REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 6, 2018
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SCOTT SEHM, PE, Design Manager
Public Works Department, Design Services Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Street Lighting Improvements on Blackstone and Abby Avenues from Divisadero to Shields Avenues - Project Bid File No. 3583 (Council Districts 1, 3, and 7)
1. Adopt finding of a Categorical Exemption pursuant to Class 1 Section 15301(c) (existing facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines for the Street Lighting Improvements on Blackstone and Abby Avenues from Divisadero to Shields Avenues.
2. Award a construction contract to Sebastian of Fresno, California, in the amount of $1,103,000 for the Street Lighting Improvements on Blackstone and Abby Avenues from Divisadero to Shields Avenues.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a finding of Class 1 Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and award a construction contract in the amount of $1,103,000 to Sebastian of Fresno, California, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Street Lighting Improvements on Blackstone and Abby Avenues from Divisadero to Shields Avenues and authorize the Public Works Director or his designee to sign the contract on the City’s behalf.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed street lighting improvements on Blackstone and Abby Avenues support the City’s initiative to restore and revitalize the older neighborhoods of Fresno. The project will underground existing overhead City street light facilities along segments of the Blackstone Avenue and Abby Avenue corridors. Additionally, the project will install new street lights conforming to City standards and spacing requirements, as well as reconstruct effected curb ramps to be ADA compliant. The project is fully funded by a Federal transportation grant which was previously approved by the Council.
BACKGROUND
The proposed street lighting improvements on Blackstone and Abby Avenues from Divisadero to Shields Avenue will eliminate existing wood pole and overhead street light electrical facilities, and install additional lighting where it currently does not exist. These improvements are in line with the City’s initiative to restore and revitalize the older neighborhoods of Fresno. The project will improve the aesthetic conditions along Blackstone and Abby Avenues, clearing it of existing overhead PG&E lines. The project will also allow PG&E to move forward with its own undergrounding project on segments of the Blackstone Avenue and Abby Avenue corridors. The removal and undergrounding of the overhead street light power lines will be consistent to the work done in the 1990’s on Blackstone Avenue north of Shields Avenue to the Herndon Avenue intersection.
Public Works design staff prepared plans and specifications resulting in the advertising of a Notice Inviting Bids (NIB) in the Business Journal on September 19, 2018. The NIB additionally posted on the City’s website and was faxed to eleven (11) building exchanges. Advertising efforts resulted in the specifications being distributed to ten (10) prospective bidders. Five (5) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on October 23, 2018, with bids ranging between $986,280 and $1,182,027. Sebastian of Fresno was deemed the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids will expire 64 days as of the bid opening of October 23, 2018.
The apparent low bidder Sturgeon Electric California, LLC., of Chino California was deemed “nonresponsive” as the result of not possessing a valid Contractor’s License at the time of bid, as well as failing to submit a Statement of Qualification as required by the project’s specifications. The bid process then identified Sebastian of Fresno as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff recommends that the Council award a construction contract in the amount of $1,103,000 to Sebastian and authorize the Public Works Director or his designee to sign the contract on the City’s behalf.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed an environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) (existing facilities), which exempts the repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing structures or facilities, which includes existing streets, sidewalk and gutters, and no further expansion of existing use. 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 was not used based on conditions of state and federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project is located in City of Fresno Council Districts 1, 3, and 7. The overall cost of the project is $1,511,200 and is fully funded by a Federal grant from the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP). The project will not have any impact to the General Fund. Of the total project cost $1,103,000 will be used for the construction contract award.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map
Contract