EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: April 4, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Melvin E. Gaines, City Manager
BY: Batool Zaro, Associate Engineer
Humza Javed, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Joel Davis Restroom Project
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution:
1. Authorizing the City Manager to award, negotiate and execute a construction contract, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Kerex Engineering Inc., in the amount of $369,300.00, establish a 15% construction contingency in the amount of $55,395.00 for a total construction budget of $424,695.00, and execute future change orders in an amount not-to-exceed the appropriated construction contingency.
2. Finding that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Sections 15301 and 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines; and
3. Transferring $228,102 from General Fund to CIP Fund.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
• Promote a health and safe community
• Enhance community services and parks
Background
Capital improvement project (CIP) PK-05, Joel Davis Park Improvements, includes the installation of a public restroom at Joel Davis Park. The availability of a restroom will help support greater use of the park. Currently, there are no bathrooms at the park.
Joel Davis Park is a 2.8-acre park located at 1960 Tate Street. Features of the park include a play structure, barbeque grills, a large lawn for all-purpose play, and a perimeter sidewalk primarily used as a walking loop. Both the City’s General and Capital Improvement Plans have identified minor improvements for Joel Davis Park including, but not limited to, installing a bathroom, playfield upgrades, and other recreation opportunities for community members. In 2021, there was outdoor fitness equipment installed at the park which has been well received by the community.
On April 20th, 2021, City Council adopted a resolution approving an application for capital grant funding for Joel Davis Park through Prop 68. The City received the grant to partially help fund the installation of the restroom. The grant performance period is through June 30th, 2024. This project is scheduled in the City’s 2-year CIP that was approved by City Council in 2022.
The Project was presented to the Public Works and Transportation Commission (“Commission”) at its regular meeting held on July 20, 2022, to solicit feedback from the Commission and the public. Notices were mailed to the residents within 300 feet of the park.
The bid package for this project can be found on the City website linked below:
https://www.cityofepa.org/publicworks/page/joel-davis-park-restroom-project Analysis
The project was advertised on February 14, 2023, for solicitation of construction bids. On March 14, 2023, sealed bids were received, publicly opened via Zoom, and read aloud by the City Clerk and a Public Works Engineer. Two (2) contractors submitted bids for the Project with the following bid results:
No. Company Name Total Base Bid Amount
1 Kerex Engineering $369,300.00
2 McNabb Construction $436,436.00
The bid analysis is included as Attachment 2 to this report.
Kerex Engineering submitted the lowest base bid in the amount of $369,300.00 for a double restroom. An alternate bid was also included which includes a single restroom. There is an approximate savings of $69,000.00 if the City installs a single room restroom. The Commission at its July 20, 2023 meeting recommended a double restroom instead of a single as the double restroom is a standard implemented at parks city-wide. Staff supports this recommendation.
City staff performed a bid analysis, verified qualifications, and checked references for the lowest bidder.
Contingent upon completing all insurance and bonding requirements of the Contract Specifications, staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract with Kerex Engineering, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in an amount not-to-exceed $369,300.00 and appropriating an additional $55,395.00 (15%) for construction contingency.
Fiscal Impact
This project will be funded by a combination of State Funds and CIP Fund (by way of General Fund) as follows.
Funding Source Amount
General per capita program $177,952
Urban county per capita $18,641
City CIP Fund (by way of General Fund) $228,102
Total $424,695
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 Hall 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 proposed action is categorically exempt pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15301 (Class 1) and 15303 (Class 3) because the project consists of the minor alteration of existing public park facilities, including the construction and location of limited numbers of new facilities and structures.
Section 15301 of the CEQA guidelines provides for “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 existing or former use.” Projects eligible for this exemption include “Restoration or rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment to meet current standards of public health and safety. (14 Cal. Code Regulations § 15301(d).) Because the Project seeks to improve an existing park, the Project will not result in the expansion of existing uses, and thus, Project is exempt under this provision.
Section 15303 of the CEQA guidelines provides for a categorical exemption for “construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure.” Projects eligible for this exemption include “Accessory (appurtenant) structures including garages, carports, patios, swimming pools, and fences.” (14 Cal. Code Regulations § 15301(e).)
Attachments
1. Joel Davis Restroom Project - Resolution