Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Five-Year Agreement with Precision Emprise, LLC, dba Precision Concrete Cutting, for Sidewalk Trip Hazard Removal in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $2,500,000.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities). (Public Works 310)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda (City) uses concrete cutting services to remove tripping hazards from sidewalks and curbs. Concrete cutting is a quick, cost-effective way to remove trip hazards, allowing more trip hazard removal with limited funds. Staff recommends obtaining these services through a cooperative purchasing agreement, as permitted by the City’s Purchasing Policy dated March 7, 2022. Precision Concrete Cutting (PCC) bid and was awarded Keystone Purchasing Network (KPN) contract 202201-04. KPN awards contracts based on competitively bid purchasing contracts that meet strict bidding standards. Staff recommends City Council authorize a five-year term agreement for a total not-to-exceed amount of $2,500,000.
BACKGROUND
The sidewalk system is a vital component of the City’s infrastructure and plays an essential role in City life. As conduits for pedestrian movement and access, they enhance connectivity and promote walking. As public spaces, they activate streets socially and economically. Safe, accessible, and well-maintained sidewalks are fundamental to mobility and healthy communities.
Over time sidewalks can shift and settle, which creates offsets between concrete panels. In addition, as trees grow and mature their roots can raise the sidewalk, curb, gutter, and pavement area. PCC specializes in trip hazard removal. They use a proprietary and patented cutting technology to repair concrete off-sets. Concrete cutting leaves a clean repair, has a reliable standard of quality and is sloped to meet Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards. Concrete saw cutting, when possible, can address more tripping hazards with limited resources than removal and replacement alone. Although the cause of the uplift-differential settlement or tree roots-is not addressed with this methodology, it removes the tripping hazard and extends the time before the removal and replacement work must be done.
In accordance with City Administrative Instruction Number 5 (Purchasing Policy), services may be procured by piggybacking on another agency’s purchase agreement or through cooperative purchasing. The City Council must approve award of any service provider agreement made through either piggybacking or cooperative purchasing that is than a cumulative total of $75,000 in any given fiscal year.
DISCUSSION
In 2022, PCC bid with KPN on a nationwide trip hazard removal solicitation. PCC was awarded KPN contract 202201-04 for an initial year and up to five one-year extensions. KPN is a national purchasing cooperative agency that reduces the cost of acquisition for educational and local government agencies. PCC has satisfactorily performed these services for the City over the last five years and removed over 17,000 tripping hazards.
Staff recommends awarding a new five-year agreement to PCC for a total amount of $2,500,000. PCC pays not less than the prevailing rate of per diem wages as determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. The Agreement is attached as Exhibit 1.
ALTERNATIVES
• Award the contract as recommended.
• Increase or reduce the scope/budget of the proposed contract before awarding.
• Do not award the contract and direct staff remove tripping hazards with in-house staff.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
$3,000,000 was appropriated for sidewalk repair on July 1, 2024 to the City’s Capital Improvement Program, Sidewalk Repair Project C1400. Funding sources are the General Fund and Measure BB. Staff will encumber $1,000,000 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 upon approval of the Agreement. Encumbrances for future fiscal years would be dependent upon future Capital Budget appropriations approved by City Council. Compensation for work done under this Agreement, shall not exceed as follows:
FY 24-25 total compensation shall not exceed $1,000,000
FY 25-26 total compensation shall not exceed $375,000
FY 26-27 total compensation shall not exceed $375,000
FY 27-28 total compensation shall not exceed $375,000
FY 28-29 total compensation shall not exceed $375,000
Total five-year compensation shall not exceed $2,500,000.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code. This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with CEQA, this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities).
CLIMATE IMPACT
Safe, walkable sidewalks are essential to meeting the vehicle miles traveled reduction goals in the City’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. Concrete cutting is a cost-effective way to remove trip hazards, allowing more trip hazard removal with limited funds.
In addition, there are a number of environmental benefits from concrete cutting as compared to concrete replacement. Concrete cutting minimizes material waste, uses less water, and avoids the emission of carbon dioxide during the manufacturing of new concrete.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a five-year agreement with Precision Emprise, LLC, dba Precision Concrete Cutting, for sidewalk trip hazard removal in an amount not-to-exceed $2,500,000.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Agreement