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 SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Public Works Manager Engineering Division, Design Section SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the Ericson Elementary Neighborhood Street Improvements Project - Bid File 3847 (Council District 4): 1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines 2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $1,065,200 to Avison Construction, Inc. of Madera, California ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, award a construction contract with Avison Construction, Inc. of Madera, California, in the amount of $1,065,200 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ericson Elementary Neighborhood Street Improvements Project will remove and reconstruct approximately 6,500 feet of local roadways bounded by Clinton Avenue, Winery Avenue, and Chestnut Avenue, including reconstruction of several accessible ramps, segments of curb and gutter, and sections of valley gutter. Staff recommends Council award a construction contract to Avison Construction in the amount of $1,065,200 for the proposed project. The project is completely funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. BACKGROUND This design phase of the project was initiated in FY21 when the City of Fresno programmed CDBG grant funding. Public Works Real Estate staff obtained the necessary right-of-way along Vassar Avenue to accommodate the proposed construction. The preliminary engineering design, project management, and right-of-way acquisition was completed over 15 months by the City of Fresno. The scope of the project includes the removal and replacement of the local street paving in the Ericson Elementary neighborhood, bounded by Clinton Avenue, Winery Avenue, and Chestnut Avenue. Associated work includes the removal and reconstruction of several accessible ramps, segments of curb and gutter, and sections of valley gutter. This project serves the residents of the Ericson Elementary neighborhood community who will benefit from the greatly improved paving condition, as well as pedestrian paths of travel that will be brought up to current accessibility standards. No changes to the existing local roadway street widths are proposed, however, a small amount of right-of-way was needed for accessible ramp construction. Public Works Department staff prepared the construction documents for the project. The Project Labor Agreement, adopted by Council in September 2021, was not included in this project's bidding requirements as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has not authorized the PLA provisions to be incorporated on projects utilizing CDBG funding. A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on March 25, 2022, posted on the City's website, and distributed to 9 building exchange. The specifications were distributed to 20 prospective bidders. Three (3) sealed bid proposals were received and opened during a public bid opening on April 26, 2022, with bids ranging from $1,065,200.00 to $1,291,880.40. Avison Construction, Inc., submitted the apparent low bid in the amount $1,065,200 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. The bids will expire on June 29, 2022. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days. Staff is recommending the award of a construction contract to Avison Construction, Inc. of Madera, California in the amount of $1,065,200 to construct the roadway improvements within the Ericson Elementary neighborhood, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and to authorize 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 has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301/Class 1, which exempts the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. The types of "existing facilities" itemized below are not intended to be all-inclusive of the types of projects which might fall within Class 1. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use. Furthermore, staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project. LOCAL PREFERENCE The local preference was not implemented because this project is federally funded. FISCAL IMPACT The Ericson Elementary Neighborhood Street Improvement Project is located in Council District 4. The overall cost of the project is $1,424,350 and is funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Of the overall budget of the project, $1,065,200 will be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund. Attachments: CEQA Determination Bid Evaluation Fiscal Impact Statement Vicinity Map Standardized Contract