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 BRANDON CHACON, Capital Development Specialist Public Works Department, Engineering Division SUBJECT ..Title Approve an agreement for professional engineering services with Sherwood Design Engineers, Inc., of Santa Cruz, California for $144,923, with a $10,000 contingency, for design and construction support services for the Southwest Fresno Trail Project (Council District 3) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council approve an agreement for professional engineering services with Sherwood Design Engineers, Inc., for $144,923, with a $10,000 contingency, for the design and construction support phases of the Southwest Fresno Trail Project and authorize the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As part of the approved Master Grant Agreement for the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Grant Program with the Strategic Growth Council (SGC), the City was awarded funding for the Southwest Fresno Trail Project. This project will construct a Class I Trail along the Fanning Ditch Alignment, from West Avenue to Thorne Avenue, plant trees, install trail lighting and street lighting. To initiate project design, the City advertised a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for professional engineering services to prepare the construction documents and perform community engagement for the Southwest Fresno Trail Project. The subject consultant agreement, in the amount of $144,923, with a $10,000 contingency, will facilitate the design, community engagement, and construction support services necessary to complete the project. BACKGROUND The TCC Grant Program was established by Assembly Bill (AB) 2722 and is administered by the SGC using Cap-and-Trade funds for the development and implementation of neighborhood-level transformative climate community plans that include multiple, coordinated greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects that provide local economic, environmental, and health benefits to disadvantaged communities. The TCC Grant Program takes a place-based approach that commits applicants to the achievement of economic, environmental, and public health benefits in a specific community through the deployment of integrated climate strategies that combine greenhouse gas reduction activities to achieve multiple community benefits and drive innovation. The City has been awarded grant funds of $66,500,000 from the TCC Grant Program to fund the development and implementation of neighborhood-level coordinated greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects that provide local economic, environmental and health benefits to disadvantaged communities. The submittal for the grant funds, named the Transform Fresno Plan, included coordination with several partners to deliver a variety of California Climate Investment projects, including the Southwest Fresno Trail. On February 28, 2019, the City Council approved the Master Grant Agreement with SGC for development and implementation of greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects in the amount of $66,500,000. On April 23, 2020, the City Council approved a Sub-Recipient Agreement with the City's Department of Public Works for the Southwest Fresno Trail Project in the amount of $1,978,959 and adopted the Southwest Fresno Trail Environmental Doc. No. E202010000079, Mitigated Negative Declaration. The general scope of work includes installation of a Class I trail, trees, landscaping, trail lighting and street lighting. In accordance with Administrative Order (AO) 6-19, staff sent out requests for Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) on August 23, 2021, via Planet Bids, email and published in the Business Journal. Three SOQs were received, and staff interviewed the top three qualified respondents. Sherwood Design Engineers, Inc., was determined the most qualified consultant based on consultant interviews and staff negotiated a fee of $144,923, with a $10,000 contingency, for the preparation of plans, specifications, cost estimates, public outreach, bidding support services and construction support services for the project. Staff is recommending the approval of the agreement with Sherwood Design Engineers, Inc., in the amount of $144,923, with a $10,000 contingency, for the Southwest Fresno Trail Project and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the contract, approved as to form by the City Attorney's office, on behalf of the City of Fresno. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS A mitigated negative declaration was filed for this Project on February 28, 2020, and published in the local newspaper as required for public review and comment, pursuant to Section 21157.1 of the California Public Resources Codes Provisions, and adopted by City Council on April 23, 2020. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented because of the TCC Grant Funding. FISCAL IMPACT This project is located in Council District 3 and will not impact the General Fund. The Southwest Fresno Trail is fully funded by TCC Grant Funds. Attachments: Consultant Agreement Vicinity Map