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: On-call engineering inspection services contract with Ghirardelli Associates Recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract, in a form to be approved by the City Attorney, with Ghirardelli Associates in amount not to exceed $100,000 for on-call engineering inspection services through December 31, 2025
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
• Promote public health and safety
• Improve the City’s water infrastructure
Background
The Public Works Department requires regular engineering and public works inspection services for its Capital Improvement Program as well as for development projects and encroachment permits. For pavement rehabilitation projects, this also may include material testing for conformance with project specifications.
The Public Works Department has an approved short list of consulting firms for on-call engineering services which was approved by City Council per Resolution 4849. Staff is recommending that a $100,000 contract be executed with the Engineering Firm, Ghirardelli Associates for on-call engineering and public works inspection services.
Analysis
On May 16, 2017, City Council adopted Resolution No. 4849 approving a pre-qualified list of consulting firms for on-call engineering services. There were a number of firms selected for various engineering services.
Staff reached out to the firms on its pre-qualified list and also released an Request For Proposals (RFP) for on-call engineering inspection services. Staff received three proposals in response to the RFP. The proposals were rated by a panel of three staff members and Ghirardelli Associates was the highest rated proposer.
Ghirardelli Associates is a well-established firm providing construction management, inspection, and program management services, and has eight offices throughout California.
They have similar on-call contracts for a number of Bay area cities. For the City of East Palo Alto, their services will include public works inspection services for its Capital Improvement Program as well as for development projects and encroachment permits.
Fiscal Impact
There is a fiscal impact of $100,000 for these engineering professional services.
Funds are available in the fiscal year 22-23 engineering budget.
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 does not constitute a “project” with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15378(b)(4) and (5) in that it is a governmental fiscal, organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
Attachments
1. Resolution - Ghirardelli