EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: January 17, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: Glen March, Senior Engineer
Humza Javed, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Addison Avenue Safe Route to School and Green Street Infrastructure Project Update
Recommendation
Accept and file the report.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 1: Enhance Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Priority No. 4: Improve Public Facilities and Infrastructure Priority No. 6: Create a Healthy and Safe Community
Background
On April 5, 2022, the City Council of East Palo Alto adopted Resolution 33-2022 awarding the construction contract for the Addison Avenue Safe Route to School and Green Street Improvements Project in the amount of $1,855,908.50 to Granite Rock Company.
The project scope includes utility relocation, installation of a storm drain system, installation of bioretention areas, safe routes to school improvements, concrete improvements, and pavement rehabilitation. The project includes close coordination with residents, Comcast, PG&E, Palo Alto Park Mutual Water Company and adjacent businesses.
Analysis
On July 11, 2022, City staff issued a notice to proceed to Granite Rock Company (contractor) that provided for contract time to commence on Monday, July 18, 2022.
The first item of construction work included installation of the storm drain system. In order to install the storm drain system, utility relocations are needed. On November 3, 2022, PG&E completed the relocation of its gas lines that conflicted with the installation of the storm drainpipe and bioretention areas.
Due to the regional demand for construction materials, the pipes and materials necessary to construct the storm drain system were also on a delayed supply schedule which were received by the Contractor in November 2022. The materials have been stored at the Corp Yard.
Concurrently, the contractor has been potholing existing underground infrastructure and utilities to ensure proper storm drain alignment in the field. Based on the contractor’s field potholing data received on November 30, 2022, the contractor determined the proposed storm drainpipe would conflict with an existing Palo Alto Park Mutual Water Company water main.
The City’s consultant design firm for the project, CSG completed a redesign of the storm drain system to eliminate the conflict on January 4, 2023.
On January 5, 2022, City staff directed the contractor to provide a cost proposal for the revised work and order the materials to construct the modified storm drain system. According to the Contractor, it will take approximately two (2) weeks for the additional materials to arrive on site.
Based on the updated information, the installation of the storm drain system will likely begin on or about January 23, 2023. Construction should be completed by early May 2023.
City Staff has been working with the utility companies, affected residents and businesses, as well as Palo Alto Park Mutual Water Company (PAPMWC) throughout this project. The streets in question are still disputed by PAPMWC and they have conditions around the City working in their water owned assets. The City’s goal is to avoid conflict with any of PAPMWC’s water assets throughout construction. City staff is coordinating work with them to ensure a successful project.
Fiscal Impact
There is no financial impact associated with accepting and filing this report.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice of this agenda item by posting the City Council agenda on the City's official bulletin board outside City Hal and making the agenda and report available at the City's website and at the San Mateo Co. Library located at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.