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
GUSTAVO RANGEL, Project Manager
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the North Blackstone Avenue Roadway Improvements from Minarets Avenue to Nees Avenue Project (Bid File No. 12500516): (Council Districts 2 and 6)
1. Adopt Environmental Assessment No. PW00929, dated June 5, 2024, a determination that the proposed project qualifies for Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15301/Class 1, 15303/Class 3, and 15304/Class 4 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines;
2. Approve the Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Incorporated, of Fresno, California in the amount of $8,432, for a total increased contract amount of $137,598, with $384 in remaining contingency;
3. Award a construction contract in the amount of $2,732,629 to Yarbs Grading and Paving Incorporated, of Fowler, California.
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council adopt Environmental Assessment No. PW00929, dated June 5, 2024, approve the Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Incorporated, in the amount of $8,432, increasing the total contract amount to $137,598, with $384 in remaining contingency, award a construction contract with Yarbs Grading and Paving Incorporated, of Fowler, California in the amount of $2,732,629 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) has identified a need for pavement rehabilitation along Blackstone Avenue, from Minarets Avenue to Nees Avenue. This project will rehabilitate the pavement that is in poor condition through a combination of pavement grind and repaving, with limited areas of full-depth reconstruction. Along with the roadway surface improvements, this project will enhance pedestrian and bicycle accessibility by reconstructing curb ramps to meet current ADA standards and installing new Class II bicycle facilities. Staff initiated a scope change during the design phase to incorporate high-visibility cross walks and advance stop bars at all signalized intersections. The proposed Second Amendment to the Consulting Agreement will fund the additional design services needed to integrate these modifications into the final construction documents. Funding for the project is through the federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), One-Time Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) that were received through the Fresno Council of Governments, with local match funding from SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds. No additional right-of-way was required for this project. The project will have no impact on the General Fund.
BACKGROUND
The Department of Public Works identified a need for the Blackstone Avenue Overlay Project from Nees Avenue to Minarets Avenue and in December of 2019. Following the Council’s adoption of a resolution of support for a Federal grant application, staff applied for the competitive federal STBG funding for the design and construction phases of this repaving project. The purpose of this project is to extend the life of existing pavement through grinding and removal of failed asphalt surfacing and repaving the roadway, as well as limited areas of full-depth reconstruction where needed. The project will also improve accessibility and support multimodal travel options along this segment of Blackstone Avenue through improvements to both pedestrian and bicycle facilities, including the reconstruction of existing curb ramps to current ADA standards and the installation of Class II bicycle facilities within the project limits. Other work includes replacement of vehicle detection loops, new striping and signage, and pedestrian crossing improvements at affected intersections. The design phase commenced following approval of the Consultant Services Agreement (Agreement) with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group Incorporated (Consultant) on June 18, 2021, and took approximately three years to complete.
During the design phase, and adjacent private development project was approved with a new driveway approach to Blackstone Avenue, which necessitated the addition of scope items including modified striping, flexible delineator posts, and lane width adjustments which led to the First Amendment to the Agreement, executed on March 20, 2024, in the amount of $9,616 and funded using the contingency previously approved by the Council. The First Amendment increased the total Agreement contract amount to $129,116 with a remaining contingency of $384. The proposed Second Amendment to the Agreement was necessitated by the addition of new design elements including high-visibility crosswalks and advance stop bars, both of which were incorporated into the construction documents late in the design phase, requiring the Consultant to revise and resubmit the final construction documents. The additional fee for this Second Amendment, in the amount of $8,432, will come from the Project’s original funding sources, increasing the total contract amount to $137,598 with $384 in contingency remaining.
The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on January 27, 2025, and posted on the City’s website. Six (6) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in the public bid opening on March 11, 2025, with bids ranging from $2,732,629 to $3,498,968. Yarbs Grading and Paving Incorporated, of Fowler, CA was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids will expire 64 days after the bid opening, on May 14, 2025. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project will be rebid, resulting in a delay of approximately 90 days in the award process. More significantly, a rebid would delay the project beyond the 2025 paving season into Summer 2026.
Staff recommends the City Council adopt Environmental Assessment No. PW00929, dated June 5, 2024, approve the Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Incorporated, in the amount of $8,432, and award a construction contract to Yarbs Grading and Paving Incorporated, in the amount of $2,732,629, to construct the Blackstone Avenue Roadway Improvements from Minarets Avenue to Nees Avenue, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and to authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
The construction contract is covered by the Community Workforce Agreement (or Project Labor Amendment, PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021. The contractor shall become signatory to the PLA by executing the Agreement to Be Bound.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved Environmental Assessment No. PW00929 and the Standardized Construction Contract 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 the CEQA guidelines, Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), and Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) because the project is proposing to make improvements to existing public facilities to reconstruct pavement, install curb ramps to meet ADA regulations, and add signage and striping to include Class II bike lanes. The proposed street improvements are minor, do not constitute an expansion of use, and will improve the public right of way without increasing road capacity. Furthermore, staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable due to the Federal funding requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Blackstone Avenue Roadway Improvements Minarets to Nees is located in Council Districts 2 and 6. The overall cost of the project is $3,796,900 and is federally funded by Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), One-Time Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) as received through the Fresno Council of Governments, and local match funding from SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds. Of the total project cost, $2,732,629 will be used for the construction contract award. All funds necessary for the contract award are included in the current fiscal year budget, as previously adopted by the Council. The project will have no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments:
Environmental Assessment No. PW00929
Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement
First Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement
Original Consultant Services Agreement
Standardized Construction Contract
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map