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AUTHORIZE THE FILBERT STREET AND MINER AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLATION PROJECT
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to:
1. Approve the Notice of Exemption No. NOE51-19 under the California Environmental Quality Act for the Filbert Street and Miner Avenue Traffic Signal Installation, Project No. PW1310/Federal Project No. CML-5008(130).
2. Approve the plans and specifications for the Filbert Street and Miner Avenue Traffic Signal Installation, Project No. PW1310/Federal Project No. CML-5008(130).
3. Appropriate funds in the amount of $200,000 from the Traffic Signals Citywide PFF Fund balance (Fund 900) to the Filbert Street and Miner Avenue Traffic Signal Installation, Project No. PW1310/Federal Project No. CML-5008(130).
4. Award a Construction Contract in the amount of $907,130 to St. Francis Electric, LLC, of San Leandro, CA, for the Filbert Street and Miner Avenue Traffic Signal Installation, Project No. PW1310/Federal Project No. CML-5008(130).
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 project will replace the existing four-way stop control at the intersection of Filbert Street and Miner Avenue with a traffic signal. The project includes roadway alignment modifications to accommodate large trucks, and installation of wheelchair ramps, cameras, lighting, and striping improvements. The project was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-22 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
On December 12, 2019, the City received four bids for this project. Staff recommends award of the Construction Contract to the lowest responsible bidder, St. Francis Electric, LLC, in the amount of $907,130. Staff recommends that Council adopt a resolution approving Notice of Exemption No. NOE51-19 under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and approving the plans and specifications for the project. Staff also recommends appropriating funds in the amount of $200,000 from the Traffic Signals Citywide PFF Fund balance to fully fund all anticipated project costs. Construction is anticipated to be completed by fall 2020.
DISCUSSION
Background
Miner Avenue and Filbert Street are important street corridors in east Stockton (Attachment A - Vicinity Map). Miner Avenue is an east-west, two-lane collector road, and Filbert Street is a north-south, two-lane arterial road. The Miner Avenue and Filbert Street intersection is presently controlled by a four-way stop sign. Traffic volume is significant at approximately 25,000 vehicles per day, with a large percentage of large trucks. The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 1982 allows large trucks to operate on the interstate and certain primary local routes and requires primary local routes to accommodate large STAA designated trucks. The intersection of Miner Avenue and Filbert Street is a primary STAA route, and modifications are needed at this intersection to accommodate STAA truck turning movements.
In 2012, Public Works submitted a grant application to the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program for the Filbert Street and Miner Avenue Traffic Signal Installation project. The project will install a new traffic signal, modify the roadway alignment to accommodate large trucks, upgrade corner ramps to current ADA standards, and install cameras, lighting, striping, and signing improvements. These upgrades will result in improved traffic safety, operations, and air quality, while reducing delays.
In July 2013, the project was awarded $609,086 in federal CMAQ funds. The minimum local match is $78,914. There will be no local match requirement on this project, as the City will use toll credits in lieu of the match. Toll credits do not provide additional funding to the project but do eliminate the need for the City to provide any local match funds. The project was included in the FY 2017-22 CIP.
The project needed additional right-of-way for portions of the required improvements. Preliminary design work started in mid-2014 to determine the additional right-of-way needed for the project. Discussions and negotiations with property owners for right-of-way commenced in 2015. Property was successfully acquired through the end of 2017. Acquisition of one property was delayed by a probate process which extended the right-of-way acquisition phase to 2018. Final design and utility relocation work started and was completed mid-2019, and staff requested Caltrans authorization to construct the project. On September 9, 2019, Caltrans approved the authorization to proceed with construction of the project.
Since the project is funded with federal transportation dollars, 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 provide evidence of adequate good faith efforts are grounds for rejecting the bidder as non-responsive.
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 18 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 November 13, 2019, to emphasize the DBE requirements, and to provide information on how to meet the project DBE goal.
The federal funding restrictions prohibit the use of the Local Employment Ordinance (Stockton Municipal Code (SMC) section 3.68.095), and the Local Business Preference Ordinance (SMC section 3.68.090).
On July 26, 2016, Council adopted a Community Workforce and Training Agreement (CWTA). The CWTA became effective August 25, 2016 and applies to all Public Works projects over $1 million that are bid after that date. The CWTA was not applied to this project as federal regulations prohibit the use of such agreements.
Present Situation
On November 7, 2019, the Filbert Street and Miner Avenue Traffic Signal Installation project was advertised for bids. On December 12, 2019, four bids were received with the following results:
COMPANY NAME BID AMOUNT
St. Francis Electric, LLC (San Leandro, CA) $ 907,130
B & M Builders, Inc. (Rancho Cordova, CA) $ 990,290
PTM General Engineering Services, Inc. (Riverside, CA) $1,095,672
Tennyson Electric, Inc. (Livermore, CA) $1,138,833
Engineer’s Estimate $ 736,049
The bid from St. Francis Electric, LLC, the lowest responsible bidder, is regular in all respects. St. Francis Electric, LLC has the proper license to perform the work and has proposed a DBE participation of 37.46 percent, which exceeds the 18 percent DBE goal. Staff recommends approving the plans and specifications for the project and awarding the Construction Contract to St. Francis Electric, LLC, of San Leandro, CA, in the amount of $907,130.
Caltrans National Environmental Policy Act determination was received on June 15, 2015 and revalidated in July 2019. The State determined that the project is a Categorical Exclusion under 23 CFR 771.117(c): activity (c)(21). Similarly, 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(c), of the CEQA guidelines. The activities related to this project constitute a discretionary project under the City’s jurisdiction and qualifies as a project that does has have a significant effect on the environment. The resolution will approve the Notice of Exemption No. NOE51-19 under CEQA. Construction is anticipated to be completed by fall 2020.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The unencumbered balance for the Filbert Street and Miner Avenue Traffic Signal Installation, Project No. PW1310/Federal Project No. CML-5008(130), is $989,083. The existing funding is comprised of CMAQ and Measure K funds. Appropriation of $200,000 from the Traffic Signals Citywide PFF Fund balance (Fund 900) to the project is recommended to provide sufficient funding to award a Construction Contract in the amount of $907,130 to St. Francis Electric, LLC. The remaining funding will be used for contingencies, change orders, and staff costs.
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund or any other unrestricted fund as a result of taking the recommended action.
Attachment A - Vicinity Map