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
HARLAVPREET S. BRAR, Professional Engineer
Public Works Department, Site Development Project Management
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Armstrong Avenue and Hamilton Avenue Children’s and Tot Play Area Project Bid File 12301734 (Council District 5):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination, pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1, 15303/Class 3 and 15311/Class 11 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $402,535 to Truxell & Valentino Landscape Development, Inc. of Fresno, California, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination, pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1, 15303/Class 3 and 15311/Class 11 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, award a construction contract to Truxell & Valentino Landscape Development, Inc., of Fresno, California, a California Corporation, in the amount of $402,535 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Armstrong Avenue and Hamilton Avenue Children’s and Tot Play Area Project, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign a standardized contract on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno proposes to construct of a new play area within the existing pocket park, located on the south side of Hamilton Avenue east of Armstrong Avenue. The scope of work includes the addition of two play structures, one shade sail structure, accessible paths of travel, wood fiber fall surface around the play structures and other site amenities including two picnic tables, one bench, fencing, trash receptacles and landscaping. Awarding a construction contract for this project will enhance recreation facilities for the community and provide accessible play elements. The construction contract will be funded by the General Fund appropriations made available for this project through the adopted FY2023 budget.
BACKGROUND
The Armstrong Avenue and Hamilton Avenue Children’s and Tot Play Area Project is located within Outlot A of Tract 5413. This tract subdivided approximately 19.5 acres into a 92-lot single family residential subdivision. The subdivision included an area of approximately one acre along Hamilton Avenue to be designed as open space. This open space satisfied the five percent open space mandate as required by the Roosevelt Community Plan Policy No. 1-17.3. This project was initiated through a budget motion from Council District 5, which was adopted by the full Council, in conjunction with Public Works infrastructure funding allocated for improvements in Council District 5, in order to meet the community’s need for a new tot lot play area. The project design was completed through a consultant agreement with Melton Design Group, Inc.
The Notice Inviting Bids was advertised and published in the Business Journal, posted on PlanetBids, and posted on the City’s website on March 6, 2023. Nine (9) building exchanges received the Notice Inviting Bids. The specifications were distributed to Thirty-Two (32) perspective bidders. Two (2) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on April 4, 2023, with bids ranging from $402,535 to $540,001.
Staff is recommending that the City Council award a construction contract to Truxell & Valentino Landscape Development, Inc. of Fresno, California in the amount of $402,535 to construct the Armstrong Avenue and Hamilton Avenue Children’s and Tot Play Area 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.
The Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, does not apply to this contract because the engineer’s estimate for this project was less than $1 million, pursuant to the terms of the PLA.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as 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(s) 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities), 15303/Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) and 15311/Class 11 (Accessory Structures), because the project includes construction of new structure in an existing park facility, which will not negatively impact the existing characteristics of the area. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Staff recommends that the Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination, pursuant to Section(s) 15301/Class 1, 15303/Class 3 and 15311/Class 11 of the CEQA Guidelines for the proposed Armstrong Avenue and Hamilton Avenue Children’s and Tot Play Area Project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was implemented for the construction bid per Fresno Municipal Code section 4-108. The construction contract is funded with General Fund appropriations and Truxell & Valentino Landscape Development, Inc. is a local business, as defined by the Fresno Municipal Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Armstrong Avenue and Hamilton Avenue Children’s and Tot Play Area Project is located in Council District 5. The overall cost of the project is $604,610 and it is fully funded by the allocated General Fund revenue for this project. Of the overall budget of the project, $402,535.00 will be used for the construction contract award. While the surrounding open space is maintained through the Community Facilities District (CFD), the new play equipment was not part of the CFD and will be maintained through future year operating budgets of the Public Works Landscape Division and the PARCS Department.
Attachment(s):
Environmental Assessment
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract
Vicinity Map