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
JESUS AVITIA, PE, Deputy City Engineer
Public Works Department, Transportation Project Management
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Third Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Blair Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers, Inc., in the amount of $26,900, for a total increased contract amount of $169,730, with an additional $8,000 remaining in contingency, for civil engineering design services and preparation of construction documents for the Southbound Polk Avenue Widening Project from Gettysburg Avenue to Shaw Avenue (Council District 1)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council approve the third amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement (Agreement) with Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers (BCF) in the amount of $26,900, for civil engineering design services and preparation of construction documents for the Southbound Polk Avenue Widening Project from Gettysburg Avenue to Shaw Avenue, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the third amendment on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City and Consultant have been progressing with the design for the Southbound Polk Avenue Widening Project from Gettysburg Avenue to Shaw Avenue. As part of design coordination efforts, the Consultant has identified potential utility conflicts with the proposed improvements that need to be verified prior to construction to avoid costly change orders. Therefore, the City desires to amend the scope of the Agreement to include potholing to identify and mitigate potential design conflicts with the existing utilities and proposed improvements. Staff recommends approval of the third amendment to the Agreement with BCF in the amount of $26,900, for a total increased contract amount of $169,730, with an additional $8,000 remaining in contingency, for the Southbound Polk Avenue Widening Project. The project is fully funded with local New Growth Area Major Street Impact Fee funds and a federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG).
BACKGROUND
Polk Avenue is currently a two-lane roadway in need of curbs, gutters, sidewalks and drainage facilities. As a result, bottlenecks exist between the newer, fully improved subdivisions and older areas that developed in the County. In accordance with the 2035 General Plan, Polk Avenue is to ultimately be constructed as a four-lane divided arterial between Shaw Avenue and Belmont Avenue, as development occurs west of State Route 99.
The City of Fresno was awarded a federal STBG grant that provides construction funding for the Southbound Polk Avenue Widening Project. The STBG grant application was part of a package of grants adopted for submission and execution per Resolution No. 2017-288 adopted by the City Council on October 19, 2017.
The City of Fresno seeks to construct street improvements and widen Southbound Polk Avenue from Shaw Avenue to Gettysburg Avenue. The consultant is currently preparing the plans, specifications and construction documents for the widening of Polk Avenue between Shaw Avenue and Gettysburg Avenue including curb and gutter, paving, sidewalks, street lighting and a HAWK-type pedestrian crossing near Teague Elementary School.
The original Agreement dated April 25, 2017, with BCF totaled $106,500, with a $15,000 contingency. Upon award of the federal STBG grant for construction, City staff identified additional scope that was included in the grant scope and pursued a First Amendment with BCF to add the additional scope. The additional items include a HAWK type pedestrian crossing and widening of the east side of Polk Avenue in proximity of the proposed pedestrian crossing. On December 6, 2018, City Council approved the First Amendment to the Agreement with BCF in the amount of $29,330. On March 17, 2022 the Second Amendment to the Agreement was executed utilizing contingency for $7,000 to complete a Noise Abatement Decision Report (NADR), which was required by Caltrans for environmental clearance on the project.
As part of design coordination efforts, the Consultant has identified potential utility conflicts with the proposed improvements that need to be verified prior to construction to avoid costly change orders. Therefore, the City desires to amend the scope of the Agreement to include potholing to identify and mitigate potential design conflicts with the existing utilities and proposed improvements. Staff negotiated the additional scope to the contract for an increase of $26,900, which brings the total contract amount to $169,730, with a remaining contingency amount of $8,000.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, the award of a consultant services contract does not qualify as a “project”.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented; this is an amendment to an existing agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Southbound Polk Avenue Widening Project from Gettysburg Avenue to Shaw Avenue is within Council District 1. This amendment will have no impact to the General Fund. All project costs for the engineering design phase are funded with local New Growth Area Major Street Impact Fee funds. All funds necessary for the amendment are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by City Council.
Attachments:
Third Amendment
Vicinity Map