REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Public Works Manager
Engineering Division, Design Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Van Ness Avenue, Fulton Street, and Wishon Avenue Cycle Track - Bid File 3849 (Council Districts 1, 3, and 7)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1, Section 15302/Class 2, Section 15303/Class 3, and Section 15304/Class 4 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $696,886 to Glick Corporation, dba Asphalt Maintenance Company of CA, of Visalia, California
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities), Section 15302/Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction), Section 15303/Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), and Section 15304/Class 4 (Minor Alterations to Land), award a construction contract with Glick Corporation, dba Asphalt Maintenance Company of CA, of Visalia, California in the amount of $696,886 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 proposed Van Ness Avenue, Fulton Street, and Wishon Avenue Cycle Track Project will construct a Class IV separated bicycle facility northbound along Van Ness Avenue/Maroa Avenue, from Elizbeth Street to Weldon Avenue and in the southerly direction, a Class IV will be constructed on Wishon Avenue/Fulton Street, between Weldon Avenue and Belmont Avenue. The proposed separated bicycle facility will provide a more comfortable cycling opportunity for members of the public who may otherwise not be confident or skilled enough to ride in an unprotected facility or with traffic where no bike lanes currently exist. This project serves the larger Fresno City College neighborhood, as well as the new Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project at the southwest corner of Blackstone and McKinley and will provide connectivity to both the Tower TOD project at Van Ness Avenue and Olive Avenue as well as the new ATP Quick-Build Class IV project on Belmont and Palm Avenues. The scope of work required for construction of the new Class IV bike facilities includes a partial roadway slurry to eliminate existing lane markings, placement of new roadway striping and signage, installation of green methyl-methacrylate (MMA) to highlight areas of conflict between bicyclists and motor vehicles, and installation of flexible post delineators to create the separated and protected space that defines a Class IV facility. This project is funded by a state grant through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program and a Measure C TOD grant in coordination with the new housing development at Blackstone and McKinley.
BACKGROUND
The design phase of the project was initiated in FY21, shortly after the City of Fresno entered into an agreement with Corporation for Better Housing, A California nonprofit public benefit Corporation. The preliminary engineering design and project management was completed over 18 months by City of Fresno staff.
The scope of this project includes the construction of a Class IV separated bicycle facility along both Van Ness Avenue/Maroa Avenue, and Wishon Avenue/Fulton Street, between Weldon and Belmont Avenues through the partial slurry of the roadways where the new lanes will be placed to eliminate existing lane markings, placement of new roadway striping and signage, installation of green methyl-methacrylate (MMA) to highlight areas of conflict between bicyclists and motor vehicles, and installation of flexible post delineators to create the separated and protected space that defines a Class IV facility. No additional right-of-way was needed to complete this project.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on February 4, 2022, posted on the City’s website, and distributed to 10 building exchange. The specifications were distributed to 19 prospective bidders. One (1) sealed bid proposal was received and opened in a public bid opening on March 15, 2022. Glick Corporation submitted the only bid received in the amount of $696,886 and was determined to be a responsive and responsible bidder for the project. Local Preference was not applied as the project is state-funded. The bid will expire on May 25, 2022. If the bid is rejected or expires, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days.
The Community Workforce Agreement, adopted by Council in September 2021, does not apply to this project because the engineer’s estimate for this project was less than $1,000,000, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form.
Staff recommends Council award a construction contract with Glick Corporation, dba Asphalt Maintenance Company of CA in the amount of $696,886 for the Van Ness Avenue, Fulton Street, and Wishon Avenue Cycle Track project as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301/Class 1, which exempts the minor alterations of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of an existing use, Section 15302/Class 2, which exempts the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new facilities will be located on the same site as the facility replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the facility replaced, Section/Class 3, which consists of construction and location of limited number of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure, and Section 15304/Class 4, which exempts minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and vegetation, which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes. These exemptions apply because this project involves the reconstruction of an existing roadway, sidewalks, curb and gutter, and traffic signal construction that does not involve the expansion of the roadway. 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 state funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Van Ness Avenue, Fulton Street, and Wishon Avenue Cycle Track is in Council Districts 1, 3 and 7. The overall cost of the project is $893,110 and is funded through multiple grants in coordination with the new housing development at Blackstone and McKinley. The project is funded by a state grant through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program and a Measure C TOD grant. Of the overall budget of the project, $696,886 will be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments:
CEQA Environmental Assessment
Vicinity Map
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract