REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 11, 2020
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
BY: SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Design Services Manager
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the South Fresno Pedestrian Signalization Upgrade Project- Bid File No. 3749 (Council District 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $397,997.47 to Construction H, Inc. of Richmond, California
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2, of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for the South Fresno Pedestrian Signalization Upgrade Project, award a construction contract with Construction H Inc. of Richmond, California in the amount of $397,997.47 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign a standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno is proposing to complete the South Fresno Pedestrian Signalization Upgrade Project, which is funded by a federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant that was awarded to the City of Fresno in 2018. The South Fresno Pedestrian Signalization Upgrade Project will remove and replace existing pedestrian signal heads in two City districts and along two major street corridors. The two districts include Downtown Fresno and the Tower District. The streets include Olive Avenue and Belmont Avenue.
BACKGROUND
The South Fresno Pedestrian Signalization Upgrade Project will remove existing pedestrian signal heads and replace them with count-down heads at eighty-eight (88) intersections within the downtown Fresno district and the Tower district, and along two major corridors, Olive Avenue and Belmont Avenue, in south Fresno. A total of six hundred and fifty (650) pedestrian signal countdown heads will be upgraded to provide pedestrians clear notice of when to proceed with crossing the intersections and show the green-time remaining in the pedestrian phase of the traffic signal operation. The engineering and design took approximately 6 months to complete.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal and posted on the City’s website on March 23, 2020, and sent to 13 building exchanges. Specifications were distributed to 16 prospective bidders. Four sealed bids were received and opened in the public bid opening held at City Hall on April 14, 2020, with bid proposals ranging from $397,997.47 to $540,559. Construction H, Inc., with their bid of $397,997.47, was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The expiration date of the bids is June 17, 2020. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 60 days.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form.
Staff is recommending award of a construction contract to Construction H, Inc. of Richmond, CA in the amount of $397,997.47 for the South Fresno Pedestrian Signalization Upgrade Project as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
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/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2. Section 15301/Class 1 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. The Section 15301/Class 1 exemption applies because this project replaces existing pedestrian signal heads with numerical countdown pedestrian signal heads. This is a minor alteration of an existing signal (existing facility). Section 15302/Class 2 exempts the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced. This exemption also applies because the replaced countdown signal heads are, in fact, replacement of existing signals (facilities) and will be located in the exact same location, on the same traffic signal poles, as the existing pedestrian heads. 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 implemented based on conditions of federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project is located in the City of Fresno Council Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7. The overall cost of the project is $479,500 and is fully federally funded by the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). The project will not have any impact to the General Fund. Of the total project cost, $397,997.47 will be used for the construction contract award. All funds necessary for the contract award are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by the Council.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract