REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: JESUS A. GONZALEZ, PE, Public Utilities Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
BETH FIELD, PE, Professional Engineer
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the Fourth Amendment to the consultant services agreement with Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers, Inc., to expand scope of services and increase the contract amount by $80,900, for an amended total not to exceed amount of $407,868, for the Van Ness Avenue Transmission Grid Main Project. (District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Fourth Amendment to the consultant services agreement (Agreement) with Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers, Inc. (Consultant), in the amount of $80,900, for a total not to exceed amount of $407,868; and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the Fourth Amendment on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Van Ness Avenue Transmission Grid Main Project (Project) seeks to replace small diameter water mains in the older downtown area. The water mains are substandard for today’s maximum day demands, peak hour demands, and maximum day plus fire flow conditions. The small diameter water mains will be replaced with larger water transmission mains, resulting in improved levels of service in the area. This Fourth Amendment will expand the water transmission main design services including the review of the new Project footprint for environmental considerations along with the preparation of resulting environmental documents. The additional services are necessary due to a realignment of the water transmission main project following field investigations which identified service connection limitations along the originally proposed alignment. The amendment will increase the original contract amount by $80,900 for a total not to exceed amount of $407,868.
BACKGROUND
The City’s downtown area currently contains numerous small diameter water mains which are substandard in meeting today’s maximum day demands, peak hour demands, and maximum day plus fire flow conditions. The small diameter water mains will be replaced with larger water transmission mains, including the transfer of services, resulting in improved levels of service in the area.
The Project is made up of two phases in order to meet City obligation timelines. Phase 1 has already installed a segment of 16-inch water main in Amador Street and a portion of Van Ness Avenue, with use of City personnel. The remainder of Phase1 is in the final design stages with installation to be completed by a Contractor under the City’s procurement process.
To date Phase 2 of the Project has produced 30% complete plans under the originally intended Van Ness Avenue alignment between Calaveras and Merced Streets. The alignment now requires modification following field investigations which identified physical limitations in transferring water services from the existing connection points in the alleys to the proposed water transmission main in Van Ness Avenue. In its place segments of Van Ness Avenue, Stanislaus Street and L Street have been identified for inclusion in the Project as these segments will provide an immediate service benefit to this area of town.
On August 19, 2021, the City and Consultant entered into an agreement to provide professional engineering services for the Project for a total fee of $287,700, including a $30,000 contingency. On November 17, 2021, the First Amendment to the Agreement increased the original contract amount by $10,527 for a total fee of $268,227. The amendment included expanded engineering services for performing an underground utilities evaluation.
On March 18, 2022, the Second Amendment to Agreement increased the original contract amount by $18,921 for a total fee of $287,148. The amendment included expanded engineering services for additional meetings and preparation of an Indirect Source Review required by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.
On May 5, 2022, the Third Amendment to the Agreement increased the original contract amount by $39,820 for a total fee of $326,968. The amendment included expanded engineering services for performing soils sampling and preparation of a soils management plan.
This Fourth Amendment is necessary for the design of a revised water main alignment resulting from the findings of a field investigation. The Amendment will additionally include the review of the new Project footprint for environmental considerations along with preparation of resulting environmental documents. The amendment will increase the original contract amount by $80,900 for a total fee of $407,868.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the Fourth Amendment and approved as to form. Upon approval by City Council, the Fourth Amendment will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities, or designee.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section15378, the approval of this amendment does not qualify as a “Project” for the purpose of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference does not apply to this action because this is an amendment to an existing agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Project is funded in the Water Division’s five-year Capital Improvement Program budget within the Water Enterprise Fund 40202, WC00085.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Vicinity Map
Attachment 2 - Fourth Amendment
Attachment 3 - Third Amendment
Attachment 4 - Second Amendment
Attachment 5 - First Amendment
Attachment 6 - Consultant Services Agreement