CITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORTCITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
Item No. Item No.
Item No.
Item No.
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Agreement with the California High Speed Rail Authority and Amendments to On-Call Consultants associated with the Project Meeting Date: April 25, 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council will consider adopting a Resolution approving an Agreement with California High Speed Authority and Amendments to Consultant Agreements with Southstar Engineering & Consulting, Inc., JM Diaz, Inc. and Mott Macdonald, LLC for a High Speed Rail Project.
BACKGROUND:
High Speed Rail (HSR) was one of the key components of the adopted American Recovery Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 established by the U.S. Congress and President Obama.
In 2008, the California High Speed Rail, also known as the High Speed Train System, was approved by voters under Proposition 1A allocating almost $10 billion to HSR. Proposition 1 authorizes the State to issue $9.95 billion in bonds to construct a high speed rail network linking Northern and Southern California with trains capable of reaching 220 mph.
The California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is tasked with all planning, design, environmental impact and operational phases of the statewide rail network. Plans call for the route to initially link San Francisco and Sacramento through the Central Valley with Los Angeles and San Diego via Riverside and Ontario. Los Angeles would serve as a major terminus.
The proposed segment from Los Angeles to Anaheim proposed to be constructed along the BNSF corridor passes through the City of Commerce. Although the impacts caused by the proposed alignment have been lessened, there will still be impacts to Commerce residents, businesses, and infrastructure. Staff has been coordinating with CHSRA to minimize any potential impacts to Commerce businesses and residents.
On June 21, 2016, the Council approved the City’s agreement with the California High Speed Rail Authority and a budget of $400,000. The agreement, among other provisions, provided for the City to be reimbursed for the costs of technical engineering review of the proposed alignment, staff and consultant costs associated with identifying potential conflicts with the City’s infrastructure as well as any other related costs. On November 24, 2020, CHSRA requested execution of an Amendment extending the term of their agreement with the City through December 31, 2022. The City brought on-board, as its consultants, Southstar Engineering & Consulting, Inc. to conduct environmental and engineering services, JM Diaz, Inc. to provide engineering support, and Mott MacDonald, LLC to perform the civil engineering and design services. Although to date, no professional services have been determined to be required to be performed by any contractor including JM Diaz, Inc. or Mott MacDonald, LLC. However, their services or the type of services they provide could be necessary in the near future.
ANALYSIS
The Agreement expired in December 2022. However, on March 29, 2023, CHSRA requested execution of a new similar Agreement with the City through January 31, 2025, with a budget amount of $210,000. The Agreement reflects an updated CHSRA rate list reflecting change to staffing positions and related hourly rate adjustments for Southstar Engineering & Consulting, Inc., JM Diaz, Inc., and Mott MacDonald, LLC.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact as the CHSRA will reimburse the City and its consultants for its time to review the impacts of the High Speed Rail project in the City.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC GOALS:
This agenda item relates to the 2016 Strategic Plan:
Fiscal Sustainability
Guiding Principle #5: Create and pursue opportunities for collaboration and regional partnerships to maximize resources and address regional issues.
Respectfully submitted: Edgar P. Cisneros, City Manager Approved by: Gina Nila, Department of Public Works
Reviewed by: Vilko Domic, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
ATTACHMENT:
Resolution
Exhibit A – Agreement
Exhibit B-D – Amendments