Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Power Engineering Construction, in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $867,713, for the Lagoon 5 Dredging Project and the Alameda West Lagoon System Outfall Maintenance Project, No. P.W. 07-24-21; and
Adoption of Resolution Certifying the Findings in the 2024 Addendum to the 2014 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Initial Study (IS) and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the City of Alameda Dredged Material Management Program. (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 Lagoon 5 Dredging Project and the Alameda West Lagoon System Outfall Maintenance Project (“the Projects”), No. P.W. 07-24-21, on July 29, 2024. The City’s operating agreement with the Alameda West Lagoon Homeowner’s Association (AWLHOA) specifies cost allocation for each individual project. As such, the bid items for each project were kept separate but the Projects were bid as a single contract on August 20, 2024. The Lagoon 5 Dredging removes accumulated sediment from Lagoon 5 of the South Shore lagoon system. The Lagoon System Outfall Maintenance project consists of removing accumulated sediment from the Bayview Weir concrete culvert and channel outfall area, removing rip-rap in the surrounding area, removing and patching unsound concrete, and erecting a new steel safety grate on the culvert.
Staff recommends City Council award the contract to Power Engineering Construction, the lowest responsive bidder, in an amount not-to-exceed $867,713, including a 10% contingency for construction of the Projects, No. PW 07-24-21.
BACKGROUND
The South Shore Lagoon System was created in the 1950s, when tidelands south of Alameda Island were filled in to create the South Shore Development, thus leaving a water gap for the new lagoons. Circulation through the lagoons is provided by pumping salt water from an intake pipe in the San Francisco Bay into the westernmost lagoon, near Crown Beach. This water then travels by gravity east through the five lagoons that compose the lagoon system and returns to the Bay via an outfall at Bayview Drive. The lagoon system serves as a recreational and aesthetic water feature for the residents of the South Shore and the Gold Coast neighborhoods, as well as providing storm water retention and treatment for the city’s storm drainage system during the rainy season. Approximately 1,000 acres (1.6 square miles) of the city land drains into the lagoons, including land from both the Gold Coast and South Shore neighborhoods. The AWLHOA and City are jointly responsible for maintaining the lagoon system, per the Amended and Restated Maintenance and Cost Sharing Agreement between the City and AWLHOA, adopted by City Council on April 4, 20217.
Over the years, dirt and tree leaves have washed into the lagoons from the adjoining streets, storm drains, and the intake pipe. In 2020, the corners of Lagoon 5 were dredged; however, the area immediately adjacent to the weir structure (a concrete structure that controls the flow of water) was excluded from this project. The buildup of sediment and detritus in the Lagoon 5 over the last several years has been a frequent concern for the public, and the AWLHOA, who claim that these areas are too shallow, odorous, and aesthetically undesirable. Additionally, riprap and sediment has built up inside the Bayview weir concrete culvert that connects Lagoon 5 to the bay, reducing the capacity of the culvert. The safety grate at the outfall has failed and is no longer in place.
The Lagoon 5 Dredging Project will include mechanically dredging the lagoon around the weir to remove approximately 400 cubic yards of material. This project is anticipated to take 45 days to complete.
The Lagoon System Outfall Maintenance Project will include restoring the outfall to full functioning capacity by removing approximately 250 cubic yards of material and installing a stainless-steel safety grate. This project is proposed to be completed by November 29, 2024, to ensure compliance with all applicable permit requirements.
The dredge spoils will be loaded into trucks and hauled to a suitable disposal site that will accept the material.
On April 14, 2014, City Council adopted Resolution 14911 certifying a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and adopted findings and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program for the City of Alameda Dredged Material Management Program.(Exhibit 3)
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. Bids were opened on August 20, 2024. One contractor submitted bids. The bid result is as follows:
|
Bidder |
Location |
Bid Amount |
|
Power Engineering Construction |
Alameda, CA |
$788,830 |
Staff believe the low number of bids is due to the specialty nature of this in-water work. After reviewing the bid, staff recommends awarding the contract to Power Engineering Construction for a total amount of $867,713, which includes a 10% contingency in the amount of $78,883. The contractor is not guaranteed any of the contingency and its use will be at the sole discretion of the Public Works Director for work not originally anticipated in the specification. The specification also informed the successful bidder that they shall not pay less than the prevailing rate of per diem wages as determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Construction of the Projects are anticipated to be completed in December 2024. The proposed contract is included in Exhibit 1.
