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
SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Public Works Manager
Engineering Division, Design Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Barton Avenue and Florence Avenue Improvements Project at Calwa Park - Bid File 3831 (Council District 5):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 and 15302 Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $636,396 to Terra West Construction of Clovis, California
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15302 Class 2 (Replacement of Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, award a construction contract with Terra West Construction of Clovis, CA, in the amount of $636,396 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Barton Avenue and Florence Avenue Improvements Project proposes to construct sidewalk along the north and west perimeter of Calwa Park, repave Barton Avenue from Church Avenue to Florence Avenue, reconstruct existing park driveways to current standards, and complete missing curb and gutter along Barton Avenue. Other work includes construction of an ADA-compliant ramp and return at the northwest corner of the park, relocation of an existing water check valve to within the park property, and regrading Barton Avenue to accommodate surface drainage into existing FMFCD inlets to eliminate the need for extensive drainage reconstruction work. The project is primarily state and federally funded by an Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant, with the local match funded by SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funding.
BACKGROUND
On June 21, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2018-150 authorizing a grant application to the Active Transportation Program (ATP) for the Barton Avenue and Florence Avenue Improvements Project. The City of Fresno Public Works Department submitted an ATP application for the project in July of 2018 for the design and construction phases of this project. The project was initiated in FY20 when the City of Fresno programmed and budgeted the ATP grant funding. The preliminary engineering design and project management was completed in 24 months by City of Fresno staff.
The scope of the project proposes sidewalk, paving and minor water system work along Barton Avenue and Florence Avenue at Calwa Park to infill lengthy gaps in the sidewalk infrastructure that affect the local area residents as well as those visiting Calwa Park from other locations. In addition to the sidewalk and roadway work, this project will reconstruct existing park driveways to current standards, provide an ADA compliant curb ramp and return at the northwest corner of the park and relocate an existing water check valve for Calwa Park to within the park’s fenced perimeter. Currently, Barton Avenue is only paved on the west half of the street as the eastern half was still a part of the Calwa Park property and never improved. With this project, City of Fresno Real Estate staff worked with Calwa Park to complete the dedication of the 30-feet of street right-of-way needed to reconstruct the roadway and curb and gutter as part of this active transportation project. In-house Design staff worked closely with FMFCD to gain concurrence on non-standard roadway grading to provide the needed surface drainage without needing to complete extensive storm drain facility reconstruction work.
The Community Workforce Agreement, adopted by Council in September 2021, was not included in this project’s bidding requirements as the engineer’s estimate was below the $1,000,000 threshold established in the Agreement.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on June 29, 2022, posted on the City’s website, and distributed to ten (10) building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to 17 prospective bidders. Four (4) sealed bid proposals were received and opened during a public bid opening on July 26, 2022, with bids ranging from $636,396 to $695,770. Terra West submitted the apparent low bid in the amount $636,396 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. The bids were extended from the original date of September 28, 2022 and will now expire on October 26, 2022. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days.
Staff is recommending the award of a construction contract to Terra West in the amount of $636,396 to construct the Barton Avenue and Florence Avenue Improvements Project, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301/Class 1, which exempts projects involving a negligible or no expansion of an existing facility. This exception applies because this project involves improvement efficiently of an existing roadway through coordination the operation of existing traffic signals to reduce congestion without expansion of the roadway, and 15302/Class 2, which exempts projects that propose the reconstruction of existing facilities in the same location and serve the same function or purpose as the existing facilities.
Furthermore, staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exceptions set forth in the CEQA Guideless, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented for this project because this contract is funded by federal and state grant funds.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Barton Avenue and Florence Avenue Improvements Project is located in Council District 5. The overall cost of the project is $863,300 and is state and federally funded by an ATP grant. Required local match is funded by Local SB1 RMRA funds. Of the overall budget of the project, $636,396 will be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments:
CEQA Environmental Assessment
Vicinity Map
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract