Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: ACCEPTANCE OF THE SIDEWALK GAP CLOSURE
PROJECT
Date: July 8, 2025
Written by: Craig Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Recommendation
It is recommended the City Council of the City of Cotati adopt a resolution accepting the Sidewalk Gap Closure Project, authorizing the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder, and after 35 days with no protests, release the construction contract retention.
Background
The City’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) identifies street improvements throughout the City to improve safety of all modes of travel including bicycles and pedestrians. The ATP presents a list of sidewalk gaps for the City to address. The City included the highest priority sidewalk gaps in its Capital Improvement Plan and in 2021, submitted a grant application to help fund the project. The City was successful in receiving Go Sonoma funding through the Sonoma County Transportation Agency’s Priority Project Cycle 1 program. Due to budget constraints, not all of the sidewalk gaps that were designed were constructed and the intent is to bring these segments forward in future projects.
Analysis/Discussion
On September 10, 2024, City Council awarded the construction agreement for the Sidewalk Gap Closure Project (Project) to Zara Construction. The project consisted of a new pathway on West School Street, between Clifford and Maple, closing a sidewalk gap on Olaf, closing a sidewalk gap on Park Avenue between Myrtle Avenue and the Veteran’s Hall Parking Lot, and completing the pathway along Myrtle Avenue, between Putnam Park and Park Avenue.
Field work began on the installation on October 14, 2024, and a final inspection was conducted on June 2, 2025. The City Engineer has determined the work has been completed in accordance with the project documents. Construction Management for the Project was conducted by Green Valley Consulting Engineers. Accounting for wet weather delays, the work was completed within the contract allotted days.
A budget amendment was approved by City Council and was necessary due to extra construction management costs related to the extended schedule and change orders exceeding the project contingency. The most significant change orders were caused by the wet conditions in areas at the intersection of Maple Avenue and West School Street which needed to be over excavated and new material brought in to obtain acceptable compaction testing results. The second most significant change order was needed for vegetation removal which interfered with drainage along West School Street.
The City Engineer is recommending the Project for acceptance by the City. Following City Council action, a Notice of Completion is to be filed with the County Recorder and after thirtyfive days, provided there are no protests, the City is to release the retention to the Contractor.
Financial Considerations
The City’s Fiscal Year 24/25 Budget has an amended annual project budget of $790,000. This budget included $500,000 of Go Sonoma Funds with the remaining funds from the General Fund. In the prior year (2023/24) there was a total project expenditure of $116,074, which is part of the total design costs of $166,302. The total approved project budget, after amendment due to change orders, is $906,074.00. Total Project costs are $898,349.33 with an amount under budget of $7,724.67. Below is a table summarizing the project costs.
Description Total Project Costs
Design $166,302.00
Construction $565,806.22
Construction Management $161,525.00
Other Costs $4,716.11
Total $898,349.33
Total Budget 2024/25 $790,000
Total Amended Budget $906,074.00
Amount Under/(Over) Budget $7,724.67
The unused budget will be returned to the City’s unappropriated General Fund account.
Environmental Issues
This action is found to qualify for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption under CEQA Section 15301 in that the project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use.