REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
November 19, 2020
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
BY: BRANDON CHACON, Capital Development Specialist
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Olive Avenue Streetscape Project from Roosevelt Avenue to Yosemite Avenue - Bid File No. 3745 (Council Districts 1 and 3)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Sections 15301/ Class 1, 15302/Class 2, and 15304/Class 4 of the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $834,681.00 to A.J. Excavation of Fresno, California
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15301/Class 1, 15302/Class 2, and 15304/Class 4 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, and award a construction contract with A.J. Excavation, of Fresno, California in the amount of $834,681.00 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno seeks to improve Olive Avenue between Roosevelt Avenue and Yosemite Avenue with streetscape restoration and pedestrian upgrade improvements. Awarding a construction contract for this project will extend the life of the road and improve pedestrian safety and accessibility. This project is funded by a federal grant from the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP).
BACKGROUND
The City of Fresno Public Works Department has identified a need for streetscape restoration along Olive Avenue from Roosevelt Avenue to Yosemite Avenue. In February of 2016, the City of Fresno applied for RSTP funds for the design and construction phases of the streetscape restoration project to include high visibility crosswalks, curb extensions, widened sidewalks, new landscaping, minimized driveway curb cuts and median island widening and repair. The scope of work also includes the installation of curb ramp upgrades to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, pavement restoration through grind and overlay operations, full pavement section restoration and signing and striping modifications. The grant funds were obligated and the project was budgeted in the adopted FY18 Capital Budget by City Council. The design started following the Public Works Department approval of the consultant contract with Peters Engineering Group, on January 8, 2019. The preliminary engineering design took approximately a year and nine months to complete.
The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on September 4, 2020, posted on the City’s website and was sent via fax to twelve building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to twenty nine prospective bidders. Seven sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on October 6, 2020, with the bids ranging from $834,681.00 to $1,196,857.00. A.J. Excavation is deemed the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The apparent low bid price was 15% below the Construction Allocation. The bids will expire 64 days after the bid opening, on December 9, 2020.
If the bids are rejected, the project will be rebid resulting in a delay of approximately 60 days.
Staff is recommending award of a construction contract to A.J. Excavation, in the amount of $834,681.00, to construct streetscape improvement along Olive Avenue between Roosevelt Avenue and Yosemite Avenue and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. City Attorney has reviewed and approved to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities), 15302/Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction), and 15304/Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land) because the project includes negligible or no expansion of an existing use, including reconstruction of existing curb ramps, existing pavements and existing sidewalk and minor landscaping alterations which will not affect healthy, mature or scenic trees.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
The local preference was not implemented based on grant funding requirements for federally funded projects.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Olive Avenue Streetscape project is located in Council Districts 1 and 3. The overall cost of the project is $1,248,300 and is fully funded by a Federal RSTP grant. Of the overall budget of the project, $834,681.00 will be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments:
EA No. P19-03053
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract
Vicinity Map