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
JASON MILLER, PE, Supervising Professional Engineer
Public Works Department, Design Services Section
SUBJECT
Title
Award a construction contract in the amount of $3,260,116 to Granite Construction Company of Fresno, CA, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, for the Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project (Bid File No. 12302141) (Council Districts 1, 3, & 7)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council award a construction contract in the amount of $3,260,116 to Granite Construction Company of Fresno, CA, for the Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the contract on the City’s behalf.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project includes both infrastructure and non-infrastructure components. The City seeks to award a construction contract to Granite Construction Company of Fresno, CA, as part the infrastructure portion of the Project on Belmont Avenue from Abby Street to Millbrook Avenue, SR-180 at Fresno Street and SR-180 at First Street. The primary scope of the project includes the reconstruction of median islands along Belmont Avenue, planting of new median and street trees, irrigation, upgrading existing concrete curb ramps to be ADA accessible and improving five existing FAX bus stop locations. The construction contract is for $3,260,116 and is fully funded by the State of California’s Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP).
BACKGROUND
On January 27, 2022, the City Council authorized the Public Works Department to submit a Grant Application to the California Department of Transportation for the Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP); a program created to beautify and clean up local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, transit centers, and other public spaces. The program is part of the nearly $1.1 billion Clean California initiative that aims to assist the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in addressing the continuous trash generation overwhelming California’s public spaces. The Public Works Department was awarded $5 million in May of 2022 for the Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project which includes both infrastructure and non-infrastructure elements focused on urban greening, improved walkability, community placemaking, and litter cleanup.
The infrastructure component will reconstruct the existing median on Belmont Avenue from Abby Street to Millbrook Avenue to include the removal of median curb, gutter and asphalt paving, sawcutting, adjustment of water valves and manhole lids to grade, and installation of curb and gutter, landscaping and irrigation in the reconstructed median. Irrigated sidewalk tree wells will be installed along the proposed corridor to complement the existing sidewalk tree wells. Installation of the irrigated tree well will include replacement of existing sidewalk, directional boring and installation of irrigation laterals to serve the irrigated sidewalk tree wells. Forty-Seven (47) pedestrian ramps, signage and striping will be upgraded to meet current ADA requirements. Five (5) existing FAX Bus stop locations within the project area, beneath SR-180 at northbound and southbound Fresno Street, at southbound First Street and along westbound Belmont Avenue at Effie Street and at First Street, will be updated to a include a new bus shelter, concrete bus stop pad, trash receptacle, seating, bus stop lighting and appurtenances.
The non-infrastructure components include the commissioning of eight (8) murals to be painted by eight (8) local artists, at five (5) locations along SR-180 abutment slopes and columns at Blackstone Avenue, Abby Street, Fresno Street and First Street and on the Romain Park (First Street and Harvey Avenue) recreation building to encourage community placemaking and decrease graffiti.
Another non-infrastructure component of the project includes the hiring of a vendor to provide weekly litter cleanup along the Blackstone Avenue and Abby Street business corridors between Olive Avenue and Belmont Avenue, and along the Belmont Avenue business corridor from Abby Street to First Street, until June 2024. The vendor contract will reduce litter within the project area and may provide employment opportunities for the community.
Lastly, the project will establish ‘Beautify Fresno’ Clubs at Webster and Hidalgo Elementary Schools. The Beautify Fresno Clubs will organize a cleanup or beautification event to be held each semester at each school, for a total of eight (8) Beautify Fresno Club-organized cleanup events. The City of Fresno’s ‘Beautify Fresno’ program will also organize four (4) volunteer-based cleanup events to be held at Webster (two (2) events), Hidalgo and Anthony Elementary School neighborhoods. The City of Fresno’s ‘Beautify Fresno’ program will also create and launch two (2), twelve-week (12) long Anti-litter campaigns to include bus wraps on FAX Bus Routes 22 and 33, serving the target area of the CCLLGP award, billboard ads and online social media outreach. One campaign will launch in 2023 and the second in 2024.
The Civil infrastructure improvements were designed by the City’s Public Works, Design Services Section and took approximately four (4) months to complete. The Landscape and Irrigation infrastructure Improvements were designed by the City’s on-call consultant, Peters Engineering Group and subconsultant Designlab 252, and took approximately three (3) months to complete. No right-of-way was acquired for this project.
Staff prepared a Notice Inviting Bids, which was published in the Fresno Business Journal on May 17, 2023, posted on the City’s website, and sent to Eight (8) building exchanges. Project plans and Specifications were distributed to Twenty-Three (23) prospective bidders. Three (3) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on June 15, 2023, with bids ranging from $3,260,116 to $3,784,278. Granite Construction Company, of Fresno, CA, with their bid of $3,260,116, was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The expiration date of the bids is August 18, 2023. If the bids are rejected or expire the project must be rebid which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days.
This contract is covered by the Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, and discussed in the Project Specifications. The Contractor shall become signatory to the PLA by executing the Agreement to Be Bound.
Staff recommends the Council award a construction contract to Granite Construction, in the amount of $3,260,116 to construct infrastructure improvements on Belmont Avenue from Abby Street to Millbrook Avenue, on Fresno Street at SR-180 and at First Street at SR-180, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the Contract and sign related documents on the City’s behalf. A standard construction contract has been used, without modification, in accordance with Administrative Order 4-4.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the Contract as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The Project is consistent with CEQA Guidelines, Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 categorical exemptions because the project proposes reconstruction and improvements to existing landscaping median and sidewalk, ADA ramps, reinstallation or replacement of signage and striping, painting of eight (8) murals, establishment of Beautify Fresno Clubs at Webster and Hidalgo elementary schools, organization of eight (8) Beautify Fresno Club-hosted events, organization of four (4) City of Fresno-hosted volunteer clean up events at Webster, Hidalgo and Anthony elementary school neighborhoods, coordination of two (2) twelve week (12) anti-litter campaigns to include bus wraps, billboard ads and social media outreach, execution of a litter abatement contract to include the Blackstone Avenue and Abby Street business corridors from Belmont Avenue to Olive Avenue and the Belmont Avenue business corridor from Abby Street to First Street.
Based on staff analysis, it was determined that no adverse environmental impacts would occur as a result of the proposed project and none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Therefore, a categorical exemption, as noted above, applies to the Project.
On April 27, 2023, the Council adopted a finding of Categorical Exemption (CE) pursuant to Environmental Assessment No. PW01012, dated April 12, 2023, and a Notice of Exception (NOE) was filed with the Fresno County Clerk’s office and with the State Clearing House, Office of Planning and Research (OPR) on May 1, 2023, and was posted until June 6, 2023
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this contract is funded with state funding. However, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder is a local contractor.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project is located within Council Districts 1, 3 & 7 and will have no impact on the General Fund. The overall cost of the project is $4,643,916 and is fully funded by a CCLGP grant. Of the overall budget of the project, $3,260,116 will be used for the construction contract award. All funding allocations necessary for the contract award are included in the current fiscal year adopted City budget.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map
Standardized Construction Contract