REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: JESUS A. GONZALEZ, PE, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SARAH AGUILA, Supervising Engineering Technician
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Access Structures Rehabilitation in Fruit Avenue from North Avenue to Jensen Avenue (Bid File 12301561) (Unincorporated Fresno):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301(d)/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.
2. Award a construction contract to Floyd Johnston Construction, Inc., of Clovis, California, in the amount of $553,700.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301(d)/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for Access Structures Rehabilitation in Fruit Avenue from North Avenue to Jensen Avenue (Project); award a construction contract for the Project to Floyd Johnston Construction, Inc., in the amount of $553,700; and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign and execute all documents on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Rehabilitation of the City’s sewer access structures is essential to maintaining the long-term operations of this infrastructure. The seven sewer access structures covered under this Project were identified through a facilities assessment investigation. After a competitive bidding process, the Department of Public Utilities, Wastewater Management Division, is seeking to award a construction contract to rehabilitate the seven sewer access structures. The bid will expire on June 21, 2023.
BACKGROUND
The Collection System Maintenance workgroup is responsible for maintaining the City’s sewer infrastructure amongst which are over 23,600 sewer access structures. The purpose of these structures is to allow access during inspection and cleaning of the sanitary sewers. Rehabilitation of these access structures will assist in extending the life of the existing system and eliminating structural deficiencies and corrosion caused by hydrogen sulfide emitted from the wastewater. The Project consists of rehabilitating seven access structures on Fruit Avenue from North Avenue to Jensen Avenue.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published on March 31, 2023, and posted on the City’s Planet Bids website. The plans and specifications were distributed to twelve prospective bidders and posted at seven Building Exchanges. One sealed bid proposal was received and publicly opened on April 18, 2023. Floyd Johnston Construction, Inc., the sole bidder, was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with the bid amount of $553,700. The bid will expire within 64 days of bid opening, on June 21, 2023.
The staff determination was posted on the City’s Planet Bids website on Wednesday, May 16, 2023. Staff recommends that the City Council award a construction contract to Floyd Johnston Construction, Inc., in the amount of $553,700, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Their bid price is 2.04% below the Engineer’s Estimate of $565,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed an environmental assessment of this Project and has determined it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in Section 15301(d)/Class 1 (Existing Facilities). CEQA Guidelines exempt from the provisions of CEQA projects consisting of the replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity. This Project will involve rehabilitation of damaged and deteriorated existing access structures. Furthermore, the 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 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder is a local business pursuant to the Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-108(a).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding for this Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Improvement Project budget within the Wastewater Management Division’s Sewer Enterprise Fund 40501. The Project is located in Council District 3.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Bid Evaluation and Fiscal Impact Statement
Attachment 2 - Sample Contract
Attachment 3 - Vicinity Map
Attachment 4 - Notice of Exemption
Attachment 5 - Environmental Assessment