Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: CONSIDERATION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
AGREEMENT WITH BELLECCI AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
FOR THE DESIGN OF THE SIDEWALK GAP CLOSURE
PROJECT
Date: December 12, 2023
Written by: Craig Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Recommendation
It is recommended the City of Cotati City Council adopt a Resolution approving a Professional Services Agreement with Bellicci and Associates, Inc. for the design of the Sidewalk Gap Closure Project and authorizing the City Manager, or Designee, to execute the agreement and any needed amendments up to the authorized project amount.
Background
The City has five projects on the Sonoma County Transportation Authority’s Cycle 1 Funding Program. The Funding Program capitalizes on funding opportunities by best matching agency projects with available funding sources. One of the funding programs is Go Sonoma, a Countywide sales tax to fund roadway improvements. Go Sonoma provides 12 percent of the sales tax revenue for Build Bikeways and Pathways projects. The City’s Sidewalk Gap Closure Project, one of the City’s five projects in the Cycle 1 Funding Program, is included in the first year (FY24/25) of the Build Better Bikeways and Pathways Program to receive $500,000.
Analysis/Discussion
The Project is to construct sidewalks to close gaps throughout the City, repair existing sections of sidewalk, in the identified areas including tripping hazards and upgrades to ADA ramps. The sections of roadways for the new and repaired sidewalks are shown in the attached proposal. The Project scope has been informed by efforts at least as far back as 2008, with the public outreach conducted for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans in 2008 and 2014, and more recently the development of the Local Road Safety Plan in 2021. The Project has been included in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan updates since 2021, which is presented annually to the Planning Commission. Additionally, the Project was discussed at the April 17, 2023 Planning Commission meeting where the members addressed how bicycle and pedestrian elements are included with street paving projects. The scope was intended to include the highest priority sidewalk gap closures that can be completed within the available budget.
In April 2022, the City issued a request for proposals and determined Bellecci and Associates, Inc. to be the best qualified to provide the design services for the Project. Staff requested and Bellecci provided a proposal for the Project and Staff has determined it to be fair and reasonable and recommends it for approval.
The Project’s schedule is for design to be completed by May 2024, bidding to be conducted in June and July 2024, and Construction to extend from July 2024, to October 2024. Contingent on the City receiving reasonable bids, the City Council will be asked to consider awarding a construction contract in the July and August 2024 time-frame.
Financial Considerations
The City’s adopted FY23/24 Budget includes $220,000 for designing the Project. The proposal from Bellecci and Associates, Inc. is for an amount not to exceed $166,632, and is below the authorized Project budget amount, therefore, no additional appropriation of funds are needed.
Environmental Issues
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because approval of the professional services agreement is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378. Environmental review will be conducted during the design and staff will bring an environmental review for City Council consideration and approval prior to final project approval.