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
ISAAC CAMPOS, Engineer II
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Tulare Complete Streets Project from 6th Street to Cedar Avenue (Bid
File No. 12300027) (Council Districts 5 and 7):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities), 15303/Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), and 15304/Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $2,339,250 to Agee Construction Corporation of Clovis, California
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council (1) adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15301/Class1 , 15303/Class 3, and 15304/Class 4 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, and (2) award a construction contract to Agee Construction Corporation of Clovis, California, in the amount of $2,339,250 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, for the Tulare Complete Streets Project from 6th Street to Cedar Avenue, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Public Works Department and Capital Projects Department seek to award a construction contract for the Tulare Complete Streets Project from 6th Street to Cedar Avenue. The construction of this project will increase the pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure available to students and their families in the Jackson and Rowell Elementary School neighborhoods. This project will install and widen sidewalks along the south side of Tulare Avenue, upgrade curb ramps, restripe the roadway as a 3-lane collector with Class II bicycle facilities, and install additional streetlights. This construction contract award is fully funded by a federal grant through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program, with local match provided through Measure C Bike Lane and SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds.
BACKGROUND
This project has been requested by community members working collaboratively with families at Jackson and Rowell Elementary Schools. Many students walk to school and have requested improved infrastructure to support active transportation through the area. The proposed sidewalks on the south side of Tulare Avenue will provide improved connectivity through the area, as will Class II bike lanes. In October of 2017, the City of Fresno applied for a federal CMAQ grant for the design and construction phases of this complete streets project. This project is funded with federal CMAQ grant funds that are administered by Caltrans on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration, along with a match from local Measure C Bike Lane and SB1 funds. The purpose of this project is to increase the pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure available to students and their families in the Jackson and Rowell Elementary School neighborhoods.
The design started following the City Council approval of the consultant contract with Peters Engineering Group, Inc. of Clovis, California, on November 19th, 2020. The project scope includes installing and widening sidewalk on the south side of Tulare Avenue, upgrading curb ramps, restriping the roadway to include a road diet and Class II bicycle facilities, and additional street lighting.
The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on June 25, 2023, and posted on the City’s website. Four sealed bid proposals were received and opened in the public bid opening on September 5, 2023, with bids ranging from $2,339,250 to $2,702,161.60. Agee Construction Corporation of Clovis, California is deemed the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids will expire 64 days after the bid opening, on November 08, 2023. If the bids are rejected or expire the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 3 months.
Staff is recommending the award of a construction contract to Agee Construction Corporation of Clovis, California in the amount of $2,339,250 to construct the Tulare Avenue Complete Streets Project from 6th Street to Tulare 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.
This contract is covered by the Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021. The Contractor shall become signatory to the PLA by executing the Agreement to Be Bound.
A standardized agreement has been used in accordance with Administrative Order 4-4, which has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff performed a preliminary environmental assessment of the project and determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), and 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land). The proposed project involves 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. These changes do not constitute an expansion of use and will improve the public right-of-way without increasing road capacity. The proposed project involves negligible expansion of the existing use and will have substantially the same purpose.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented for this project because this contract is federally funded.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Tulare Complete Streets Project from 6th Street to Cedar Avenue is located within Council Districts 5 and 7. The overall cost of the project is $3,119,900 and is primarily funded by the Federal CMAQ grant program. The required local match is funded by Measure C Bike Lane funding and SB1 RMRA funds. Of the overall budget of the project, $2,339,250 wiII be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund. All funds necessary for the contract award are included in the adopted fiscal year budget for the Public Works Department.
Attachment(s):
Environmental Assessment
Standardized Contract
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map