REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Director Capital Projects Department SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department BY: SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Assistant Director Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division VICTOR O. VALDEZ, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the Cesar Chavez Boulevard Renaming Project - Bid File 12400612 (Council Districts 3, 5 and 7) 1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 and Section 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines 2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $142,287 to Kroeker Inc., of Fresno, California ..Body RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15302/Class 2 (Replacement and Reconstruction), award a construction contract with Kroeker Inc., of Fresno, California in the amount of $142,287 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Cesar Chavez Boulevard Renaming Project will remove existing street name signs within City of Fresno right-of-way limits along the former California Avenue, Ventura Avenue, and Kings Canyon Boulevard, and install new street name signs that reflect the roadway's changed name designation as Cesar Chavez Boulevard. This project is funded by the General Fund. Following award of contract by the Council, the Contractor has 30 calendar days to execute the contract and provide the necessary documents. Product submittals, review and approval of submittals by the City, and procurement of sign materials by the Contractor will require additional weeks of time before actual sign replacement begins. During this time period before work begins, the Public Works Department will provide notification to affected property owners, residents and businesses in accordance with the Council resolution for the street name change. BACKGROUND On March 9, 2023, City Council adopted a resolution to change the name of California Avenue, from Marks Avenue to Hughes Avenue, and the California-Ventura-Kings Canyon corridor between West Avenue and Peach Avenue to the new street name designation of Cesar Chavez Boulevard; this project will implement that change within City of Fresno right-of-way. Other intersecting side streets signs sharing the same post or pole will also be replaced in-kind with new signs and will maintain their current street name designation. The total number of new street signs to be installed is two hundred and twenty-two (222) and will be limited to segments of roadway within the City of Fresno right-of-way only. The engineering design was performed by in-house City staff and took approximately five months to complete. A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on October 23, 2023, and posted on the City's website. The specifications were distributed to 19 prospective bidders. Two (2) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on November 21, 2023, with bids ranging from $142,287 to $184,800. Kroeker Inc. submitted the apparent low bid in the amount $142,287 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. Local Preference was applied but it did not affect the outcome of the determination. The bids will expire on February 23, 2024; if the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days. The Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, does not apply to this contract because the engineer's estimate for this project was less than $1 million, pursuant to the terms of the PLA. The City Attorney's Office has reviewed and approved as to form. Staff recommends Council award a construction contract with Kroeker Inc., in the amount of $142,287 for the Cesar Chavez Renaming Project as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Staff has performed an environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and 15302/Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction). Section 15301/Class 1 exempts the repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing structures or facilities, which includes existing streets, sidewalk and gutters, and no further expansion of existing use. Section 15302/Class 2 which exempts the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced. 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 bid evaluation process did take Local Preference into consideration, but it did not affect the outcome of the determination. It should be noted the low bidder has affirmed at least 50% of the total value of the contract will be performed by either the Bidder or subcontractors meeting the local preference criteria. FISCAL IMPACT The Cesar Chavez Boulevard Project is located in Council Districts 3, 5 and 7. The overall cost of the project is $236,320 and is funded by the General Fund. Out of the overall budget, $142,287 will be allocated for the construction contract award. All funds necessary for the contract award are included in this fiscal year's approved budget, as previously adopted by the Council. Attachment: Vicinity Map CEQA Environmental Assessment Bid Evaluation Fiscal Impact Statement Standardized Contract