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APPROVE FINDINGS FOR EMERGENCY CONSTRUCTION FOR THE REPAIRS OF VANDALIZED STREET LIGHTS CITYWIDE PROJECT
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to:
1. Approve findings pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code section 3.68.070 in support of an exception to the competitive bidding process.
2. Appropriate additional funds in the amount of $517,810.52 from the Measure K Fund balance to the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Measure K Maintenance Fund.
3. Authorize Contract Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $253,235.52 with St. Francis Electric, LLC for the Repairs of Vandalized Street Lights Citywide, Project No. OM-23-055.
4. Approve payment in the amount of $517,810.52 to St. Francis Electric, LLC of San Leandro, CA, for the construction of Repairs of Vandalized Street Lights Citywide, Project No. OM-23-055.
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
Numerous copper streetlight wires were stolen, causing streetlight system outages. There was a critical need to re-energize the streetlights and deter future vandalism and wire theft. With the City Manager's approval, Public Works negotiated a contract with St. Francis Electric, LLC of San Leandro, CA, for the Repairs of Vandalized Street Lights Citywide, Project No. OM-23-055. On November 23, 2022, an emergency Construction Contract was executed for the negotiated amount of $264,575 with St. Francis Electric, LLC (Attachment A).
The contract was processed in accordance with the provisions of Stockton Municipal Code (SMC) section 3.68.070, which provides an exception to the competitive bidding process under certain circumstances, including cases of emergencies. SMC section 3.68.070 requires that a written report, including findings upon which the emergency was based, be provided to the City Council no later than its next regularly scheduled Council meeting. Staff has been preoccupied with emergency storm recovery and repair efforts, delaying ratification of the Construction Contract with St. Francis Electric, LLC.
The repairs were substantially completed on January 4, 2023. Contract Change Order (CCO) No. 1, in the amount of $253,235.52, is to re-energize an additional 50 vandalized streetlights and repair 32 vandalized wall pack lights at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. underpass. CCO No. 1 brings the total contract amount to $517,810.52. Materials for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. underpass are on order and the work is anticipated to be completed by early summer 2023.
The recommended resolution includes approval of findings for the emergency Construction Contract for the Repairs of Vandalized Street Lights Citywide project to re-energize the streetlights and deter future vandalism and wire theft.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City is responsible for the operation and maintenance of approximately 19,000 streetlights. The copper wires that conduct electricity to the lights are accessed by pull boxes located on the sidewalk or the landscaped area next to the light. Wire thieves break into the pull boxes to steal wire and sell it to recyclers as scrap metal.
Streetlight wire theft increased dramatically in the last decade, coinciding with the increase in copper values. This phenomenon is not unique to Stockton; it is an issue that other agencies and industries contend with nationwide. Police Department actions to address illegal practices by recyclers reduced but did not eliminate the problem.
In 2015, Public Works Operations and Maintenance staff began experimenting with a proprietary pull box lid made of steel with a unique locking mechanism. The locking pull box lids were used successfully for approximately a year, but thieves have also found ways to break into these locking steel lids. In 2017, staff experimented with backfilling pull boxes with low-density concrete caps, but thieves have been able to break through these caps. Currently, the only theft-deterrent mitigation is to replace the copper wire with aluminum wire which has a lower recycle value and backfill the pull box with high-density concrete.
Numerous streetlights and their accompanying utility boxes were stripped of their wires. Upon further evaluation, 100 streetlights have stolen copper wires, causing streetlight system outages. The City reached out to St. Francis Electric, LLC to assess the damage and provide the City with a cost proposal. The work scope includes replacing the copper wire with aluminum wire, installing a concrete collar to the pull box in the landscaped area, and backfilling the pull box with high-density concrete to deter future vandalism and wire theft.
Present Situation
On November 28, 2022, St. Francis Electric, LLC secured the needed materials and encroachment permit and commenced work for the Repairs of Vandalized Street Lights Citywide project. The repairs were substantially completed on January 4, 2023. Materials for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. underpass are on order and the work is anticipated to be completed by early summer 2023.
Findings
The findings for this emergency construction pursuant to SMC section 3.68.070 are as follows:
1. Streetlight system outages are a hazard that could adversely affect public health, safety, and welfare.
2. Failure to undertake emergency construction of the Repairs of Vandalized Street Lights Citywide would have resulted in significant liability for the City of Stockton.
3. St. Francis Electric, LLC was selected as the most qualified construction contractor given the following:
• Experienced electrical contractor;
• Successful re-wiring project approximately five years ago for multiple streets near Arch Airport Road; and
• The contractor is responsive and can start work upon the City's issuance of a Notice to Proceed.
Staff recommends Council adopt a resolution to approve payment in the amount of $517,810.52 to St. Francis Electric, LLC for the construction of Repairs of Vandalized Street Lights Citywide, Project No. OM-23-055.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The appropriation includes the following actions to provide sufficient funding to issue payment to St. Francis Electric, LLC:
1. Appropriate additional funds in the amount of $264,575 from the Measure K Fund balance to the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Measure K Street Maintenance Fund, Account No. 4570-715-630013-250-252-30-45-000-000.
2. Appropriate additional funds in the amount of $253,235.52 from the Measure K Fund balance to the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Measure K Traffic Maintenance Fund, Account No. 4570-717-630013-250-252-30-45-000-000.
With the additional funding of $517,810.52, there is sufficient funding to issue payment to St. Francis Electric, LLC for the construction completion of the Repairs of Vandalized Street Lights Citywide, Project No. OM-23-055.
There is no impact on the City's General Fund or any other unrestricted fund as a result of taking the recommended actions.
Attachment A - Construction Contract with St. Francis Electric, LLC