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APPROVE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE HARRISON ELEMENTARY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS (PROJECT NO. PW7065/FEDERAL PROJECT NO. SRTSL-5008(119))
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to:
1. Approve the filing of Notice of Exemption No. CE014-16 under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Harrison Elementary Safety Improvements (Project No. PW7065/Federal Project No. SRTSL-5008(119)).
2. Approve the plans and specifications for the Harrison Elementary Safety Improvements (Project No. PW7065/Federal Project No. SRTSL-5008(119)).
3. Award a Construction Contract in the amount of $498,884 to McFadden Construction, Inc. of Stockton, CA, for the Harrison Elementary Safety Improvements (Project No. PW7065/Federal Project No. SRTSL-5008(119)).
It is also recommended that the City Manager be authorized to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
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Summary
The Harrison Elementary Safety Improvements project will install sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and storm drainage on the north side of Alpine Avenue near the intersection of El Pinal Drive. The project will also install a center roadway median on Alpine Avenue east of El Pinal Drive, a high visibility crosswalk with rectangular rapid flashing beacons, and two radar feedback signs.
The project was first identified as a high priority project by the Stockton Unified School District and the City’s Safe Routes to School Committee in 2008, and grant funding was subsequently obtained from the federal Safe Routes to School program. The project was programmed in the FY 2013-2017 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and preliminary design work commenced in late 2013 Construction funding was authorized by Caltrans in May of 2016.
The recommended resolution will approve the plans and specifications for the project, and award a Construction Contract to the lowest responsible bidder, McFadden Construction, Inc. (Stockton, CA), in the amount of $498,884. The resolution will also approve the filing of Notice of Exemption No. CE014-16 under CEQA. Construction is anticipated to begin in November 2016, and be completed by the end of December 2017.
DISCUSSION
Background
In early 2007 the City formed a Safe Routes to School Committee that included staff representatives from the City of Stockton, the School Districts in Stockton, and San Joaquin County Public Health. The purpose of this committee was to identify high priority projects that would be competitive for grant funding available from the federal Safe Routes to School program. Since 2008, improvements along Alpine Avenue to improve safety at Harrison Elementary School has been one of the top priority projects of the Stockton Unified School District and the Safe Routes to School Committee.
Harrison Elementary School is located on East Alpine Avenue, between El Pinal Drive and Sanguinetti Lane. The Harrison Elementary Safety Improvements project extends from approximately 600 feet west of the intersection of Alpine Avenue and El Pinal Drive to the intersection of Alpine Avenue and Sanguinetti Lane (Attachment A), and includes installation of approximately 700 feet of sidewalk, curb, and gutter on the north side of Alpine Avenue. A 470-foot long roadway median island will also be installed on Alpine Avenue east of the El Pinal Drive intersection and will include a left-turn pocket at that intersection. The median will extend in front of the school and is expected to reduce traffic backups associated with mid-block U-turns and traffic operations at the school. Other improvements include drainage improvements, a high visibility crosswalk with rapid flashing beacons, and two radar feedback signs as shown in Attachment B.
The project is funded by a grant from the federal Safe Routes to School program. The project was programmed in the FY 2013-2017 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), with preliminary design work commencing in late 2013. Construction funding was authorized by Caltrans in May of 2016.
Since the project is funded with federal transportation dollars, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program rules apply. DBE rules require that the prime contractor either meet a calculated project specific DBE participation goal, or undertake and document good faith efforts to do so. If the apparent low bidder does not meet the project goal, a Good Faith Efforts Evaluation must be made examining several specific factors. Failure to meet the goal or make adequate good faith efforts are grounds for rejecting the bidder as non-responsive. By definition, a DBE is a socially and economically disadvantaged small business owned by a woman or by a specified ethnic group that has been properly certified by Caltrans. These groups include:
• African American
• Asian Pacific American
• Native American
• Women
• Hispanic American
• Subcontinent Asian American
A DBE goal of eight percent was established for this project. The goal was calculated by examining the breakdown of the types of work to be performed, and the availability of certified DBE companies in our market area to perform the work. A pre-bid meeting was held on June 29, 2016, to emphasize the DBE requirements, and to provide information on how to meet the project DBE goal. The City’s Local Employment and Local Business Preference Ordinances are not applicable to this project due to federal funding guidelines.
Present Situation
The City retained Siegfried Engineering, Inc. to prepare the plans and specifications for the construction of the project. The project plans and specifications were completed, and the project was advertised for bids on June 16, 2016.
On July 7, 2016, two bids were received with the following results:
|
COMPANY NAME |
BID AMOUNT |
|
McFadden Construction, Inc. (Stockton) |
$498,884 |
|
Pacific Infrastructure Construction, LLC (Vacaville) |
$942,608 |
|
Engineer’s Estimate |
$586,021 |
The bid of McFadden Construction, Inc., the lowest responsible bidder, is regular in all respects. McFadden Construction, Inc. has the proper license to perform the work and has proposed a DBE commitment of eight percent, which meets the DBE requirement. Staff recommends awarding a Construction Contract to McFadden Construction, Inc. in the amount of $498,884. Construction is anticipated to begin in November 2016, and be completed by the end of December 2017.
The project is in conformance with the City’s General Plan, pursuant to California Government Code, Section 65402, and is categorically exempt from the requirements of CEQA as specified under Article 19, Section 15301, Class 1, of the CEQA Guidelines. The activities related to this project constitute a discretionary project under the City’s jurisdiction, and qualify as a project that does not have a significant effect on the environment. Staff recommends Council to adopt a resolution authorizing the filing of Notice of Exemption No. CE014-16 under CEQA.
The project is also subject to National Environmental Protection Act requirements. In August 2015, the project received a Categorical Exclusion from Caltrans Environmental Division.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The Harrison Elementary Safety Improvement project (PW7065; 038-7065-640 and 082-7065-640) is funded from a federal Safe Routes to School program grant, with matching funds from Measure K Maintenance. Funding was appropriated in the first year of the FY 2013-2017 CIP. This project has an unobligated balance of $720,000, which is sufficient to award a Construction Contract to McFadden Construction, Inc. in the amount of $498,884. The remaining funding will be used for contingency, change orders, staff cost and construction management. No additional appropriations are necessary to complete this project.
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund or to any other unrestricted fund as a result of taking the recommended action.
Attachment A - Vicinity Map
Attachment B - Site Plan Map