For City Council Meeting [May 11, 2021]
TO: Honorable City Council
APPROVAL: Sean Grayson, Acting City Manager
FROM: Michael Tahan, Interim Public Works Director
Title
Request City Council to Authorize the Release of Bids for the Easton Street Sidewalk Improvements Project, City Project No. 190811.
Body
BACKGROUND
The City recently constructed and completed Frisbie Park on Easton Street and is now ready to complete the neighborhood Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalk connectivity to this existing facility with the Easton Street Sidewalk improvement project (Project). The Project will also provide connectivity to local retail uses on the west end of the Project limits. This Project includes curb returns/ramps and new sidewalks consistent with City standard widths.
Easton Street does not currently have connected sidewalk on either side of the roadway requiring pedestrians to walk in the street with traffic. This sidewalk project will improve pedestrian safety by providing a path of travel behind the curb. The project will include ADA compliant curb ramps improving non-motorized mobility to these neighborhood destinations.
On August 11, 2020, the City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Budget and Capital Improvement Project List which included the Easton Street Sidewalk Improvements Project. On September 22, 2020, the City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with Engineering Resources of Southern California (ERSC) related to the design of sidewalk gap closure and connectivity to improve accessibility to destinations on either end of Easton Street, including the Easton Commercial Center, churches, nearby schools, and Frisbie Park.
The City held public outreach meetings, both via Zoom and on-site with individual residents to comprehensively work together with residents whose private improvements were affected by the Project. All existing improvements within the public-right-way were rebuilt, relocated, or removed per request and per standard design criteria and guidelines. Coordination dates and correspondence types are attached as Exhibit A.
The City also surveyed each property to determine existing septic and/or sewer laterals and connections service. All of the residential parcels that are adjacent to the project have sewer laterals from their parcel to the main sewer line in the street. Not all parcels have taken advantage of the existing sewer lateral. There are a couple of parcels that currently have septic systems in operations. When the time comes to convert from septic to sewer, the property owner will not be required to disturb the street since the sewer lateral is to the back of right of way.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
ERSC is proceeding with the design of the improvements to support City efforts to advertise and construct the improvements as soon as is possible. The design by ERSC consists of two (2) construction bidding phases. The Project phasing is focused on construction bidding of Phases 1 & 2; with Phase 3 as a standalone (due to utility relocation coordination scheduling with Southern California Edison) project.
The anticipated Construction Project Phasing is as follows:
Phase 1 - Easton Street from Acacia Avenue to Sycamore Avenue
Phase 2 - Easton Street from Sycamore Avenue to E. Highland Avenue
Phase 3 - Easton Street & Acacia Avenue to the southeast quadrant
Below is an Aerial view of the project limits for the three phases outlined.
To more efficiently secure bids, expedite the overall project, and cost effectively conduct the work, staff recommends that the City Council approve bidding the improvements with Phase 3 as an alternate bid item to the Phase 1 & 2 bid. This approach will successfully begin construction of Phase 1 & 2 while the City continues to resolve utility conflicts and relocations associated with Phase 3, without incurring Contractor delay.
For reference, copies of the plans are included as Attachments 1 & 2.
The tentative timeline for the award is as follows:
Anticipate Release of Bids to be Issued May 2021
Anticipate Award by City Council June/July 2021
Anticipate Start of Construction July/ August 2021
Anticipate Construction Completion December 2021
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Section 21084 of the California Public Resources Code requires that the guidelines for implementation of the California Environmental quality (CEQA) include a list of classes of projects that have been determined not to have a significant effect on the environment and which shall, therefore, be exempt from the provisions of CEQA. In response to that mandate, the Secretary for Resources identified classes of projects that do not have significant effect on the environment and are declared categorically exempt from the requirement for the preparation of environmental documents. In accordance with 14 CCR Section 15301 “Existing Facilities”, Class 1 projects consist of the repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing structures and facilities’ therefore, the reconstruction of existing sidewalk and ADA improvements of the Easton Sidewalk Project, City Project No. 1908-11 is considered categorically exempt from CEQA. Staff has prepared and will file a Notice of Exemption for the project, included as Attachment 3.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
This action is consistent with Guiding Principe 3A in the General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
Approval of this action also complies with the following City of Rialto General Plan Goals and Policies:
Goal 3-6: Require that all developed areas within Rialto are adequately served with essential public services and infrastructure.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact:
The proposed action will not affect the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact:
The project is included in the Capital Improvement Budget.
Funds for the Easton Street Sidewalk Improvements Project, City Project No. 190811, are budgeted and available in the TDA Article 3 Fund, Account 204-500-7326-3001-190811-22 and in Measure I Fund 201-500-4310-3001-190811.
Licensing
A business license or payment of applicable fees are not required for this action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Release of Bids for the Easton Street Sidewalk Improvement Project, City Project No. 190811.