REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director Public Works Department, Engineering Division GARINE KENDOYAN, Project Manager Public Works Department, Transportation Project Management SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the Transit-Oriented Development Tower Project at Van Ness Avenue and Olive Avenue - Bid File No. 3835 (Council Districts 1 and 3): 1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Sections 15301 and 15302 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines 2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $254,821 to American Paving Co., of Fresno, California ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council (1) adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15301 and 15302 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, (2) award a construction contract with American Paving Co., of Fresno, California in the amount of $254,821 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and (3) authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Fresno seeks to improve accessibility to a highly used transit stop in the Tower District. The Transit-Oriented Development Tower Project at Van Ness Avenue and Olive Avenue will install a 20-foot sidewalk on the northeast corner of the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Olive Avenue and replace the existing bus station with a fully accessible, solar powered station, which will result in roadway narrowing, traffic calming benefits, shorter pedestrian crossing distance and improved transit amenities. This project is funded with a Measure C Transit-Oriented Development program grant. BACKGROUND The City of Fresno Public Works Department has identified a need for transit-oriented development at the northeast corner of the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Olive Avenue. The scope of this project will include replacing the existing bus station with a fully accessible, solar powered station. The City was awarded the original Measure C TOD grant in October, 2019 and the project was budgeted in FY21 Capital Budget. The preliminary engineering took approximately 2 years to complete. The Notice Inviting Bid was published in the Business Journal on March 4, 2022, and posted on the City's website. Two sealed bid proposals were received and opened in the public bid opening on April 5, 2022, with the bids ranging from $254,821 to $334,440. American Paving Co. is deemed the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The apparent low bid price was 29.5% above the Construction Allocation. The bids will expire 64 days after bid opening, on June 8, 2022. If the bids are rejected, the project will rebid resulting in a delay of approximately 90 days. The Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, does not apply to this project because the engineer's estimate for this project was less than $1 million, pursuant to the terms of the PLA. Staff is recommending the award of a construction contract to American Paving Co. in the amount of $254,821.00 to construct the improvements on the northeast corner of the Van Ness Avenue and Olive Avenue intersection, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorization of the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. The City Attorney's Office has reviewed and approved as to form. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Staff performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA guidelines, Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction) because the project includes negligible or no expansion of an existing use, including reconstruction of existing curb ramps and existing pavements. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was considered in staff's evaluation of the bid proposals received. However, it was not implemented because the lowest responsive and responsible bidder is a local business. FISCAL IMPACT The Transit-Oriented Development Tower Project at Van Ness Avenue and Olive Avenue is located in Council Districts 1 and 3. The overall cost of the project is $347,860 and is fully funded with a grant from the Measure C Transit-Oriented Development program. Of the overall budget of the project, $254,821.00 will be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund. Attachments: Environmental Assessment No. PW00901 Bid Evaluation Fiscal Impact Statement Standardized Contract Vicinity Map