Area West Environmental, Inc. prepared a 2024 Addendum to the original 2014 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the City of Alameda Dredged Material Management Program. See Exhibit 2. The addendum concludes that the Lagoon 5 maintenance dredging would not result in new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects due to substantial project changes or a substantial change in circumstances beyond those evaluated in the 2014 IS/MND. Staff recommend City Council adopt the proposed Resolution, which certifies the findings in the 2024 Addendum to the 2014 CEQA Initial Study and MND.
ALTERNATIVES
• Award the construction contract and adopt the Resolution certifying the findings in the 2024 MND addendum.
• City Council may opt to not award the proposed contract or may adjust the level of work in the proposed contract. This would result in further sediment and detritus accumulation in Lagoon 5 and the outfall and preventing the outfall from operating at capacity and could raise concerns from AWLHOA, which is jointly responsible for maintaining certain aspects of the lagoons. Maximizing capacity in the lagoons and outfall are essential for managing large storm events.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Lagoon 5 Dredging Project is budgeted in Capital Improvement Program (CIP) No. C34000 Lagoon Maintenance. C34000 is funded by construction improvement taxes and funds from the Alameda West Lagoon Homeowners Association (AWLHOA). The project costs will be shared between the City and AWLHOA at a ratio of 70% City / 30% AWLHOA in conformance with the current operating agreement. See Table 1 and Table 2 below.
The Alameda West Lagoon System Outfall Maintenance Project is budgeted in CIP No. C35000 Shoreline Maintenance. C35000 is funded by the Tidelands fund. There is no cost sharing with AWLHOA for the outfall work.
Table 1: Cost Sharing with AWLHOA
|
Project |
Construction Costs |
% reimbursed by AWLHOA |
City Costs |
AWLHOA Shared Costs |
|
Lagoon 5 Dredging |
$ 318,691 |
30% |
$223,084 |
$ 95,607 |
|
Alameda West Lagoon System Outfall Maintenance |
$ 470,139 |
0% |
$470,139 |
$ - |
|
|
|
Total Non-Reimbursable City Costs: |
$693,223 |
$ 95,607 |
Table 2: Funding Sources
|
CIP Fund |
Construction Costs |
Available Budget |
|
C34000 - Lagoon Maintenance |
$318,691 |
$723,733 |
|
C35000 - Shoreline Maintenance |
$470,139 |
$1,021,850 |
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with General Plan policy CC-32 to continue to preserve and maintain all lagoons as natural habitat as well as an integral component of the City’s green infrastructure network and flood control system. The projects supports the City FY 2023-26 Strategic Plan Priority to Invest in Transportation, Infrastructure, Economic Opportunities and Historic Resources.
This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
An addendum to the 2014 CEQA Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the City’s Dredged Material Management Plan dredging was issued for the dredging work. Attached Exhibit 2 contains the 2024 Addendum. The US Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit and California Regional Water Quality Control Board 401 Water Quality Certification have already been issued for this project.
CLIMATE IMPACTS
Construction materials and equipment will temporarily increase greenhouse gas emissions during construction. Currently, we lack the tools to quantify the estimated emissions. However, removal of debris in the lagoons and clearing the outfall channel will allow the City to better manage large storm events. The lagoons holding capacity will be increased and the ability to release water from the lagoons at low tide will be improved.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Power Engineering Construction, in an amount not-to-exceed $867,713 for the Lagoon 5 Dredging Project and the Lagoon System Outfall Maintenance Project; and adopt a resolution certifying the findings in the 2024 Addendum to the 2014 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Initial Study (IS) and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the City of Alameda Dredged Material Management Program.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
By,
Brendin Christolear, Supervising Civil Engineer
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Agreement
2. 2024 Addendum to MND
3. Resolution 14911 and 2014 Initial Study and MND