Item No. 7.
TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY:MATTHEW BAUMGARDNER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER DATE:JUNE 23, 2026
SUBJECT:
APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS PROJECT, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (CIP) NO. 22-10
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider approving a contract with Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc. in the amount of $297,028 for the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Enhancements Project (Project), Capital Improvement Program (CIP) No. 22-10.
The project will enhance pedestrian safety at three school crosswalks through the use of rectangular rapid flashing beacons, high-visibility signage, and pavement marking upgrades.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
1. Award a contract to Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc., the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in the amount of $297,028 for the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Enhancements Project, CIP No. 22-10;
2. Appropriate $76,425 in additional Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Grant Funds in Account No. 26-1-6828;
3. Transfer $43,592 in Measure R Local Return Funds from Account No. 56-1-6454 to Account No. 56-1-6828; and,
4. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Construction Contract with Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc. including any non-substantive extensions, change orders, purchase orders, and amendments up to the authorized budget amount of $474,578.
BACKGROUND
The City adopted its Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) initially in 2022 and updated the LRSP in 2024. The LRSP serves as a blueprint for traffic safety within the City and identifies systemic roadway safety improvement measures to address observed traffic safety issues and enhance traffic safety within the City. To enhance pursuit of this goal, the City opted to pursue funding for the implementation of various safety measures as recommended by the LRSP.
In the spring of 2023, the City applied for and was awarded a California Department of Transportation Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 11 Grant in the amount of $300,050 in set-aside funds for the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Enhancements Project. There are three existing uncontrolled marked school crosswalks that will be upgraded through this project. Two of the crosswalks are shared with the City of South Gate and are located adjacent to St. Pius X- St. Matthias Academy on Gardendale Street at Hoover Avenue and at a point located approximately 300 feet east of Arizona Avenue. The third crosswalk is located adjacent to Our Lady of Perpetual Help School on Downey Avenue between Cherokee Drive and Lexington Road. The three pedestrian crossing locations are shown on the Project Location Map (Attachment A).
On February 25, 2025, the City Council approved a Cooperative Agreement with the City of South Gate to participate in the implementation of the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Enhancements Project.
ANALYSIS
On March 10, 2026, the City Council approved plans (Attachment B) and specifications and granted authority to advertise the project for bids. The project will upgrade uncontrolled marked school pedestrian crosswalks to include rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), high-visibility signage, and pavement marking treatments to heighten the awareness of the presence of pedestrians, particularly school-age children, at the three aforementioned pedestrian crosswalk locations within the City of Downey and partially within the City of South Gate. The project will be a joint effort with the City of South Gate with Downey serving as the lead agency. In order to expedite the project schedule and reduce costs to the extent possible, the City is planning to procure certain materials which typically require long lead times for fabrication, such as electrical service cabinets.
The Project was advertised in the Downey Patriot on April 16, 2026, and April 23, 2026, and published in various trade publications. On May 14, 2026, the City received and publicly opened five (5) bids through Planet Bids ranging from $297,028 to $449,944. The bid results were as follows:
CONTRACTOR LOCATION BID AMOUNT
Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc.Chino $ 297,028
California Professional Engineering, Inc.La Puente $ 333,333 Crosstown Electrical & Data, Inc.Irwindale $ 344,876
DBX, Inc.Temecula $ 431,105
Select Electric, Inc.Anaheim $ 449,944
The lowest responsive and responsible bidder is Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc., with a base bid amount of $297,028 (Attachment C). Staff reviewed the bid proposal and references provided by Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc and found that Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc., has satisfactorily completed projects for the Cities of Los Angeles, Glendale, Fullerton, Downey, Pasadena, Inglewood, Whittier, and many more. Elecnor Belco Electric'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 Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc., for the construction of the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Enhancements Project, CIP No. 22-10.
Construction is anticipated to begin in late July 2026 and be completed by November 2026. This project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under section 15301 (c), Existing Facilities.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended actions will result in an estimated expenditure of $474,578, a breakdown of which is provided as follows:
Description Amount
Design and Preliminary Engineering $ 68,847
Construction Contract $ 297,028
Contingencies (10%)$ 29,703
City-Furnished Materials $ 4,000
Construction Inspection and Materials Testing $ 50,000
Construction Engineering and Project Administration $ 25,000 Total Estimated Project Cost:$ 474,578
Funding for the project is included in the adopted FY 2025-2026 and proposed FY 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budgets. Funding for this project includes the State HSIP grant and Measure R Local Return funds.
The table below outlines the available funding for the recommended actions:
Account No.Funding Source Amount
26-1-6828 HSIP Cycle 11 (state) grant (Expended in FY 24-FY 26)$38,006 26-1-6828 HSIP Cycle 11 (state) grant (Proposed in FY 27)$185,619 26-1-6828 HSIP Cycle 11 (state) grant (Additional Appropriation Request)$76,425
56-1-6828 Measure R Local Return Fund (Expended in FY 24-FY 26)$30,864 56-1-6828 Measure R Local Return Fund (Proposed in FY 27)$100,072
56-1-6828 Measure R Local Return Fund Transfer Request (proposed in FY 27)$43,592
Total Available Budget:$474,578
Attachments
Attachment A - Project Location Map.pdf
Attachment B - CIP 22-10 Plans.pdf
Attachment C - Bid Summary.pdf
Attachment D - Agreement CIP 22-10.pdf