REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Director
Capital Projects Department
SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: JESUS AVITIA, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
MELISSA BLAU, Projects Administrator
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Audubon Drive and Del Mar Avenue Traffic Signal Installation (Bid File No. 12302647) (Council District 2):
1. RESOLUTION - adopting findings pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines sections 15091 and 15093 as required by CEQA guidelines section 15096 for the River West Eaton Trail Extension Project.
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $1,016,680 to American Paving Company, of Fresno, California.
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council (1) approve a Resolution adopting findings pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines sections 15091 and 15093 as required by CEQA guidelines section 15096 for the River West Eaton Trail Extension Project, and (2) award a construction contract with American Paving Company, of Fresno, California, in the amount of $1,016,680, 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 seeks to install traffic signal improvements at the intersection of Audubon Drive and Del Mar Avenue to improve public safety efforts and reduce traffic impacts to the area. This would comply with the required mitigation measures identified in the Final Environmental Impact Report for the River West Eaton Trail Extension Project. City Staff recommends awarding a construction contract to American Paving Company, in the amount of $1,016,680.00 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
The project Construction Phase is funded by a State Grant through the San Joaquin River Conservancy (SJRC).
BACKGROUND
In 2018, the SJRC updated the San Joaquin River Parkway Interim Master Plan (Master Plan) that was originally adopted in 1997. The updated Master Plan describes public access and recreational improvements along a 22-mile stretch of the San Joaquin River between Friant Dam and Highway 99. This update provided a plan to guide future improvements that would improve public access and recreational facilities in the area located along the south side of the San Joaquin River just north of the Palm Bluffs, between Highway 41 and Spano Park near the intersection of Palm Avenue and Nees Avenue within Fresno City limits. The River West Eaton Trail Extension will provide increased public access to the river for residents of nearby disadvantaged communities, and for residents of the City of Fresno by extending the existing Lewis Eaton Trail from Woodward Park westward under Highway 41 and downstream along the San Joaquin River for about 2.4 miles and creating designated access points with parking areas at the following three locations spread throughout the project site:
• Highway 41 and Perrin Avenue
• Spano Park (near the intersection of Palm and Nees)
• Riverview Drive (near the intersection of Audubon and Del Mar)
The design will create parking for 105 vehicles and 3 horse trailers and create a school bus drop off location along with new restrooms, park benches, approximately 3.0 miles of multiuse trails, and 2 viewing areas. The proposed design elements will generate opportunities for the public to engage in a variety of activities such as walking, jogging, trail running, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
As part of the Final Environmental Impact Report prepared for the project by the Lead Agency, the SJRC, identified by SCH No. 2014061017, a traffic signal at the intersection of Audubon Drive and Del Mar Avenue was identified as Mitigation Measure Alt. 1 - Traffic-1 to improve public safety efforts and reduce traffic impacts to the area. Other improvements to be installed with this project will include protected left turns for vehicles, high-visibility pavement striping, improvements to seven pedestrian curb ramps, and adequate signage to make all drivers aware of bike and pedestrian movements.
The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on June 14, 2023, and posted on the City's PlanetBids website. Two bid proposals were received and opened during a public bid opening on July 18, 2023, with bids ranging from $1,016,680 to $1,254,000. The apparent low bid price was 20% below the Engineer’s Estimates. The City requested an extension from American Paving and the bids will expire on October 20, 2023, 94 days after the bid opening.
Staff recommends awarding a construction contract to American Paving Company, in the amount of $1,016,680 to carry out the traffic signal improvements at the intersection of Audubon Drive and Del Mar Avenue, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and to authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the standardized agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno. The Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, does not apply to this contract because the engineer’s estimate for this project was less than $1 million, pursuant to the terms of the PLA.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved this item as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15381, “‘Responsible Agency’ means a public agency which proposes to carry out or approve a project, for which a Lead Agency is preparing or has prepared an EIR or Negative Declaration.” The City is a Responsible Agency for the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15096 lays out the process required for a Responsible Agency when implementing a project, or any portion thereof. Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15096(f), a Responsible Agency must consider the environmental effects identified in the EIR prepared by the Lead Agency when preparing to implement any portion of a project for which the agency is responsible.
The SJRC is the Lead Agency for the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project, as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15367. The SJRC prepared an EIR for the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project, identified by SCH No. 2014061017 (the River West Fresno Project EIR). The River West Fresno Project EIR was certified on November 15, 2017, and analyzed several components of the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project, including but not limited to installation of traffic safety infrastructure at Audubon Drive and Del Mar Avenue, identified as Mitigation Measure Alt. 1 - Traffic-1 of the EIR. The City is the Responsible Agency for the purpose of implementing Mitigation Measure Alt.1 - Traffic-1.
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15096(f), a Responsible Agency must only prepare a subsequent EIR if it is required under CEQA Guidelines Section 15162. An analysis has been performed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 to determine whether a subsequent environmental review is required for this project. Based upon this analysis, the following findings are made to support the determination that no subsequent environmental review is required:
1. No substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions to the EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects because the project is being implemented as planned. Specifically, this item will implement Mitigation Measure Alt.1 - Traffic-1, as required by the EIR.
2. No substantial changes occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions to the EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects.
3. There is no new information, which was not known and could not have been known at the time of the previous EIR showing that:
a. The project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR;
b. Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous EIR;
c. Mitigation measure or alternatives previously found to be not feasible are now feasible and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project.
Based upon these findings, it has been determined that a subsequent EIR is not required for this approval.
The Resolution proposed for adoption, and the corresponding Exhibit, fulfills the City’s requirement to adopt findings pursuant to the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Sections 15091 and 15093, as specified by Section 15096(h), including ratification and adoption of the SJRC certified EIR for the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented for this project because this contract is state funded.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Audubon Drive and Del Mar Avenue Traffic Signal Installation project is located in Council District 2. The overall cost of the project is $1,318,400 and is primarily funded by the San Joaquin River Conservancy grant. Local Traffic Signal Mitigation Impact Fee funds were used to fund the design phase of the project. Of the overall budget of the project, $1,016,680 will be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund and is fully incorporated within the adopted FY24 budget for the Public Works Department.
Attachment(s):
Resolution Adopting CEQA Findings
Standardized Agreement
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map