Title:
Title
Budgetary Adjustments and Professional Services Agreement for the Northwood School Access Improvements Project (T15186100)
End
FileID
File ID: 2021-00098
Location
Location: District 2
End
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution: 1) authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to increase the revenue and expenditure budgets of the Northwood School Access Improvements Project (T15186100) by $300,000 (Federal Capital Grants, Fund 3703); and 2) authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Wood Rodgers Inc. for an amount not to exceed $471,630.
.FileName
Contact: Qasid Mehirdel, Associate Civil Engineer (916) 808-6842; Jesse Gothan, Supervising Engineer (916) 808-6897; Nader Kamal, Interim Engineering Services Manager (916) 808-7035, Department of Public Works
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
3-Professional Services Agreement
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Northwood School Access Improvements Project proposes pedestrian improvements for better walkability and accessibility to the Northwood Elementary School and other destinations in the community. The project will install new curb, gutter, planters, and sidewalk along El Camino Avenue, Lexington Street, Clay Street, Frienza Avenue, and Taft Street. The project also proposes pavement resurfacing and rehabilitation, installing new street and pedestrian-scale lighting, drainage systems, and signal modifications.
The City Council established the Northwood School Access Improvements Project on August 9, 2018, with Resolution No. 2018-0326. On January 7, 2020, the City Council accepted the project plans and approved the environmental document with Motion 2020-0006.
In 2017, the City was awarded federal Active Transportation Program (ATP) funds for the project to complete Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E). These programmed funds were allocated by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) and have since been authorized for use.
In the summer of 2020, a Request for Proposals (RFP) for this project was advertised to competitively select a consulting firm to manage the delivery of PS&E. Three proposals were received and reviewed by a panel of technical staff. Per the qualification criteria established in the RFP, Wood Rodgers Inc. was determined as the highest ranked consulting firm to perform the required services. Staff recommends entering into a Professional Services Agreement with Wood Rodgers Inc. in an amount not to exceed $471,630.
Policy Considerations: The actions requested herein are consistent with the City’s goals of improving and expanding public safety, creating walkable communities, and enhancing overall livability. Specific goals the project addresses are as follows:
M 1.2.1 - Multimodal Choices: The City shall develop an integrated, multimodal transportation system that improves the attractiveness of walking, bicycling, and riding transit over time to increase travel choices and aid in achieving a more balanced transportation system and reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
M 1.3.2 - Eliminate Gaps: The City shall eliminate “gaps” in roadways, bikeways, and pedestrian networks.
M 2.1.6 - Pedestrian Awareness Education: The City shall continue pedestrian safety outreach to the public through the City’s website and develop partnerships with local organizations to develop educational materials and programs that promote pedestrian awareness.
M 2.1.7 - Safe Pedestrian Crossings: The City shall improve pedestrian safety at appropriate intersections and midblock locations by providing safe pedestrian crossings.
This project is also consistent with the City’s Vision Zero efforts, the goal of which is to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries (Resolution No. 2017-0032). El Camino Avenue is on the Vision Zero High Injury Network.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): On January 7, 2019, the City approved a Categorial Exemption in compliance with CEQA for the project.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): For this project, The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is the lead agency for NEPA. On January 22, 2020, Caltrans approved a Categorical Exclusion in compliance with NEPA.
Sustainability: The project is consistent with sustainability goals of promoting walking by developing a universally accessible, safe, convenient, integrated, and well-connected pedestrian system.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: The City Council approval is required to increase the expenditure budget with the available grant funds for the preparation of PS&E to complete the project design. The grant funds approved for the design phase include timely use requirements. Executing a Professional Services Agreement with Wood Rodgers Inc. is needed to complete the project design.
Financial Considerations: The estimated cost to complete the project through the PS&E phase of the Northwood School Access Improvements Project is approximately $800,000. With the approval of $300,000 (Federal Capital Grants, Fund 3703) in grant funding, there will be sufficient funding to execute the Professional Services Agreement with Wood Rodgers Inc. for a not-to-exceed amount of $471,630 and cover the remaining PS&E related costs.
There are no General Funds planned or allocated for this project.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): This is a federally funded project, therefore the City’s LBE policy is held in abeyance. Wood Rodgers Inc. has pledged to meet or exceed the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal set for this project.