REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: PETER A. MARACCINI PE, PhD, Licensed Engineer Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
ROBERT A. DIAZ, Supervising Engineering Technician
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the First Amendment to the consultant services agreement with Carollo Engineers Inc., to expand the scope of services and increase the contract amount by $2,300,406, for a total amount of $3,111,279, for the Downtown Area Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements Study (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council approve the First Amendment to the consultant services agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc. (Carollo), to expand the scope of services and increase the compensation amount by $2,000,406 and the contingency amount by $300,000, for an total amended fee not to exceed amount of $2,737,279, and an amended contingency amount not to exceed $374,000, for the Downtown Area Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements Study (Project); and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the First Amendment on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has contracted with Carollo to conduct a study to evaluate relocation options and capacity improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure in the Downtown area. Since the award of this contract, the City has become the recipient of: $43.7 million from the California Department of Housing and Community Development Infill Infrastructure Grant - Catalytic Program, of which approximately $31.1 million is for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements; and another $250 million from the State of California General Fund for infrastructure improvements, of which $20 million is additionally identified for water and wastewater improvements. It is critical that the City move swiftly to utilize these funds in a timely manner. To expedite design efforts for the various identified water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, the First Amendment to the consultant services agreement expands contracted services to include design, bidding support, and construction support services for water and wastewater projects in the prioritized downtown area bounded by Van Ness Avenue, Ventura Avenue, E Street, and Tuolumne Street. The expanded services will increase the Agreement amount by $2,300,406, for an amended total not to exceed amount of $3,111,279, inclusive of an increased contingency amount not to exceed $374,000.
BACKGROUND
The downtown area has some of the oldest water and wastewater infrastructure in the City, which has reached the end of its service life. Recognizing the uniqueness of zero lot line construction in the downtown area, DPU hired Carollo to review the entire area to determine whether the installation of renewal water and wastewater infrastructure is best suited in alleyways or in the wider street alignments. Inclusive of this evaluation is the review of system capacities to ensure the renewal infrastructure meets current design standards. The resulting document(s) will guide design and phasing of renewal capital improvement projects, as well as, assist in establishing conditions of approval for infrastructure improvements needed for future development projects.
The First Amendment for expanded professional engineering services is now necessary following an award of approximately $31,100,000 of IIGC funding and $20,000,000 of State General Funding for utilities infrastructure to strengthen housing infrastructure that is intended to promote infill affordable and mixed-income housing in the downtown area. The expanded services will include design, bidding, and construction support services for a subset of projects located within the prioritized downtown area bounded by Van Ness Avenue, Ventura Avenue, E Street, and Tuolumne Street. The expanded services will allow for expedited preparation of water and wastewater infrastructure construction documents. The target is to have the first round of needed improvement projects bid and to City Council for award prior to the end of Fiscal Year 2024. The First Amendment will increase the original contract amount by $2,300,406, for an amended total not to exceed amount of $3,111,279, inclusive of an increased contingency not to exceed $374,000.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form this First Amendment to the Agreement. Upon approval by the City Council, the First Amendment to Agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities, or designee.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, this is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this is an amendment to an existing consultant services agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding for the expanded consultant services is included in prior appropriations of received IIGC and State General Fund funding sources by the 6th and 21st Amendments to the Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2023-185. The Project is located in Council District 3.
Attachments:
First Amendment to Agreement
Consultant Services Agreement