations (potholing) throughout the project area. On December 4, 2020, City Council approved the First Amendment to the Agreement with BKF in the amount of $117,923. On July 30, 2024, the Second Amendment to the Agreement with BKF was executed for additional project management costs needed to coordinate with the City and BNSF after the anticipated project end date. The Second Amendment to the consultant services agreement increased the total fee by $48,300 for a revised contract amount of $1,035,749 with a $3,700 remaining contingency. On February 27,2025, the Third Amendment to the consultant services agreement increased the total fee by $107,096 for a revised contract amount of $1,143,125 with a $3,700 remaining contingency.
The project is progressing towards final construction documents. As part of the design coordination efforts with BKF, it has been identified that additional professional engineering services are required beyond the original scope of the project. Therefore, the City desires to amend the original Consultant Services Agreement to include additional professional engineering services. This Fourth Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement includes additional consultant design work, plan modifications, and fee rate increases. Staff recommends approval of the Fourth Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with BKF in the amount of $150,138 for a total increased contract amount of $1,293,263 and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the Fourth Amendment on behalf of the City of Fresno.
The City Attorney’s office has reviewed and approved the Fourth Amendment as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This project is statutorily exempt per Sections 21080.13(a) of the California Public Resources Code, and 15282(g) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this item does not include a bid for or an award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Herndon Widening Project from Polk Avenue to Milburn Avenue is within Council District 2. This amendment will have no impact to the General Fund. The project is funded with Measure C Tier 1 funds, Measure C Trails funding, State Local Partnership Program (LPP) funds and local Development Fees. All funds necessary for the amendment are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by City Council.
Attachments:
Fourth Amendment to Agreement
Third Amendment to Agreement
Second Amendment to Agreement
First Amendment to Agreement
Consultant Services Agreement
Vicinity Map