Item No.
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: MATTHEW BAUMGARDNER, P.E., DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/
CITY ENGINEER
DATE: SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
SUBJECT: AWARD OF A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE MANZANAR
AVENUE AND BERGMAN LANE STREET IMPROVEMENTS, CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 24-04
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider awarding a contract to Gentry General Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $290,242 for the construction of the Manzanar Avenue and Bergman Lane Street Improvements project, Capital Improvement Project (CIP) No. 24-04. The proposed street improvements would occur on Manzanar Avenue south of Tele graph Road and on Bergman Lane east of Orizaba Avenue , as shown in the attached Project Location Map (Attachment A), and the work will include constructing block walls, curbs and gutters, and related street improvements to isolate the residential neighborhood s from the adjacent commercial businesses.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
1. Award a contract to Gentry General Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $290,242 for the construction of the Manzanar Avenue and Bergman Lane Street Improvements Project, CIP No. 24-04;
2. Approve the transfer of $325,000 from Measure M Local Return funds, CIP Account No. 57-1-6905, to Measure M Local Return funds, CIP Account No. 57-1-6765; and
3. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute any change orders or additional scope of work for this project up to the approved project budget of $425,000.
BACKGROUND
Residents on Manzanar Avenue and Mel Dar Avenue, south of Telegraph Road, are impacted by cut-thru traffic and intrusion of commercial business activity into their residential neighborhood. Especially during heavy traffic hours, drivers on eastbound Telegraph Road use Manzanar Avenue as a way to avoid the Telegraph Road/Lakewood
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 24-04
MANZANAR AVENUE AND BERGMAN LANE STREET IMPROVEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
PAGE 2
Boulevard intersection. Drivers turn south onto Manzanar Avenue and then travel down the street to access southbound Lakewood Boulevard. This movement not only impacts the quality of life on Manzanar Avenue, it also creates a safety concern for residents.
Commercial activity also intrudes upon the residential neighborhood primarily due to the lack of parking and restroom facilities associated with restaurants that are located on Telegraph Road and Lakewood Boulevard. This condition manifests itself in the heavy use of residential streets for commercial parking and creates noise, trash, and safety concerns. Customers frequently park and dine in their cars/trucks in the residential area, eating, talking, and playing music until late at night. Weekends and even ings are particularly impactful, and the City has received numerous reports and has cited offenders when observed. Commercial customers have also been cited for parking on sidewalks and blocking residential driveways. Employees parking from nearby businesses have also impacted the residential streets.
Similarly, the residents on Bergman Lane cul-de-sac, east of Orizaba Avenue, have been impacted by commercial business activity in their residential neighborhood via the pedestrian access opening at the westerly end of the cul -de-sac. A restaurant is located on Paramount Boulevard, and its patrons and employees frequently use the residential street for parking, which creates unwanted noise, trash, and safety concerns. Additionally, the business plays loud music on weekends and evenings, and the City has rec eived complaints regarding these issues.
Residents from both the Manzanar Avenue and the Bergman Lane neighborhoods have made numerous appearances at City Council meetings and have documented their concerns with Downey Police and Code Enforcement staff.
City staff developed a traffic diversion test for Manzanar Avenue, which was intended to reduce the negative impacts to the residents without creating any significant impact on traffic flow. Staff proposed the placement of a temporary barricade across Manzanar Avenue to separate the commercial and residential properties. On November 22, 2022, the City Council adopted a Resolution approving the temporary placement of a barricade across Manzanar Avenue.
Both the Manzanar Avenue and Mel Dar Avenue residents were provided written notice regarding the placement of the temporary barricade across Manzanar Avenue , and the residents overwhelmingly supported the installation of the temporary barricade.
Subsequently, the residents requested the installation of a permanent barricade or block wall to separate the commercial and residential properties and were polled (one vote per property) and overwhelmingly supported the construction of a permanent wall.
The residents of the Bergman Lane cul-de-sac have also requested the installation of a permanent block wall at the pedestrian access opening to provide a buffer between the commercial and residential properties. The residents on the twenty-four properties adjacent to the Bergman Lane cul-de-sac, east of Orizaba Avenue, were polled (one vote
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 24-04
MANZANAR AVENUE AND BERGMAN LANE STREET IMPROVEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
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per property) via written notice to gauge the level of support among the residents most affected by the elimination of pedestrian access and for the desirability of constructing a permanent block wall at the westerly end of the Bergman Lane cul-de-sac and the majority of the residents favorably supported the construction of a permanent wall .
ANALYSIS
On August 22, 2023, the City Council approved plans and specifications and granted authority to advertise the subject project for bids (Attachment B). A copy of the project specifications is available in the Public Works Department for public review. The proposed work at both locations consists of the removal of existing asphalt pavement, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, fences, and landscaping; construction of new block walls, concrete curbs and gutters, sidewalks and slabs, parkway drains, guard rails and signage, adjustment utility manhole, and valve box covers to grade and installation of pavement markings.
The project was advertised in the Downey Patriot on August 24, 2023, and August 31, 2023, and published in various trade publications. On September 14, 2023, the City Clerk received and publicly opened two bids ranging from $290,242 to $428,770. The bid results were as follows:
CONTRACTOR LOCATION BID AMOUNT
Gentry General Engineering, Inc. Rancho Cucamonga $290,242 Sequel Contractors, Inc. Santa Fe Springs $428,770
The lowest responsive and responsible bidder is Gentry General Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $290,242 (Attachment C). Staff reviewed the bid proposal and references provided by Gentry General Engineering, Inc. and found that Gentry General Engineering, Inc. has satisfactorily completed projects for the Cities of Downey, Fontana, Hermosa Beach, Laguna Niguel, Manhattan Beach, Upland, and others. Gentry General Engineering, Inc.'s state contractor's license is "current and active," and this contractor is registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) for Labor Compliance. Staff recommends that the City Council award a contract to Gentry General Engineering, Inc. for the construction of the Manzanar Avenue and Bergman Lane Street Improvements Project, CIP No. 24-04.
Construction is anticipated to begin in November 2023 and be completed by the end of December 2023. This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15301(c), Existing Facilities.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 24-04
MANZANAR AVENUE AND BERGMAN LANE STREET IMPROVEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
PAGE 4
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended actions will result in an appropriation of $425,000 (breakdown listed below) from Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Measure M Local Return funds, CIP Account No. 57-1-6905, as provided in the table below, including the transfer of $325,000 in Measure M Local Return funds from CIP Account No. 57-1-6765, CIP No. 19-14, Downey Bike Master Plan Implementation Phase 1 Downtown/Transit.
Description Amount
Design and Preliminary Engineering $46,182
Construction Contract $290,242
Contingencies $29,758
Construction Inspection and Materials Testing $33,000
Construction Engineering and Contract Administration $25,818 Total Estimated Project Cost: $425,000
There is sufficient fund balance for the recommended actions.
Account No. Funding Source Amount
57-1-6905 Measure M Local Return funds $100,000
57-1-6905 Transfer from CIP Account No. 57-1-6765 $325,000 Total Project Funding: $425,000
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A – Project Location Map
Attachment B – Plans
Attachment C – Bid Summary
ATTACHMENT A
ATTACHMENT B
Bid Summary
ATTACHMENT C