REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL December 14, 2017 FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director Public Works Department, Engineering Division SCOTT TYLER, PE, Public Works Manager Public Works Department, Engineering Division MICHAEL W. HOLLY, PE, Professional Engineer Public Works Department, Engineering Division SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the Herndon Avenue Widening Project between Polk and Milburn Avenues (Council District 2) 1. Approve an agreement for Professional Engineering Services with BKF Engineers for $869,526 plus $52,000 for contingencies for design and construction support services for the Herndon Avenue Widening Project between Polk and Milburn Avenues 2. ***RESOLUTION - 40th amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution (AAR) No. 2017-165, to appropriate $871,600 in Measure "C" Tier 1 funding for the Herndon Avenue Widening Project between Polk and Milburn Avenues (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor's veto) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of an agreement with BKF Engineers for $869,526, and a contingency amount not to exceed $52,000, for the design and preparation of construction documents and provisions for construction management support for the Herndon Avenue Widening Project between Polk and Milburn Avenues, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno. Staff also recommends adoption of the 40th amendment to the AAR No. 2017-165 appropriating $871,600 in Measure "C" Tier 1 funding for the project. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Herndon Avenue between Milburn and Polk Avenues is one of the last remaining four-lane bottlenecks in a regional circulation project between State Route 99 and DeWolf Avenue. This project will remove the bottleneck and improve circulation along Herndon Avenue, and close a gap between terminating Class I bike path/pedestrian trails on either side of the overpass. The project will widen Herndon Avenue from two lanes to three lanes in each direction, add a standard shoulder, widen the existing bridge over the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway and associated roadway approaches, and include a Class I bike path and pedestrian trail along the north side of the roadway. Staff recommends that the Council approve and authorize the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute an agreement on behalf of the City with BKF Engineers for $869,526, and a contingency amount not to exceed $52,000, for the design and preparation of construction documents, and to provide construction support for the Herndon Avenue Widening between Polk and Milburn Avenues. Staff also recommends adoption of the 40th amendment to the AAR No. 2017-165 appropriating $871,600 in Measure "C" Tier 1 funding for the project. BACKGROUND Herndon Avenue is designated as a six-lane expressway in the City of Fresno 2035 General Plan. Over the past twenty years, the City has widened Herndon Avenue from four to six lanes in segments as funds became available through Federal and State grants, Measure "C" and development impact fees. The widening of Herndon Avenue to six lanes from State Route 99 to DeWolf Avenue is also a regional project in the Measure "C" Tier 1 Urban program. The remaining four-lane segment of Herndon Avenue between Polk Avenue and Riverside Drive is anticipated to be constructed over the next four years along with the planned construction of Veterans Boulevard beginning in 2021. The existing four-lane segment between Polk Avenue and Milburn Avenue will soon become the only remaining bottleneck along the route. The scope of work includes widening Herndon Avenue between Polk Avenue and Milburn Avenue from two lanes to three lanes in each direction, widening the existing bridge over the railroad, constructing a Class I bicycle and pedestrian trail on the north side of Herndon Avenue, utility relocations, retaining walls and associated barrier fencing. Measure "C" Tier 1 funding in the amount of $1,435,000 was amended by the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) in the 2016-17 fiscal year for an Advance Planning Study (APS) to do preliminary engineering work to better define the project scope and cost estimate related to the widening of the Herndon Avenue/BNSF overpass and associated roadway approaches. The preliminary engineering work included topographic survey work, project management and engineering consultant costs for the preparation of the APS. The APS was completed in November 2014. With the completion of the APS, staff is ready to move to the next phase of the design in preparing the construction documents and bidding and construction support. In accordance with Administrative Order (A.O.) 6-19, staff sent out requests for Statements of Qualifications (SOQ's) on March 10, 2017, via the Business Journal and published on the City's website. There were three SOQ's received and staff interviewed the three respondents. BKF Engineers was selected as the most qualified consultant and staff negotiated a fee of $869,526 and a contingency of $52,000 pursuant to A.O. 6-19 for the preparation of plans, specifications, cost estimates, and to provide bidding and construction support. No signature of the City Attorney is required for the standardized Agreement. The standardized Agreement document has not been modified and is certified by the Department of Public Works. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented because the number of local firms is less than three. FISCAL IMPACT Implementation of the staff recommendation will have no impact upon the City's General Fund. This capital improvement project will be designed and constructed through Measure "C" Tier 1, Measure "C" Trails and local development impact fee funds. The Amendment to the AAR included in staff's recommendation will appropriate the necessary project funds for this consultant agreement. Attachments: Vicinity Map Consultant Agreement Resolution - 40th Amendment (AAR)