Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Gruendl Inc. dba Ray’s Electric, for the Lincoln Avenue/Walnut Street Safety Improvement Project, No. P.W. 01-24-05, in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $211,542.50, Including Contingency; and
Adoption of Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2023-25 Capital Budget by Reducing Revenue and Expenditure Appropriations in Capital Improvement Project C12000 (Signs, Pavement Markings) by $175,000, and Increasing Revenue and Expenditure Appropriations for Capital Improvement Project C61000 (Street Safety) by $175,000.
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 31041520)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda (City) issued plans and specifications for the Lincoln Avenue/Walnut Street Safety Improvement Project (Project), No. P.W. 01-24-05 on February 21, 2024. The project includes upgraded striping along Lincoln Avenue, installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons, and signage and striping at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Walnut Street. The project will improve vehicle and pedestrian safety by reducing vehicle speeds approaching and through the intersection, and improve pedestrian visibility with the upgraded painted bulbouts, and flashing beacons. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the contract with Gruendl Inc. dba Ray’s Electric, the lowest responsive bidder, in an amount not-to-exceed $211,542.50, and approve the proposed budget resolution to transfer funds between capital improvement projects.
BACKGROUND
Striping improvements were initially made on Lincoln Avenue at Walnut Street in 2020, reducing the number of travel lanes through the intersection from four to two. The current project expands on those improvements by merging the two eastbound travel lanes further from the intersection, enhancing visibility of the reconfigured lanes through painted bulb-outs with vertical bollards, and the addition of two rectangular rapid flashing beacons to alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians in the crosswalks.
This project is consistent with the street safety policies as part of the Alameda Vision Zero Policy. The Project provides the installation of new rectangular rapid flashing beacons, painted bulbouts, signage and striping.
DISCUSSION
To solicit the maximum number of bids and most competitive price, plans and specifications were provided to 17 separate builders’ exchanges throughout the Bay Area. Notices were also sent to contractors on the Public Works Department Contractor List. In addition, notices were placed on the City’s website and published in the Alameda Journal on February 23, 2024. Bids were opened on March 12, 2024. After a bidding period of 21 days, two contractors submitted bids. The bid result is as follows:
|
Bidder |
Location |
Bid |
|
Gruendl Inc. dba Ray's Electric |
Oakland, CA |
$191,542.50 |
|
Columbia Electric, Inc. |
San Leandro, CA |
$233,165.85 |
Public Works staff contacted several references provided by the lowest bidder and received positive feedback on the ability of the company to meet the project requirements and the quality and timeliness of their work.
The City recently worked with each of the two contractors and considers the bid to be competitive. However, industry wide construction cost inflation is reflected in the bid results which are substantially higher than the engineer’s estimate of $141,870.
Staff recommend awarding a contract to Gruendl Inc. dba Ray's Electric for a total amount of $211,542.50, which includes a contingency in the amount of $20,000. The contractor is not guaranteed any of the contingency amount and use of the contingency will be at the sole discretion of the City for work not originally anticipated in the plans and specification. The specifications also informed the successful bidder that they shall pay not less than the prevailing rate of per diem wages as determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. The contract is attached as Exhibit 1.
City Council authorized a new Capital Improvement Project (CIP) for Street Safety as part of the 2023-2025 Capital Budget to implement traffic calming measures at high priority corridors and intersections to improve safety for all users. This CIP funds projects making safety improvements on the many streets not included in the annual paving program or otherwise part of a corridor improvement project such as Central Avenue or Grand Street. Additionally, the project funds the rapid response program to address locations where traffic fatalities have occurred on City Streets. City Council approved an annual budget of $250,000 per year to this newly created CIP category. Unfortunately, the funding has proven to be inadequate to meet public expectations for street safety improvements in general and perform quick build improvements at the locations of severe and fatal crashed on city streets. Unprogrammed funds are currently available in the CIP for Signs and Pavement Markings due to a timing offset between our maintenance construction contract and the City’s fiscal year. Staff is requesting a budget adjustment to transfer funds in the amount of $175,000 from the Signs, Pavement Markings capital improvement project to the Street Safety capital improvement project to fund the Lincoln Avenue / Walnut Street Safety Improvement Project.
ALTERNATIVES
• Award the contract and transfer funds as presented.
• Adjust or modify scope within the contract.
• Do not award the contract and provide alternative direction to staff.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Capital Improvement Project (CIP) C61000 Street Safety currently has an available budget of $66,286.16 for this agreement. However, sufficient funds are available for the contractual expenses within CIP C12000 Signs, Pavement markings. Additional funds totaling $175,000 are required to meet the total anticipated project cost of $221,542.50.
|
HSIP Pedestrian Safety Project Construction Budget |
|
Project Tasks |
Expenses |
|
Admin and Construction Management |
$20,000.00 |
|
Contractual Services Expense |
$211,542.50 |
|
TOTAL |
$231,542.50 |
Staff is requesting to transfer $175,000 of funds budgeted in CIP C12000 Signs, Pavement Markings which has an available unprogrammed budget of $283,999.74 to CIP C61000 Street Safety, which will provide $231,542.50 in available funding to complete this project. The Signs, Pavement Markings project is funded with appropriations from the Measure BB Local Streets and Road. Use of funds from Signs, Pavement Markings is requested because the Lincoln Avenue / Walnut Street Safety Improvements Project includes signage and pavement marking upgrades.
|
Budget Request |
Revenue/ Expenditure |
Fund Number |
Fund Name |
Project Number |
Project Name |
Budget Amount |
|
Transfer Between Projects |
Decrease Revenue and Expenditure Budget |
310 |
Capital Fund |
C12000 |
Signs, Pavement Markings |
($175,000) |
|
Transfer Between Projects |
Increase Revenue and Expenditure Budget |
310 |
Capital Fund |
C61000 |
Street Safety |
$175,000 |
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
General Plan policies support complete streets, which are designed for all modes of transportation as follows: General Plan policies LU-3 Complete Streets and ME-10 Movement, Action A, Complete Streets. The Project is also included in Resolution 15849, Making Significant Safety Improvements to Alameda Streets in 2022 and Beyond to End Fatalities and Serious Injuries. The Project is consistent with and helps implement the City’s Active Transportation Plan and Vision Zero Plan. This action is subject to the Levine Act.
The project is part of the City’s Strategic Plan Project TIE1: Implement Vision Zero Rapid Response - After Fatal Crashes Program as this project was developed in direct response to a fatal collision at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue/Walnut Street. With improvements being made along Lincoln Avenue, this project is also related to TIE5 of the Strategic Plan: Secure funding and detailed design for the Lincoln/Marshal/Pacific corridor project. These improvements are consistent with the design of the larger corridor project.
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
Transportation generates over 70% of the greenhouse emissions in Alameda. Improving pedestrian safety supports non-carbon emitting modes of transportation and the use of transit, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the City’s transportation sector.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Gruendl Inc. dba Ray’s Electric, for the Lincoln Avenue / Walnut Street Safety Improvement Project, No. P.W. 01-24-05, in an amount not-to-exceed $211,542.50, including contingency; and adopt a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2023-25 capital budget by reducing revenue and expenditure appropriations in capital improvement program C12000 by $175,000 and increasing revenue and expenditure appropriations for CIP 61000 by $175,000.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
By,
Scott Wikstrom, City Engineer
Cody Lim, Project Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Agreement