For City Council Meeting [April 27, 2021]
TO: Honorable City Council
APPROVAL: Sean Grayson, Acting City Manager
FROM: Michael Tahan, Interim Public Works Director
Title
Staff Recommends that the City Council 1) Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration; 2) Approve a First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement to Huitt-Zollars, Inc. in the Amount of $44,000 for a Not-To-Exceed Amount of $565,625 for Phase 1; and 3) Authorize the Preparation and Release of a Request for Bid for Phase 1 of the Baseline Storm Drain Extension Project, City Project No. 170700.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND
In 2007, City Council authorized an update to the Storm Drain Master Plan. In 2011, City Council received a draft update of the plan. All past and present iterations of the master plan, including those from 1973 and 1988, included a major storm drain in Baseline Road from the Cactus Basin west beyond the westerly City Limits. During design of the Renaissance Specific Plan, a supplemental storm drain analysis confirmed the need to construct a major drain in Baseline Road from the Cactus Basin westerly to the City limit. In 2016, the San Bernardino County Flood Control District (SBCFCD) began development of the Cactus Basin System Improvements, which includes expanding the basins to increase storage capacity. On August 8, 2017, City Council authorized staff to release a Request for Proposal for the design of the Master-planned storm drain in Baseline Road from Cactus Basin to Tamarind Avenue.
On June 26, 2018 City Council awarded a Professional Services Agreement to Huitt Zollars Inc. for the design of the Baseline Master Plan Storm Drain from the Cactus Basin to Tamarind Avenue in the amount of $521,625.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The City’s Storm Drain Fund has currently an estimated balance of $19.48 Million dollars, which allows for the allocation to the construction phase of the project. The anticipated total construction costs for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 is estimated at $19 Million dollars. Staff recommends that the project be constructed in the following two (2) separate phases:
• Phase 1: Construction of a storm drain in Baseline Road only from Cactus Basin #3 to Locust Avenue. The anticipated construction costs for Phase 1 are approximately $15.38 Million dollars, which includes 15% contingency.
• Phase 2: Construction of a storm drain extension through the Olive Grove property and the San Bernardino County Flood Control District right-of-way, that is construction of a storm drain extension from Locust Avenue to Tamarind Avenue. Easement, encroachment permits, and regulatory permits are required before Phase 2 can proceed.
A copy of the Construction Phasing Exhibit is included as Attachment 1.
Staff recommends that a request for bid of Phase 1 of the storm drain project be authorized by City Council. It is anticipated that Construction Phase 1 will take approximately 30 months to complete. The following challenges will be addressed:
• Coordination with Southern California Edison for the relocation of a designated pole that conflicts with the proposed alignment of the storm drain.
• Coordination with Southern California Gas Company for the relocation of a gas main and laterals conflicting with the proposed alignment of the storm drain.
• Traffic management to maintain at least one (1) traveling lane in each direction.
• Drainage management during storm events.
Additionally, staff is recommending a First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Huitt-Zollars, Inc. in the amount of $44,000 to modify the scope of the original contract for the Baseline Road Storm Drain Improvements Project. Specifically, Huitt-Zollars will provide additional services beyond the original scope to attend additional meetings and project administration, supplemental CEQA services and final engineering services needed to allow for the completion of Phase 1 of the project. A copy of the First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Huitt-Zollars, Inc and a copy of the detailed proposal are included as Attachments 2 and 3, respectively.
Phase 2 of the project may require additional services and coordination with San Bernardino County Flood Control District, in addition to other regulatory agencies and developers.
A copy of the Disclosure Form is included as Attachment 4.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The City has completed analysis of potential environmental impacts associated with the Project. Huitt-Zollars, Inc. on behalf of the City acting as Lead Agency pursuant to CEQA, has prepared an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, (the “IS/MND”). In accordance with Section 21082.1 of the California Public Resources Code, and Sections 15072 and 15073 of the CEQA Guidelines, public review of the IS/MND occurred through the following measures:
• Staff circulated the IS/MND via the California State Clearinghouse (SCH #2020090296) to local agencies for a 30-day public review period from September 18, 2020, to October 19, 2020. A copy of the IS/MND is included as Attachment 5.
• Staff mailed a Notice of Availability of the IS/MND to all property owners located within a 300-foot radius of the Project.
• Staff published a Notice of Availability in the San Bernardino County Sun on September 18, 2020. A copy of the Proof of Publication is included as Attachment 6.
• During the public circulation period, six (6) comment letters were received from the following agencies, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, San Bernardino County Department of Public Works, Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, Gresham Savage/Crow Holdings, Rialto Unified School District, and OmniTrans. A response to those comments was completed by Tom Dodson & Associates on November 10, 2020 and is included as Attachment 7.
The Initial Study, supporting technical studies, has concluded, and following public review, staff has determined that the Project will NOT have a significant effect on the environment. During the construction phase, various mitigative monitoring and reporting actions will be implemented per the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), as defined under Attachment 8.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
Approval of this action complies with the following City of Rialto Guiding Principles, General Plan Goals and Policies:
Goal 3-6: Require that all developed areas within Rialto are adequately served with essential public services and infrastructure.
Policy 3-6.3: Require an increasing level of public safety infrastructure and service capability tied to population increase and increasing service demand.
Policy 3-6.4: Complete infrastructure master plans for sewer, water, and drainage.
Goal 3-7: Upgrade public infrastructure as an inducement to promote private investment.
Goal 5-2: Minimize the risk and damage from flood hazards.
Policy 5-2.5: Require that any structure proposed within an officially designated 100-year floodplain, or other floodplain as determined through geotechnical investigation, be designed in a manner that does not negatively impede or redirect floodwaters or raise anticipated flood heights.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The proposed action will not impact the operating budget. There will be an effect in operating budget related to maintenance of installed storm drain after completion of construction and acceptance into the City’s maintained system. Approximately 11,500 lineal feet of box section and/or large diameter pipe with 17 anticipated catch basins will ultimately be constructed for the entire project.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
Funds are budgeted and available in the Storm Drain Construction Fund Account No. 230-500-4720-3001-170700-01 in the amount of $44,000 for the First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Huitt-Zollars for the design of the Baseline Storm Drain Project, City Project No. 170700.
Licensing
The vendor will pay a Business license application and payment of a Business License tax at the Professional Service rate of an additional $104 prior to execution of the Professional Service Agreement.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
• Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration.
• Approve the First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Huitt-Zollars, Inc. in the amount of $44,000 for a not to exceed amount of $565,625 for Phase 1 of the Project.
• Authorize the Preparation and Release of a Request for Bid for Phase 1 of the Baseline Storm Drain Extension Project, City Project No. 170700.