1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: March 26, 2024
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Ken Berkman, Public Works Director
BY: Dean Pearson, Construction Superintendent
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Approving Contract Documents and Awarding a Construction Contract for Bid Schedule No. 1522 – Downtown Metrolink Station Waterproofing & Elevator Modernization to Courts Construction Co., Inc.; Finding of CEQA Exemption (14 CCR § 15301); and Amending the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK APPROVING
CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT FOR BID SCHEDULE NO. 1522 – DOWNTOWN
METROLINK STATION WATERPROOFING & ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION TO COURTS CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.; AND APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT (Attachment 1).
BACKGROUND
The public elevator located at Burbank’s regional transit hub is over 26 years old and is one of the most heavily used within the City’s elevator system inventory. The elevator tower has a steel frame with a skylight and curtainwall glazing system. The glazing system’s waterproofing elements are deteriorated and no longer watertight. In addition, the elevator system has reached the end of its useful life and requires modernization.
The project includes restoration of the elevator tower waterproofing elements, building stucco finish, a full roof removal and replacement, repairs and/or replacements to exterior tiles, stainless steel trim and other aesthetic improvements, as well as painting the
2 pedestrian stair tower. In addition to the elevator tower rehabilitation, the project will modernize all elevator systems, equipment, cab interior fixtures and finishes, cab cooling, fire/life/safety systems, elevator machine room cooling, and supporting infrastructure.
Exterior elevator tower work will be facilitated by a scaffolding system designed, permitted, and erected by the contractor, and will remain throughout restoration and construction. Pedestrian access to the Metrolink station will be available during construction from the station level to the existing Olive Avenue overpass, via existing ramps to the southeast and southwest sides of the tracks and station. Temporary signage will be posted for the duration of construction to aid wayfinding.
DISCUSSION
Bid Schedule No. 1522 was advertised on the City’s PlanetBids online platform from November 15, 2023, to January 30, 2024, and then extended to February 13, 2024.
Additionally, the Bid Schedule was advertised in the Los Angeles Times on November 15, 2023, and November 22, 2023.
A mandatory pre-bid meeting was held on December 5, 2023 at the Metrolink Station and was attended by 19 contractors. A second, optional job walk was held on January 24, 2024. The bid opening was held on February 13, 2024; thirty-three (33) copies of the bid were downloaded, of which sixteen (16) identified themselves as Prime Contractors. Of the Prime Contractors, one (1) bid was received from Courts Construction Co., Inc. (Courts) in the amount of $1,173,060, which was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bid. After completing reference checks, staff recommends Courts for the execution of this project.
With Council’s approval, construction is projected to start in May 2024 and be completed by April 2025.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Staff recommends that Council find that adoption of this resolution is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) an CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, which exempts the operation, repair, maintenance, and minor alteration of existing public structures, facilities, that involve negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. This activity involves the repair, maintenance, and minor alteration of existing elevator facilities at the Metrolink Station, so it can continue facilitating access to public transportation. A section referencing such a finding is included in the resolution should Council agree with staff’s recommendation.
3 FISCAL IMPACT
The engineer’s estimate for this bid schedule, determined in November 2022, was $970,000. Through the City’s competitive bid process, the lowest responsive and responsible bid was $1,173,060, which is $203,060 (or about 20%) greater than the engineer’s estimate. The cost escalation of the bid is due to unforeseen increases in construction costs related to inflation, material shortages and delays, and high fuel and shipping costs since the time the estimate was prepared.
The projected construction cost for this project (construction bid plus a 15% contingency of $175,959) is $1,349,019. An additional $80,000 is requested for deputy inspection services, consulting services, and construction management costs not included in the direct contract with Courts, bringing the total project cost to $1,429,019.
$919,495 is currently available in the following Project accounts:
104.CD33A.70019.0000.21272.00000 (Prop A Transportation, Public Improvements, Building Improvements, Downtown Metro Station) 105.CD33A.70019.0000.21272.00000 (Prop C Transportation, Public Improvements, Building Improvements, Downtown Metro Station) 370.PW33A.70019.0000.21272.00000 (General City Capital Projects, Facilities Maintenance, Building Improvements, Downtown Metro Station) 534.PW33A.70019.0000.21272.00000 (Municipal Infrastructure Fund, Facilities Maintenance, Building Improvements, Downtown Metro Station)
To complete the project, staff is requesting Council authority to amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Budget by appropriating:
$169,841 from revenue account number 104.ND000.30011.0000.000000.00000 (Prop A Transportation Fund, Non-Departmental, Assigned Fund Balance) to the Project’s expenditure account number 104.CD33A.70019.0000.21272.00000 (Prop A Transportation, Public Improvements, Building Improvements, Downtown Metro Station)
$169,841 from revenue account number 105.ND000.30011.0000.000000.00000 (Prop C Transportation Fund, Non-Departmental, Assigned Fund Balance) to the Project’s expenditure account number 104.CD33A.70019.0000.21272.00000 (Prop C Transportation, Public Improvements, Building Improvements, Downtown Metro Station)
$169,842 from revenue account number 534.ND000.30011.0000.000000.00000 (Municipal Infrastructure Fund, Non-Departmental, Assigned Fund Balance) to the 4 Project’s expenditure account number 534.PW33A.70019.0000.21272.00000 (Municipal Infrastructure Fund, Facilities Maintenance, Building Improvements, Downtown Metro Station)
CONCLUSION
Staff respectfully recommends that Council adopt the attached resolution to approve the contract documents and award a construction contract with Courts Construction Co., Inc. for Bid Schedule No. 1522 – Downtown Metrolink Station Waterproofing & Elevator Modernization Project, find the project categorically exempt from CEQA, and approve staff’s request to amend the FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget as noted above.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Bid Summary