Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a First Amendment to Agreement with Precision Emprise, LLC, dba Precision Concrete Cutting to Increase Compensation by $175,000 for Sidewalk Trip Hazard Removal for a Total Aggregate Compensation Not to Exceed $995,000. (Public Works 31041520)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On February 18, 2020, the City Council awarded a contract to Precision Emprise, LLC, dba Precision Concrete Cutting (PCC) for concrete saw cutting services for displacements in sidewalks and curbs. Since the award, over 6,500 tripping hazards were removed from the City of Alameda’s (City) sidewalk system. On June 15, 2021, the City Council adopted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-23 capital improvement program budget with funding for sidewalks. As saw cutting is an extremely cost effective way to remove trip hazards, staff is seeking an amendment to increase the total not to exceed amount with PCC by $175,000 for a total not to exceed contract amount of $995,000.
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 concrete sidewalks have a tendency to shift and settle creating offsets between concrete panels. In addition, as trees grow and mature, site conditions can result in tree roots raising the sidewalk, curb, gutter, and pavement area. While the Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) identifies the adjacent property owner as being responsible for maintaining the sidewalk, curb, gutter, and driveway approaches, the City’s long standing practice is to repair sidewalk damaged by street trees with all other repairs being the responsibility of the property owner.
The City has approximately 260 miles of sidewalk divided into six sidewalk zones, with Alameda Point being its own zone with separate funding. The City’s rehabilitation program consists of three components: 1) removal and replacement of sidewalk damaged by street trees; 2) concrete saw cutting of sidewalk damaged by street trees, and 3) notification to property owners informing them of their responsibility to make repair of damage not caused by street trees.
PCC specializes in sidewalk condition assessment and 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 Disabilities 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.
On February 18, 2020, the City Council awarded a three year contract to PCC for concrete saw cutting services for displacements in sidewalks and curbs with a yearly amount of $275,000 for a not to exceed contract limit of $825,000.
DISCUSSION
In 2016, PCC bid on a KPN nationwide trip hazard removal category (KPN Bid # KPN 201604-02). The term of the contract allows for five additional one-year extensions with mutual written agreement. KPN is a national purchasing cooperative that reduces the cost of acquisition for educational and local government agencies. KPN awards contracts based on competitively bid purchasing contracts that meet strict bidding standards. PCC has satisfactorily performed this service for over 30 years for Bay Area cities, including Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, San Ramon and many others.
On June 15, 2021, the City Council adopted the FY 2021-23 capital budget that includes additional funding for sidewalk repair. With available funds, staff recommends amending the contract with PCC for an additional $175,000. This will make available $450,000 for saw cutting this fiscal year, with $425,000 focused on sidewalks in zones 2 and 3 and $25,000 at Alameda Point.
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 original agreement and first amendment are attached as Exhibits 1 and 2.
ALTERNATIVES
• Amend the contract to increase the amount to PCC.
• Do not amend this contract, requiring staff to solicit services to complete the work.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Budget for this project is included in the Public Works Department Capital Improvement Program (CIP), Project No 96001 (new Project C1400), with funding from General Fund and in the Base Reuse Fund Facility Maintenance (818003) program operating budget based on the following allocations:
|
Appropriations Allocation |
FY 19-21 |
FY 20-21 |
FY 21-22 Proposed |
|
CIP Fund, 91601 Sidewalks (2017-19 Capital) |
$147,000 |
|
|
|
CIP Fund, 96001 Sidewalks (2019-21 Capital) |
$103,000 |
$250,000 |
|
|
CIP Fund, C1400 Sidewalks (2021-23 Capital) |
|
|
$425,000 |
|
Base Reuse/Alameda Point Fund, Facility Maintenance (818003/29041590) |
$ 25,000 |
$ 25,000 |
$ 25,000 |
|
Total |
$275,000 |
$275,000 |
$450,000 |
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is Categorically Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c), Existing Facilities.
CLIMATE IMPACTS
Safe, walkable sidewalks are essential to meeting the vehicle miles traveled reduction goals in the City’s Climate Action and Resiliency. This optimized sidewalk repair program will remove more trip hazards and therefore facilitate safe walking, which is a healthy and clean form of transportation.
In addition, there are environmental benefits to be realized from concrete cutting versus full sidewalk replacement. Concrete saw cutting minimizes material waste. One hundred panels of concrete that are removed and replaced result in approximately 56 tons of concrete being removed (average panel weight of 1,120 pounds). Saw cutting 100 off-sets results in only 0.3 tons of concrete waste, which saves approximately 141 gallons of gasoline to transport the concrete waste, or a reduction of 1.3 metric tons of Co2. Further, concrete cutting necessitates production of far less cement and lowers total water usage and fuel costs compared with full sidewalk replacement.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a first amendment to agreement to increase compensation by $175,000 with Precision Emprise, LLC, dba Precision Concrete Cutting for sidewalk trip hazard removal for a total aggregate compensation not to exceed $995,000.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends approval to authorize a first amendment to the agreement.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
By,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Annie To, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Original Agreement
2. First Amendment to Agreement
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager