and a reduced agricultural setback along W. Biggs Gridley Road. LACO understands the current layout of the Project to be analyzed in the environmental review is shown on the Tentative Subdivision Map prepared by American Engineering and dated December 22, 2025.
According to the City of Gridley 2030 General Plan (2009), the Site is currently within unincorporated Butte County but is located directly north of the City within the City’s Planned Growth Area/Sphere of Influence (General Plan Map, August 2024). The Project would be developed with public utilities, many of which are to be provided by the City and would be a public street subdivision.
Based on LACO’s preliminary review of the information provided by the City and other publicly available information, LACO anticipates environmental factors of particular concern for the Project may include the following:
• Agricultural Resources and Land Use compatibility due to proximity of ongoing agricultural operations and existing SOI boundaries
• Transportation and Public Services (emergency response) due to proposed access points and existing traffic
• Air Quality due to proximity of the railroad and Highway 99 to the east • Noise and Vibration due to proximity of the railroad and Highway 99 to the east • Biological Resources due to undeveloped nature of the Site and the proximity of the Lateral 7 canal
LACO proposes to prepare technical studies to support environmental review associated with these factors. LACO proposes to partner with three trusted teaming partners (further described below) – all trusted experts in their respective fields – to prepare a portion of these studies.
Project Team
LACO Associates – Prime Consultant
LACO Associates, Inc. (LACO) is a Native-owned, multi-disciplinary consulting firm that provides land surveying, civil engineering, environmental and land use planning, and grant writing services for our clients across a wide variety of project types and levels of complexity.
LACO has a long track record of providing high quality service for our clients, and we have assembled a dedicated and passionate team of professional staff who work tirelessly to identify and implement solutions for our clients. Since our –start in 1954, we have been committed to supporting local communities in California. In total, LACO’s team consists of approximately 30 full-time staff.
LACO’s Planning team specializes in a variety of planning-related services, including but not limited to environmental compliance, agency permitting, on-call staffing support, ordinance and policy development, and tribal community and strategic plans. Our top-notch Planning team, consisting of Principal- to Staff-level and AICP-Certified Planners, is highly experienced in supporting a wide array of clients and project types. We have a deep history of assisting agencies with navigating complex environmental review and regulatory compliance requirements. Our team has crafted over 1,000 environmental planning and permitting documents, focusing on practical, community-supported LACO At a Glance
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
solutions that clear the path to implementation. With every project, it is our goal to help our clients successfully navigate environmental review and permitting processes while supporting each client’s unique vision and needs.
Enclosed as Attachment A is our Statement of Qualifications, providing additional information on the services provided by LACO. Letters of recommendation attesting to our exemplary service are provided in Attachment B.
Key Staff
The following section includes a brief description of key team members who will serve the City under the contract.
LACO has designated Becky Clark, AICP, Senior Planner, to serve as your Project Manager and Meghan Ryan, LACO’s Planning Director, as the Principal-in-Charge. Mike Nelson, AICP, LACO’s President, will serve in an advisory capacity and oversee quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC). This strong leadership team has supported a wide range of consulting services and community development across Northern California for over 50 years; their years of experience will ensure a successful environmental review process for the Project.
Full resumes of each key team member are available upon request. Additional technical staff are available to support on an as-needed basis.
Michael (Mike) Nelson, AICP – CEO/President and Senior Planning Principal Senior Planning Advisor and QA/QC
Mr. Mike Nelson, AICP, will serve in an advisory capacity and perform quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) for the project. Mr. Nelson joined LACO in 2007 and has over 25 years of professional planning experience. Mr. Nelson currently serves as LACO’s President and Planning Principal. Mr. Nelson is LACO’s expert on the planning, entitlement process, and environmental compliance and will provide oversight and management of the contract between the City and LACO and consults on complex planning assignments. He has managed many complex entitlement, development, and construction projects, as both an owner’s representative and private consultant for private developers, cities, counties, community service districts, and Tribal governments.
Meghan Ryan – Planning Director
Principal-in-Charge and Project Management Support
Ms. Meghan Ryan has been designated as your Principal-in-Charge and will be the LACO planning team lead on the project. Ms. Ryan has 20 years of professional planning experience and has served as LACO’s Planning Director since January 2021. Ms. Ryan manages the daily operations of the LACO Planning team and performs QA/QC of outgoing deliverables. Ms. Ryan has extensive experience in managing entitlements and leading long-range planning efforts for public, tribal, and private projects. Her project experience includes authoring and QA/QC on environmental documents for compliance with NEPA and CEQA, preparing and processing entitlements through a variety of State and local agencies for developments affecting sensitive species and habitats, Surface Mining and Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
Reclamation Act (SMARA), commercial proposals, and Coastal Development Permits. Ms. Ryan has worked closely with federal, State and local agencies to move projects forward to decision for several years. Ms. Ryan is experienced in presenting written reports and oral testimony to decision makers such as Planning Commissions, Board of Supervisors and Tribal Councils.
Rebecca (Becky) Clark, AICP – Senior Planner/Project Manager Project Manager
Ms. Becky Clark will serve as Project Manager for the Project and will also lead the technical writing efforts. Ms. Clark has been part of the LACO team for 9 years.
She currently serves as a Senior Planner and Project Manager at LACO. She specializes in the preparation of environmental documents pursuant to NEPA and CEQA, the management of multidisciplinary projects, the development and implementation of ordinances and programs spanning multiple departments, the preparation and coordination of permit applications, and supplementary plans and reports in compliance with local, State, and federal requirements for both public and private clients. Ms. Clark will be in continual communication with the City and will ensure that the Project runs smoothly and stays on schedule.
Teaming Partners
For this project, LACO has assembled a project team that stands ready to support the City with all requested services. LACO will be supported by the following trusted teaming partners, as necessary, over the duration of the contract:
• Gallaway Enterprises – Biological Resources
• Bollard Acoustical Consultants, Inc. – Noise and Vibration • Fehr and Peers – Traffic/Transportation
Our trusted teaming partners will provide the requested technical documentation requested by the City for the project and are available to peer review technical documentation provided by the Applicant team. Additional information on our teaming partners is enclosed in Attachment A.
Proposed Scope of Services
LACO presents the following scope of services based on review of information provided by the City and our knowledge of the CEQA process:
Phase 1000: Project Management
This phase includes LACO’s internal project coordination, subconsultant coordination, invoicing, budget and schedule monitoring, and client communication. Invoices and correspondence with the City will be conducted under this phase. Under Phase 1000, LACO will provide regular status updates (generally on a biweekly basis) of Project updates through Project completion. LACO anticipates up bi-weekly, 30-minute coordination meetings (remote) with the City, as needed, over the duration of this service agreement to discuss Project status and benchmarks. Monthly invoices will be delivered to the City that will include a review of Project and budget status.
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
Phase 2000: Planning Services
Task 2001: CEQA Strategy and Site Review
LACO will coordinate with the City staff to schedule a virtual kick-off meeting to clarify and confirm relevant aspects of the project description, identify and discuss the proposed CEQA strategy and potential concerns, and identify key points of contact. LACO assumes the City will invite additional agencies, if deemed necessary for the proposed Project. As the Project includes annexation of the Site into the City from the County, LACO assumes the County and Butte Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) may be involved. Based on the kick-off meeting and Project details, LACO will prepare a brief memorandum to outline the proposed CEQA strategy and identify potential litigation risk areas for the City’s consideration. As part of this memo, LACO will complete a cursory evaluation of environmental risks associated with the proposed Project and will identify conditions under which an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) would be legally required for the Project. This will include a consideration of potential significant effects of the proposed Project on the environment, if any.
If deemed necessary following the kick-off meeting, LACO will provide a Request for Information (RFI) to the City, which will detail additional information needed to complete CEQA analyses for specific technical areas. Following the kick-off meeting, a LACO team member will travel to the Site to conduct an initial site review with representatives of the City, if needed. LACO will schedule the site visit as early as possible in the environmental review process.
Deliverables:
• An electronic copy (.pdf) of the kick-off meeting notes will be delivered to the City within 3 business days of the kick-off meeting.
• An electronic copy (.pdf) of a brief CEQA strategy memo to justify the level of environmental review proposed and identify potential litigation risk areas will be delivered to City within one week of the kick-off meeting.
Task 2002: Environmental Document Preparation
In compliance with the provisions of CEQA, LACO will prepare an Administrative Draft IS based on publicly available information and technical studies proposed in Phase 3000. Document preparation will include responses to the standard questions included in the most recent CEQA Guidelines Appendix G Checklist. This task includes summarization of the Project Site setting, and preparation of a detailed project description, recommendations, findings, and mitigation measures (if any) for incorporation into the IS. Should mitigation measures be determined necessary for the Project, LACO will also prepare a comprehensive Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15097, which will contain all mitigation measures identified in the IS. This proposal is based on the assumption that the technical studies proposed to be prepared in Phase 3000 will be sufficient for analyzing impacts. Should additional studies be deemed necessary during preparation of the Administrative Draft IS, an amended scope of services would be necessary. As part of the CEQA process, LACO will request a Native American Contact List and Sacred Lands File search from the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC). Additionally, LACO will request a Records Search from the Northeast Information Center (NEIC) at Chico State University to identify: 1) whether any prior surveys have been conducted at the Site; 2) if the Site contains any known resources; 3) the probability of the Site containing unrecorded resources; and 4) recommendations from the NEIC. If a cultural resource study is requested, this would be contracted separately.
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
The City will act as Lead Agency for this Project and will use the information provided in the IS to determine the environmental document to be circulated to the State Clearinghouse. LACO understands that as the proposed Project involves the annexation of the Site from the County into the City, subsequent approval of the annexation by Butte LAFCo will be required. As such, LACO will identify Butte LAFCo as a responsible agency in the IS. An Administrative Draft IS will be provided to the City for review and comments. One round of review and revision of an Administrative Draft IS by the City is assumed. Additional rounds of revisions by the City may require a service agreement amendment.
LACO will subsequently prepare a Screencheck Draft IS for City review, followed by the Public Review Draft.
LACO assumes the City will complete government-to-government consultation with local Native American tribes, pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 52 and Senate Bill (SB) 18, and will provide LACO with the findings of such consultation for incorporation into the Draft IS. LACO additionally assumes a Negative Declaration (ND) or Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) will be adopted by the City; however, the City, as Lead Agency, will make the final determination on what is the appropriate environmental document. Should an EIR be deemed necessary, an amended scope of services would be provided to address additional required services such as the preparation of Notice of Preparation (NOP), completion of scoping, and preparation of a Draft and Final EIR.
LACO will prepare required CEQA notices and forms, including the Notice of Availability (NOA), Notice of Completion (NOC), Summary Form, and Notice of Determination (NOD) following adoption of the Draft IS by City Council. LACO assumes the City, as Lead Agency, will file required notices with the Butte County Clerk and be responsible for publications and direct mailings, as needed, and will approve LACO as a Submitter in CEQA Submit, allowing LACO to submit the Public Review Draft IS and related notices and forms to the State Clearinghouse for circulation and review by agencies and the public.
Deliverables:
• An electronic copy (.pdf) of the Administrative Draft CEQA IS will be delivered to the City for review and comment within 4 weeks from completion of all technical studies described in Phase 3000. LACO will provide regular updates to the City regarding the status of the Administrative Draft CEQA IS and delivery date.
• The CEQA IS, NOA, NOC, and Summary Form will be uploaded to the State Clearinghouse on behalf of the City through the CEQA Submit portal within 2 weeks of receipt of comments from City. Electronic copies (.pdf) will be delivered to the City.
Task 2003: Public Process and Filing Support
Following the 30-day public review period, LACO will review public comments, if any, and, in consultation with the City, make changes to the Draft IS, if necessary. LACO will prepare a written response to all public comments received, if requested by the City. This task includes submittal of a draft set of responses for review and comment by City Staff, as well as one set of revisions in response to staff comments. LACO assumes the City will provide one set of consolidated, vetted comments for consideration by the Gridley City Council with the Draft IS. An initial budget allocation for 10 hours of work has been established for this task. Based on the volume and complexity of comments received, additional budget may be necessary.
LACO staff will attend two public hearings: one each of the Gridley Planning Commission and City Council, and will be available and prepared to address CEQA-related questions during the hearing.
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
LACO assumes the City will present the proposed Project. Should a continuance occur and additional meetings be required, LACO may request an amendment to the anticipated budget. It is assumed that meetings will be held in-person, via Zoom, or other electronic platform. The estimated budget for this task assumes up to two LACO staff will prepare for and attend the public hearings in person.
Within five working days of adoption of the CEQA IS by City Council, the City will file the NOD with the Butte County Clerk and provide the signed NOD to LACO for filing with the State Clearinghouse. A copy of the NOD will be uploaded to the State Clearinghouse on behalf of the City through the CEQA Submit portal within 24 hours of filing the NOD with the Butte County Clerk.
Deliverable:
• LACO will prepare a Response to Comments, as described above, within one week of completion of the 30-day public review period.
Phase 3000: Technical Studies
Task 3001: Agricultural Resources/Land Use Compatibility Analysis LACO will prepare an analysis of the potential impacts of the proposed Project on agricultural resources and the Project’s compatibility with surrounding land uses and land uses identified in the City of Gridley General Plan. LACO will consider former uses of the Site in conjunction with the land uses for the Site anticipated in the City of Gridley General Plan and Butte County General Plan and will evaluate the Project’s compatibility with relevant General Plan policies. LACO will present the analysis in a brief technical memorandum and will incorporate the analysis into the CEQA document (to be prepared under Phase 2000).
Task 3002: Air Quality/GHG Assessment
LACO will perform an air quality/greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions assessment of the proposed development utilizing the latest version of the California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod).
CalEEMod is a statewide land use emissions computer model designed to provide a uniform flatform for government agencies, land use planners, and environmental professionals to quantify potential criteria pollutant and GHG emissions associated with both construction and operations from a variety of land use projects. The model quantifies direct emissions from construction and operations (including vehicle use), as well as indirect emissions, such as GHG emissions from energy use, solid waste disposal, vegetation planting and/or removal, and water use. LACO will compare results from the CalEEMod analysis to federal, State, and local air quality thresholds, as applicable, to determine potential Project impacts. The results of the CalEEMod analysis will be incorporated into the CEQA analysis (to be prepared under Phase 2000), with the CalEEMod results in their entirety to be included as a separate appendix.
Task 3003: Biological Resource Assessment
Gallaway Enterprises (Gallaway), as a subconsultant to LACO, will prepare a Biological Resource Assessment that includes Federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) effect statements to accommodate CEQA review. Gallaway will conduct biological surveys per California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California Native Plant Society (CNPS), and all other appropriate protocols in order to identify the existing biological conditions. During the field survey, Gallaway will make a determination regarding presence/absence of suitable habitat for special-status species based on habitats observed.
Gallaway will document all plant species observed on-site and will report any sensitive species. If any State or federally listed plant or wildlife species are identified, the location will be mapped. Gallaway Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
will provide guidance on the need for species specific surveys and re-scope for additional reporting and permit requirements, as necessary.
For the purposes of this survey, special-status species are those that fall into one of the following categories:
• Listed as threatened or endangered, or are proposed or candidates for listing under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA, 14 California Code of Regulations 670.5) or the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA, 50 Code of Federal Regulations 17.12); • Listed as a Species of Special Concern (SSC) by CDFW or protected under the California Fish and Game Code (CFGC) (i.e., Fully Protected species);
• Ranked by the CNPS as 1A, 1B, or 2;
• Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA); • Protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act; or • Species that are otherwise protected under policies or ordinances at the local or regional level as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA, §15380).
Deliverable:
• An electronic copy (.pdf) of the draft Biological Resources Assessment report will be completed within 5 weeks of the notice to proceed.
Task 3006: Noise and Vibration Assessment
As a subconsultant to LACO, Bollard Acoustical Consultants, Inc. (BAC), will assess the potential noise impacts of the proposed development. The following subtasks will be performed:
Subtask 1: Standards of Significance
BAC will identify the noise and vibration standards of the City of Gridley, as well as any germane state and federal standards, to develop the Project standards of significance in accordance with CEQA guidelines.
Subtask 2: Evaluation of Existing Noise Environment
BAC will conduct detailed ambient noise surveys to quantify existing noise conditions within the immediate Project vicinity, including at the closest off-site noise-sensitive land uses (residences). The surveys will consist of noise level measurements at as many locations deemed necessary to thoroughly identify existing noise conditions for the Project area and immediate Project vicinity. The purpose of the measurements will be to establish baseline conditions against which Project noise impacts can be evaluated.
Subtask 3: Evaluation of Existing Vibration Environment The Project Site is located adjacent to (west of) an active Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) line. Thus, BAC proposes to quantify railroad operations vibration levels through long-term vibration measurements to be conducted while we are on-site conducting the ambient noise surveys described in Subtask 2.
Subtask 4: Evaluation of Project-Generated Off-Site Traffic Noise Level BAC will conduct an analysis of future off-site traffic noise levels on the local roadway network, both with and without the proposed Project. The analysis will focus on increases in traffic noise levels due to the Project at existing off-site noise-sensitive land uses. BAC will utilize the Federal Highway Administration Traffic Noise Prediction Model (FHWA RD-77-108) with provided traffic data for the project or ITE trip generation estimates.
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
Subtask 5: Evaluation of On-Site Construction Noise and Vibration BAC will conduct analyses of noise and vibration levels generated by on-site Project construction activities. Where the noise or vibration generation of those activities could potentially result in exceedances of applicable City of Gridley criteria at existing off-site noise-sensitive land uses or result in significant increases in ambient noise levels at those sensitive uses, BAC will develop practical mitigation measures.
Subtask 6: Analysis of Future Traffic Noise Levels at Noise-Sensitive Exterior and Interior Locations of the Subdivision
Although not required by CEQA, BAC will evaluate traffic-related noise impacts upon the Project relative to applicable City of Gridley General Plan noise level standards. Specifically, future W. Biggs Gridley Road traffic noise levels will be quantified at proposed sensitive exterior and interior areas of the development. The predicted exterior and interior traffic noise levels will be compared against the applicable City of Gridley General Plan noise level standards for residential uses affected by transportation noise sources. Noise mitigation measures will be developed for any identified exceedances of those standards (e.g., window assembly upgrades, sound walls, increased setbacks, etc.).
Subtask 7: Analysis of Future UPRR Operations Noise Levels at Noise-Sensitive Exterior and Interior Locations of the Subdivision
Although not required by CEQA, BAC will evaluate railroad noise impacts upon the Project relative to applicable City of Gridley General Plan noise level standards. Specifically, future UPRR operations noise levels will be quantified at proposed sensitive exterior and interior areas of the development. The predicted exterior and interior traffic noise levels will be compared against the applicable City of Gridley General Plan noise level standards for residential uses affected by transportation noise sources.
Noise mitigation measures will be developed for any identified exceedances of those standards (e.g., window assembly upgrades, sound walls, increased setbacks, etc.).
Subtask 8: Preparation of Noise Assessment Report
BAC will provide a draft report which contains the results of each previous subtask in the abovedescribed scope of work, as well as graphics showing noise measurement locations and potential mitigation locations as appropriate. The draft report will be provided electronically as a stand-alone technical analysis in Microsoft Word and will include the CEQA Appendix G checklist. While it is recognized that BAC’s report could be used to complete the noise portion of a larger environmental document, BAC does not propose to provide exact formatting of the report for direct insertion into said larger environmental document. BAC proposes up to 4 hours for responses to comments and one round of revisions of the draft report.
Deliverable:
• An electronic copy (.pdf) of the draft Noise Assessment report will be completed within 4 weeks of the notice to proceed provided receipt of required Project information, including Site drawings (including grading plans if available) and Project traffic data (i.e., traffic study). In the event the information above is not immediately available, an additional 1 to 2 weeks from receipt of documentation will be needed to complete the assessment.
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
Task 3007: Transportation Impact Analysis
As a subconsultant to LACO, Fehr & Peers will prepare a Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) to support the CEQA process. Before initiating work, Fehr & Peers’ scope of work will be reviewed by City staff and may require a scope amendment following City staff review and comment. At this time, both intersection level of service (LOS) and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) calculations are included. The following subtasks will be performed:
Subtask 1: Study Assumptions Memorandum
Fehr & Peers will estimate the weekday daily AM and PM peak hour vehicle trip generation for the Project using appropriate trip generation rates published in the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ (ITE) Trip Generation Manual, 11th Edition. A technical memorandum detailing the analysis assumptions will be submitted to City staff and the project team for review and comment prior to completing the impact analysis.
Subtask 2: Data Collection and Field Observations
Pending the confirmation of the scope of work with the City and Project team, Fehr & Peers will collect weekday morning (7:00 to 9:00 AM) and weekday evening (4:00 to 6:00 PM) peak period peak period intersection turning movement counts (vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, and heavy trucks) when local public schools are in session at the following intersections:
1. W. Biggs Gridley Road/Rudd Lane
2. W. Biggs Gridley Road/Macedo Road–Heron Landing Way
3. W. Biggs Gridley Road/Peach Street
4. W. Biggs Gridley Road/Spruce Street
5. W. Biggs Gridley Road/Hazel Street
6. W. Biggs Gridley Road/Sycamore Street
7. State Route (SR) 99/Spruce Street
8. SR 99/Hazel Street
9. SR 99/Sycamore Street
10. SR 99/Magnolia Street-Gridley Road
In addition to collecting intersection turning movement counts, Fehr & Peers will conduct field reconnaissance to verify intersection configurations and traffic control. Traffic signal timings will be obtained from City staff. Information on transit services, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities within the study area will be collected.
Subtask 3: Vehicle Miles Traveled Analysis
Fehr & Peers proposes utilizing the BCAG Model to complete an analysis of city- and county-wide home-based VMT per resident and total VMT of the market area served by the proposed retail. Fehr & Peers will prepare model runs for the following scenarios:
• Base Year No Project
• Base Year with Project
The VMT analysis will be prepared in accordance with the State of California’s Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Technical Advisory on Evaluating Transportation Impacts in CEQA (2018) and the BCAG SB 743 Implementation Report (2022). If the Project results in a significant VMT impact, Fehr & Peers will propose potential mitigation measures such as a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program and evaluate the effectiveness of those measures. VMT reductions will Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
be based on strategies identified in the Handbook for Analyzing GHG Emission Reductions, Assessing Climate Vulnerabilities, and Advancing Health and Equity, California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA), Final Draft, October 2024. If the Project is unable to mitigate Project-specific VMT impacts to less than significant, a cumulative VMT analysis will be prepared.
Subtask 4: Intersection Level of Service Analysis
Fehr & Peers will calculate weekday AM and PM peak hour level of service (LOS) intersection operations for the study intersections identified in Subtask 1. The analysis will be performed using the Synchro software using methodologies from the latest edition of the Highway Capacity Manual. The following scenarios will be evaluated: Existing No Project, Existing Plus Project, Cumulative (2050) Project, Cumulative (2050) Plus Project.
Cumulative forecasts will be prepared using the BCAG Travel Demand Model. Plus Project scenario traffic volumes will be based on the trip generation, trip distribution, and trip assignment task described in Subtask 1. Peak hour signal warrants will be performed for all unsignalized study intersections for all study scenarios.
Plus Project scenario operations will be compared to the relevant No Project scenarios to assess if the Project results in new deficiencies using criteria identified in the City of Gridley General Plan. If new deficiencies are found, Fehr & Peers will identify potential intersection improvement measures to remedy deficiencies.
Subtask 5: Transit, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Evaluation
Fehr & Peers will evaluate the levels of bus, bicycle, and pedestrian activity forecast to be generated by the proposed Project, and the potential impacts of that demand on the area circulation networks.
Subtask 6: Site Plan Review
The proposed site plan will be reviewed to evaluate multimodal site access and on-site circulation.
Specifically, Fehr & Peers will review the Project site plan in terms of:
• Site access and interface with public roadway network including adequacy of turn-pocket lengths, driveway throat lengths, sight distance, potential traffic calming measures, and operations.
• Emergency vehicle access and circulation.
• Vehicular circulation within the Site.
• Public parking layout within the Site and parking adequacy compared to the City code.
In addition, Fehr & Peers will identify existing bicycle and pedestrian access for the perimeter roadways of the Project Site, including along Biggs Gridley Road. The review will qualitatively assess if improvements should be considered as part of the Project’s effect on the existing network.
Subtask 7: Documentation
Fehr & Peers will summarize the findings from Subtasks 1 through 6 in a Transportation Impact Assessment (TIA) report for the Project team and City staff review and comment. The following documents will be prepared:
• Draft TIA Report for City staff review and comment (assumes up to one round of consolidated comments and up to 12 hours of staff time to prepare the final TIA) • Final TIA Report
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
• Additional drafts of the report can be accommodated on a time-and-materials basis, subject to a scope and budget amendment.
Deliverables:
• An electronic copy (.pdf) of the Study Assumptions Memorandum (Subtask 1) will be submitted within 2 weeks of the notice to proceed and final project description. • The Draft TIA Report (Subtask 7) will be submitted within 8 weeks of receipt of City staff confirmation of Task 1.
Cost
Table 1, below, provides our proposed cost breakdown associated with completion of the specific tasks described above.
Table 1. LACO Proposed Fee Estimate
Phase Task Description Estimated Fee*
1000 Project Management $22,000
2000 Planning Services
2001 CEQA Strategy and Site Review $5,600
2002 Environmental Document Preparation $28,000
2003 Public Process and Filing Support $8,500
3000 Technical Studies
3001 Agricultural Resources/Land Use Compatibility $2,200 3002 Air Quality/GHG Assessment $1,800
3003 Biological Resources Assessment $8,800
3004 Noise and Vibration Assessment $11,000
3005 Transportation Impact Analysis $65,000
Total Estimated Fee $152,900
* Please note the provided cost estimate is based on our initial understanding of the Project and can be further refined to fit the City and Applicant’s needs and budget.
We propose a not to exceed fee of $152,900* for the scope of work described herein, billed on a time and materials basis in accordance with LACO’s 2026 Schedule of Rates (enclosed as Attachment C). *This is an estimate of the anticipated costs associated with the services we are proposing to provide. An estimate is made with our best, professional judgment but we cannot anticipate everything that will happen during the course of completing your project and there are often unforeseen circumstances or conditions that result in a greater commitment of staff resources than the originally estimated amount. LACO reserves the right, as a condition of this service agreement, to invoice up to an amount 10% greater than the amount originally estimated without CLIENT consultation and without a fully executed service agreement amendment.
Please note this cost estimate assumes preparation of an Initial Study pursuant to CEQA. Should another environmental document (e.g., EIR) be required, an amended scope of services would be necessary as well. If attendance at more than two public hearings are required, LACO proposes a fixed fee of $3,000 for each public hearing, which includes preparation, attendance, travel time and mileage associated with attending the hearing(s).
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
Schedule/Milestones
Based on the scope of work outlined above, LACO proposes the following schedule for completion, as summarized in Table 2, below. Please note, this schedule assumes a start date of March 9, 2026, and is subject to change based on the date of the Task Order (TO) Authorization, statutory Tribal consultation timelines, completion of the technical studies, and unnecessary delays outside of LACO’s control.
Critical path items and/or anticipated risks include the following:
• Tribal Consultation: As the project includes a General Plan Amendment, tribal consultation pursuant to SB 18 and AB 52 will be required. While AB 52 provides for a 30-day consultation period, SB 18 mandates a 90-day consultation period. If not already sent by the City, these letters must be sent by the City promptly so as to facilitate completion of the CEQA process within the City’s preferred timeline.
• Requests for Information and City Reviews: Upon submittal of RFIs to the City, a prompt response from the City will be important to keeping the studies on track. Timely City review of the Administrative Draft IS will also be critical to moving the Project forward. • Changes to the Project Description: The environmental review analysis will be based on the project description, mapping, and other documents submitted by the Applicant. Subsequent changes to the Project may affect timely completion of the environmental review documents.
LACO will seek to reduce timelines for delivery and/or review, if feasible. If delays are anticipated due to factors beyond our control, we will initiate an extension request to the City.
Table 2. Anticipated Project Schedule
Project Task* Approximate Timeline** Approximate Date** Task Order (TO) Authorization March 9
LACO Phase 1000: Project Management Ongoing
Monthly Progress Reports Monthly over duration of Project Ongoing Video Conference Meetings (2) As needed during Project As needed LACO Phase 2000: Planning Services
Project Kick-off Meeting 1 week from TO Authorization March 16 Site Visit by LACO Staff 2 weeks from TO Authorization March 23 AB 52 and SB 18 Tribal Consultation Letters
Sent by City
2 weeks from TO Authorization March 23
30-day AB 52 Consultation Period Ends 30 days from letters sent April 22 Administrative Draft IS Complete (minus
conclusion of SB 18 Consultation)
1 week from completion of
technical studies
May 26
Administrative Draft IS Review by City 7 business days June 4 90-day SB 18 Consultation Period Ends 90 days from letters sent June 21 Screencheck Draft IS Complete (following
City comments and SB 18 Consultation)
5 business days from completion
of SB-18 Consultation
June 26
Notice of Intent to Adopt MND Public Release 3 business days July 1 30-day Public Comment Period Ends 30 days July 31
Response to Comments and Finalize MND 1 week August 7
Planning Commission Hearing 3rd Wednesday of the month August 19 City Council Hearing 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month September 7 Notice of Determination (NOD) Filed (by City) Within 5 business days of approval September 11 MND 30-day Statute of Limitations 30 days after NOD filing October 11 Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
LACO Phase 3000: Technical Studies
Agricultural Resources/Land Use Compatibility 3 weeks from TO Authorization March 30 Air Quality/GHG Assessment 2 weeks from TO Authorization March 23 Biological Resource Assessment 5 weeks from TO Authorization April 13 Noise and Vibration Assessment 6 weeks from TO Authorization April 20 Transportation Study Assumptions Memo 2 weeks from TO Authorization March 23 Transportation Impact Analysis 8 weeks from City confirmation of Assumptions Memo
May 18
* Italicized tasks are the responsibility of the City or statutory requirements outside of LACO’s control. Bolded tasks are critical path items.
** Timeframes are approximate and may be subject to change based on unforeseen circumstances, such as timing of special studies, coordination efforts, etc.
Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to contact Meghan Ryan, Planning Director at (707) 443-5054 or via email at [email protected], should you have any questions regarding our proposal. We look forward to speaking with you.
Sincerely,
LACO Associates
Meghan Ryan Becky Clark, AICP
Planning Director/Planning Principal Senior Planner/Project Manager Attachment:
Attachment A: Statements of Qualifications
Attachment B: Letters of Recommendation
Attachment C: 2026 Schedule of Rates
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
ATTACHMENT A
Statements of Qualifications
TRUSTWORTHY DRIVEN ACCOUNTABLE COMMITTED
CORE VALUES
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
WHOWEARE
Firm Description
LACO Associates is a Native-owned, multi-disciplinary consulting firm that provides land surveying, civil engineering, environmental and land use planning, and grant writing services for our clients across a wide variety of project types and levels of complexity. LACO has a long track record of providing high quality service for our clients, and we have assembled a dedicated and passionate team of professional staff who work tirelessly to identify and implement solutions for our clients.
Since our start in 1954, we have supported local communities in California. While our physical offices are still located across the northern portions of the state, LACO has fully embraced remote work and new technology, understanding that our impact and capabilities are enhanced by connecting with talented professionals and offering our services across the country. LACO’s team spans the United States, with team members providing remote services from Washington, Oregon, Texas, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. This has allowed us to develop a strong pool of technical professionals and honed our ability to work highly effectively with clients no matter where they are in their project life cycle or their physical location. In total, LACO’s team consists of approximately 36 full-time staff.
Weprideourselvesonbeing a full-serviceconsultingfirm,and we makeitourgoal tobecome your TrustedAdvisors.
As a multi-disciplinary consulting firm, LACO seamlessly integrates diverse skillsets to deliver unparalleled value to our clients. Unlike single-service firms that require complex subconsultant coordination, our in-house team of civil engineers, land surveyors, environmental and land use planners, and grant writers ensures a cohesive and efficient approach. At LACO, we amplify our impact, mobilizing necessary resources and expertise with a simple phone call, providing you with a comprehensive and costeffective solution.
We are your project support team.
Founded in 1954
In Eureka, California
Offices throughout Northern
California in Eureka, Ukiah,
Santa Rosa, Chico
Native Owned In all we do we model
our Core Values
PRACTICEAREAS
Grant Writing
LACO specializes in securing and managing grants and lowinterest loans, especially for rural and disadvantaged communities in California, enhancing project impacts and environmental justice. Our Grant Writing team navigates complex funding landscapes, securing millions through
programs like the Clean Water and Drinking Water State
Revolving Funds, FEMA Hazard Mitigation, and CAL FIRE Fire Prevention Grants.
Integrated with our engineering,surveying, and planning services, we provide comprehensive support from design to compelling grant applications that meet client and funder goals.
Planning
LACO’s Planning team specializes in a variety of planning-related services, including but not limited to environmental compliance, agency permitting, on-call staffing support, ordinance and policy development, and tribal community and strategic plans.
Our team has crafted over 1,000 environmental planning and permitting documents, focusing on practical, communitysupported solutions that clear the path to implementation.
We strive to help project ideas become a reality by helping clients navigate environmental and regulatory requirements and
leverage our firm’s technical expertise and longstanding relationships with regional experts to design projects that are technically grounded and achievable.
Civil Engineering
LACO’s Engineering team brings extensive expertise in civil engineering, excelling in planning, design, and regulatory compliance for projects including water systems, wastewater treatment, and road design. We focus on long-term
infrastructure needs, offering cost-effective, durable solutions that meet modern standards and community aesthetics.
By collaborating closely with clients, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders, we ensure our designs contribute to livable, well-served communities from initial planning through construction.
Land Surveying
Since 1954, LACO's expert team of land surveyors has delivered comprehensive surveying services across Northern California, establishing strong client relationships in regions like Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, Lake, Napa and Del Norte.
Our approach combines advanced technologies like AutoCAD Civil 3D and cutting-edge field equipment like Trimble GPS to ensure efficient and precise project outcomes. Innovatively using UAV drones equipped with LiDAR sensors, we enhance mapping efficiency and detail, consistently meeting the unique needs of our diverse clientele.
SINCE 2018
OUR TEAM IS HERE FOR YOU TO COMPLETE THE
FOLLOWING:
♦ Funding Opportunities
Analysis
♦ Grant Proposal
Development ♦ Grant Management
CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS INCLUDE:
♦ Construction management
and observation
♦ Water resources engineering
and regulatory compliance
♦ Civil site improvements for
public and private facilities
♦ Commercial and
residential development
♦ Infrastructure improvements
and transportation facilities
LACO’S LAND SURVEYING EXPERTISE
♦ Topographic and Boundary
Surveys
♦ Aerial Photogrammetry and
LiDAR Surveys
♦ Drone and Bathymetric Surveys
FEMA Elevation Certificates and
LOMA Applications
♦ Subdivisions, Lot Line
Adjustments, and
Condominium Plans
♦ Legal Descriptions and
ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys
♦ Construction-Related Surveying
LACO’S PLANNING TEAM SPECIALIZES IN:
Environmental Compliance:
♦ NEPA & CEQA
♦ Mitigation Plans
Municipal Planning:
♦ Agency Permitting
♦ On-Call Staffing Support
♦ Community Meetings and
Public Hearings
Long-Range & Tribal Planning:
♦ Ordinance and Policy
Development
♦ Comprehensive Tribal Community
Plans and Strategic Plans
♦ Development Feasibility Analyses
TOTAL FUNDING
SECURED
$61.7 MILLION
GRANTS
AWARDED
46 Gallaway Enterprises, Inc. has been in business for 26 years, continuously serving clients in northern California since 1998. The company is co-owned by Jody Gallaway, serving as President and Kevin Sevier, serving as Vice President and Senior Project Manager. Our staff of 10 members is comprised of planners, biologists, botanists, regulatory professionals, and GIS Analysts. Our staffing levels over the previous 5 years have varied from 7 to 12 employees due to seasonal demands and workload.
Gallaway Enterprises assists clients by listening to the objectives and goals of the client and developing a strategy to help them develop technical studies, prepare environmental documents, obtain permits, and comply with mitigation/permit requirements. As a certified DBE business (#31237), Gallaway Enterprises can help prime contractors, Caltrans, and various public agencies meet their diverse contracting goals, and comply with federal contract requirements, all under one roof.
Gallaway Enterprises has extensive experience conducting and preparing biological studies, environmental documentation, permit facilitation, and mitigation planning for federally-funded, local agency infrastructure rehabilitation/replacement/repair projects, emergency, and transportation projects throughout northern California. We have working knowledge with environmental review process for County funded projects, private developments, Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures, Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Bridge Program (HBP), Emergency Relief (ER), and other programs. Gallaway Enterprises’ senior staff has the demonstrated skills, experience, capacity, and ability to provide documentation required for NEPA and CEQA compliance, including, but not limited to:
Wetlands Delineations, Natural Environment Studies, habitat assessments of plant and animal species of federal and/or state concern, Biological Assessments for ESA consultation, farmland conversion, alternatives analysis review and Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration documentation. In addition, Gallaway staff routinely assists private, local, and state agencies with successfully navigating the regulatory permitting processes with federal and state agencies (i.e. USACE, USFWS, CVFPB, RWQCB, and CDFW).
Federal tax ID: 73-1627501
Address:
117 Meyers Street, Suite 120
Chico, CA 9928
Contact Person:
Kevin Sevier
[email protected]
530-332-9909
Based in Auburn, California, Bollard Acoustical Consultants, Inc. (BAC) provides advanced noise and vibration consulting services. Collectively, the BAC team has over 50 years of experience. Services include the preparation of environmental noise and vibration assessments for traffic, aircraft, railroad, and industry noise sources; and architectural acoustics assessments for schools, commercial/office, residential, performing arts, and worship spaces. BAC is proficient in both CEQA and NEPA compliance and serves as sub-consultants to many planning firms in the preparation of environmental review documents, including EIRs, EISs, Initial Studies, and Environmental Assessments. BAC also provides services to City and County municipalities in the form of General Plan Noise Element and Noise Ordinance updates, as well as customized staff training in the subject of noise and vibration. Additionally, BAC specializes in providing guidance regarding compliance with local General Plan and Municipal Code noise standards, prompt and clear communication with clients, and supporting their studies in the public forum.
Fehr & Peers has served clients throughout Northern California since our firm’s founding in 1985. We offer our clients the right mix of technical expertise, policy knowledge, and relationships with local, regional and state agencies to help our clients move projects forward, with support by a team of over 150 transportation engineering and planning staff throughout Northern California.
Fehr & Peers’ qualifications for the Legacy Subdivision Project are uniquely strong, given our continued involvement with the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) on model development for their Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS), the County’s adopted VMT guidelines (also used in Chico, and likely Paradise), and our Caltrans experiences.
Fehr & Peers can leverage our existing work updating the BCAG travel demand model for this project, which will be helpful for both traffic operations analysis and VMT estimation.
Additionally, if the Project is predicted to result in any Caltrans issues on SR 99, the Fehr & Peers team has performed many trainings on their intersection safety and operations evaluation in Northern California, and know that process well.
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
ATTACHMENT B
Letters of Recommendation
CO U N T Y O F HU M B O L D T
P L A N N I N G A N D B U I L D I N G D E P A R T M E N T 3015 H Street • Eureka CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-7541
https://humboldtgov.org/2546/Planning-Building
May 12, 2025
To Whom it May Concern,
I am writing to share my positive experiences working with LACO Associates (LACO) on projects for the County Humboldt (County). I can attest to their range of services and professionalism as a local Planning consultant.
From 2023 to 2024, LACO assisted the County with updating the Humboldt Bay Area Plan (HBAP), a component of the Humboldt County Local Coastal Program (LCP) that was not comprehensively updated since the early 1980s. The LACO team worked closely with the County to prepare and submit a successful grant application for this work to the California Coastal Commission (CCC) and navigated complicated requests with professionalism and local knowledge. They demonstrated a keen attention to detail and flexibility in crafting language that would meet the needs of the County and other interested parties. Around the same time as the HBAP update, LACO also acted as a subconsultant on the preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP). LACO was responsive and engaged throughout the project and provided strong support on a comprehensive Draft EIR.
These are the most recent projects on which I have worked with LACO; however, it should be noted that LACO has supported the County through on-call planning contracts for many years.
LACO provided planning and project management support throughout the EIR and entitlement processes for two large-scale, complex, and controversial projects (Humboldt Wind Energy and Nordic Aquafarms). Additionally, LACO is well versed in presenting to decision makers, such as the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
In summary, I would happily recommend LACO to any local agency that is seeking a professional, experienced, and capable team to assist with its planning needs. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or at (707) 268-3738 if you require further information or have specific questions regarding my experience with LACO.
Sincerely
John H. Ford
Director of Planning and Building
Letter Proposal – CEQA Environmental Review Services – Legacy Subdivision Project City of Gridley; LACO Project No. 10788.01
February 20, 2026
ATTACHMENT C
2026 Schedule of Rates
Initials: LACO _______ CLIENT_______
Revised: 12/15/2025
2026 SCHEDULE OF RATES
Principal Engineer ....................................................................................................................................... $275.00 per hour Senior Engineer, Principal Planner, Senior Land Surveyor........................................................... $200.00 - $225.00 per hour Director of Grants/Funding Development, Senior Planner, Senior Project Manager...................$190.00 - $195.00 per hour Assistant Project Manager, Licensed Land Surveyor, Project Manager.......................................$180.00 - $185.00 per hour Associate Surveyor LSIT, Associate Engineer/Planner ................................................................. $165.00 - $170.00 per hour Associate Surveyor, Senior Grant Writer, Senior Staff Engineer..................................................$155.00 - $160.00 per hour Staff Engineer/Planner/Surveyor................................................................................................................. $150.00 per hour Assistant Engineer/Planner/Surveyor, Grant Writer ...................................................................$140.00 - $145.00 per hour Project Coordinator, Senior Project Coordinator, Business Manager..........................................$100.00 - $120.00 per hour Engineering Technician.................................................................................................................................. $80.00 per hour
SURVEY RATES
One-Person Survey....................................................................................................................................... $200.00 per hour Two-Person Survey ...................................................................................................................................... $310.00 per hour Three-Person Survey.................................................................................................................................... $390.00 per hour Drone Data Processing & Client Access Fee....................................................................................................... $650.00 each Mavic 3E / Phantom 4 RTK Drone.................................................................................................................. $750.00 per day Matrice 300 Drone w/L1 LiDAR Sensor....................................................................................................... $1,500.00 per day
PREVAILING WAGE RATES
Construction Observation.............................................................................................................................$190.00 per hour One-Person Survey Prevailing Wage............................................................................................................ $235.00 per hour Two-Person Survey Prevailing Wage............................................................................................................ $390.00 per hour Three-Person Survey Prevailing Wage ......................................................................................................... $520.00 per hour TRANSPORTATION (Daily vehicle charge includes up to 80 miles round trip, mileage in excess of this amount will be billed at our per mile rate).
Vehicle Charge (Automobile or Truck)
Trip charge per day (half-day minimum charge) ......................................... $70.00 per day ($35 minimum charge) Per mile rate ...............................................................................................................Federal Rate + $0.10 per mile All-Terrain Vehicle
Daily ...................................................................................................................................................... $250 per day Weekly (5 days) .............................................................................................................................. $1,050 per week Other Transportation (Air Travel, etc.). ............................................................................................................... $Cost + 15%
PRINTING/MATERIALS
Plan Copies per sheet (11x17).......................... Black & White $0.25 ...........................................................Color $2.50 each Plan Copies per sheet (24x36).......................... Black & White $5.00 ...................Mylar $20.00 ................Color $21.25 each All other Materials or Printing ............................................................................................................................. $Cost + 15% EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES – Expert witness services include, but are not limited to, preparation for and attendance at depositions or court by Principal or Senior Professionals. Other staff support will be billed at regular hourly rates.
Principal Professional Expert........................................................................................................................ $500.00 per hour Senior Professional Expert........................................................................................................................... $400.00 per hour ANNUAL RATE INCREASE - LACO Associates anticipates an annual hourly rate increase of 3% to 5% effective January 1st of each new year without prior notice. For projects that span multiple years, an updated Schedule of Rates will be sent with the first invoice that reflects the annual increase.
NOTES
1. Overtime hours will be charged at 130% of the above hourly rates.
2. Outside services, including, but not limited to, consultants and laboratories, will be billed at Cost plus 15%.
3. Subsistence and per diem will be calculated at Cost plus 15%.
4. All travel time will be charged at the regular hourly rates.
CITY OF GRIDLEY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW SERVICES
This Agreement is entered into this ______ day of________ 2026, by and between the City of Gridley, a California municipal corporation ("City"), and LACO Associates Inc. ("Consultant").
RECITALS
A. Consultant desires to perform and assume responsibility for the provision of professional environmental review services required by the City on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
B. Consultant has presented a proposal for such services to the City, the scope of work of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit "A," and is duly licensed, qualified and experienced to perform those services.
C. Consultant agrees it has satisfied itself by its own investigation and research regarding the conditions affecting the work to be done and labor and materials needed, and that its decision to execute this Agreement is based on such independent investigation and research.
D. City desires to engage Consultant to render such services as set forth in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
1. SCOPE AND TERM OF SERVICES.
1.1 General Scope of Services. Consultant promises and agrees to furnish to the City all labor, materials, tools, equipment, services and incidental and customary work necessary to fully and adequately supply the necessary professional construction inspection consultant services ("Services"). The Services are more particularly described in Exhibit "A."
1.2 Schedule of Services. The Services of Consultant are to commence upon execution of this Agreement by the City and shall be undertaken and completed in a prompt and timely manner, pursuant to the schedule outlined in the Scope of Work, more particularly described in Exhibit “A.”
2. FEES AND PAYMENTS.
2.1 Compensation. Consultant shall receive compensation, including authorized reimbursements, for all Services rendered under this Agreement at the rates set forth in Exhibit “A."
2.2 Payment of Compensation. Each month Consultant shall furnish to City an
original invoice for all work performed and expenses incurred during the preceding month. The invoice shall detail charges by the following categories: labor (by sub-category), travel, materials, equipment, supplies, and sub- Consultant contracts. Sub-Consultant charges shall be detailed by the following categories: labor, travel, materials, equipment and supplies. If the compensation set forth in subsection (a) and Exhibit “A” include payment of labor on an hourly basis (as opposed to labor and materials being paid as a lump sum), the labor category in each invoice shall include detailed descriptions of task performed and the amount of time incurred for or allocated to that task. City shall independently review each invoice submitted by the Consultant to determine whether the work performed, and expenses incurred are in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. In the event that no charges or expenses are disputed, the invoice shall be approved and paid according to the terms set forth in subsection (c). In the event any charges or expenses are disputed by City, the original invoice shall be returned by City to Consultant for correction and resubmission.
Except as to any charges for work performed or expenses incurred by Consultant which are disputed by City, City will use its best efforts to cause Consultant to be paid within forty-five (45) days of receipt of Consultant’s correct and undisputed invoice.
Payment to Consultant for work performed pursuant to this Agreement shall not be deemed to waive any defects in work performed by Consultant.
2.3.1 Estimated Fee. The parties acknowledge that the Total Estimated Fee of $152,900 is based on a professional judgment of the Project’s current scope.
2.3.2 Administrative Buffer. To account for unforeseen circumstances or minor fluctuations in staff resource commitments, the City hereby authorizes an administrative contingency of 10% ($15,290) above the Total Estimated Fee.
2.3.3 Utilization of Buffer. Consultant may invoice for services rendered up to an amount not to exceed $168,190 (the "NTE Cap") without a fully executed formal amendment to this Agreement, provided that: * (1) All work performed falls within the original Scope of Services described in Exhibit "A"; * (2) Consultant provides a written explanation for the use of the buffer within the relevant monthly progress report or invoice; and * (3) Any costs exceeding this 10% buffer or resulting from a change in the Scope of Services must be authorized in advance by the City in writing per Section 3.
3. CHANGES.
3.1 The Parties may, from time to time, request changes in the scope of the Services of Consultant to be performed hereunder. Such changes, including any increase or decrease in the amount of Consultant's compensation and/or changes in the schedule must be authorized in advance by the City in writing. Mutually agreed changes shall be incorporated in written amendments to the Agreement.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONSULTANT.
4.1 Independent Contractor; Control and Payment of Subordinates. Consultant enters into this Agreement as an independent contractor and not as an employee of the City. Consultant shall have no power or authority by this Agreement to bind the City in any respect. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to be inconsistent with this relationship or status. All employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors hired or retained by the Consultant are employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors of the Consultant and not of the City. The City shall not be obligated in any way to pay any wage claims or other claims made against Consultant by any such employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors, or any other person resulting from performance of this Agreement.
4.2 Conformance to Applicable Requirements. All work prepared by Consultant shall be subject to the approval of City.
4.3 City Inspector. The Consultant shall designate a city inspector who at all times shall represent the Consultant before the City on all matters relating to this Agreement.
The construction inspector shall continue in such capacity unless and until he or she is removed at the request of the City, is no longer employed by Consultant or replaced with the written approval of the City which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
4.4 Coordination of Services. Consultant agrees to work closely with City staff in the performance of Services and shall be available to City staff, consultants and other staff at all reasonable times. City agrees to work closely with Consultant's staff in the performance of Services and shall be available to Consultant's staff at all reasonable times. Consultant shall make every reasonable effort to maintain the stability and continuity of Consultant’s staff and subcontractors, if any, assigned to perform the Services. Consultant shall notify City of any changes in staff and subcontractors, if any, assigned to perform the Services prior to and during any such performance.
4.5 Warranty. Consultant agrees and represents that it is qualified to properly provide the Services set forth in Exhibit "A" in a manner which is consistent with the generally accepted standards of Consultant's profession. Consultant further represents and agrees that it will perform said Services in a legally adequate manner in conformance with applicable federal, state and local laws and guidelines.
4.6 Interest in Contract. Consultant covenants that neither it, nor any of its employees, agents, contractors, subcontractors has any interest, nor shall they acquire any interest, direct or indirect, in the subject of the Contract, nor any other interest which would conflict in any manner or degree with the performance of its services hereunder.
Consultant shall make all disclosures required by the City's conflict of interest code in accordance with the category designated by the City, unless the City Manager determines in writing that Consultant's duties are more limited in scope than is warranted by the category designated by the City code and that a narrower disclosure category should apply. Consultant also agrees to make disclosure in compliance with the City conflict of interest code if, at any time after the execution of this agreement, City determines and notifies Consultant in writing that Consultant's duties under this agreement warrant greater disclosure by Consultant than was originally contemplated. Consultant shall make disclosures in the time, place and manner set forth in the conflict of interest code and as directed by the City.
4.7 Standard of Performance; Familiarity with Work
Consultant represents and warrants that it has the qualifications, experience and facilities necessary to properly perform the Services required under this Agreement in a thorough, competent and professional manner. Consultant shall at all times faithfully, competently and to the best of its ability, experience and talent, perform all Services. In meeting its obligations under this Agreement, Consultant shall employ, at a minimum, generally accepted standards and practices utilized by persons engaged in providing services similar to the Services required of Consultant under this Agreement. In addition to the general standards of performance set forth this section, additional specific standards of performance and performance criteria may be set forth in Exhibit “A” “Scope of Work” that shall also be applicable to Consultant’s work under this Agreement. Where there is a conflict between a general and a specific standard of performance or performance criteria, the specific standard or criteria shall prevail over the general.
Consultant warrants that (1) it has thoroughly investigated and considered the work to be performed, (2) it has investigated the issues, regarding the scope of services to be provided, (3) it has carefully considered how the work should be performed, and (4) it fully understands the facilities, difficulties and restrictions attending performance of the work under this Agreement.
5. INSURANCE.
5.1 Time for Compliance. Consultant shall not commence Services under this Agreement until it has provided evidence satisfactory to the City that it has secured all insurance required under this section. In addition, Consultant shall not allow any subconsultant to commence work on any subcontract until it has provided evidence satisfactory to the City that the subconsultant has secured all insurance required under this section.
5.2 Types of Required Coverages. As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement for work to be performed hereunder and without limiting the indemnity provisions of the Agreement, the Consultant in partial performance of its obligations under such Agreement, shall procure and maintain in full force and effect during the term of the Agreement, the following policies of insurance.
5.2.1 Commercial General Liability: Commercial General Liability Insurance which affords coverage at least as broad as Insurance Services Office "occurrence" form CG 0001, with minimum limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence. Defense costs shall be paid in addition to the limits.
The policy shall contain no endorsements or provisions limiting coverage for (1) products and completed operations; (2) contractual liability; (3) third party action over claims; or (4) cross liability exclusion for claims or suits by one insured against another.
5.2.2 Automobile Liability: Automobile Liability Insurance with coverage at least as broad as Insurance Services Office Form CA 0001 covering "Any Auto" (Symbol I) with minimum limits of $1,000,000 each accident.
5.2.3 Workers' Compensation: Workers' Compensation Insurance, as required by the State of California and Employer's Liability Insurance with a limit of not
less than $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury and disease.
5.2.4 Professional Liability: Professional Liability insurance for errors and omissions with minimum limits of $1,000,000. Covered Professional Services shall specifically include all work to be performed under the Agreement.
If coverage is written on a claims-made basis, the retroactive date shall precede the effective date of the initial Agreement and continuous coverage will be maintained or an extended reporting period will be exercised for a period of at least three (3) years from termination or expiration of this Agreement.
5.3 Endorsements.
5.3.1 The policy or policies of insurance required by Sections 5.2.1Commercial General Liability and 5.2.2 Automobile Liability shall be endorsed to provide the following:
5.3.1.1 Additional Insured: The indemnified parties shall be additional insureds with regard to liability and defense of suits or claims arising out of the performance of the Agreement. Additional Insured Endorsements shall not (1) be restricted to "ongoing operations"; (2) exclude "contractual liability"; (3) restrict coverage to "sole" liability of Consultant; or (4) contain any other exclusions contrary to the Agreement.
5.3.1.2 Primary Insurance and Non-Contributing Insurance: This insurance shall be primary and any other insurance, deductible, or self-insurance maintained by the indemnified parties shall not contribute with this primary insurance.
5.3.1.3 Severability: In the event of one insured, whether named or additional, incurs liability to any other of the insureds, whether named or additional, the policy shall cover the insured against whom claim is or may be made in the same manner as if separate policies had been issued to each insured, except that the limits of insurance shall not be increased thereby.
5.3.1.4 Cancellation: The policy shall not be canceled or the coverage suspended, voided, reduced or allowed to expire until a thirty (30) day prior written notice of cancellation has been served upon the City except ten (10) days prior written notice shall be allowed for non-payment of premium.
5.3.1.5 Duties: Any failure by the named insured to comply with reporting provisions of the policy or breaches or violations of warranties shall not affect coverage provided to the indemnified parties.
5.3.1.6 Applicability: That the coverage provided therein shall apply to the obligations assumed by the Consultant under the indemnity provisions of the Agreement, unless the policy or policies contain a blanket form of contractual liability coverage.
5.3.2 The policy or policies of insurance required by Section 5.2.3 Workers' Compensation shall be endorsed, as follows:
5.3.2.1 Waiver of Subrogation: A waiver of subrogation stating that the insurer waives all rights of subrogation against the indemnified parties.
5.3.2.2 Cancellation: The policy shall not be canceled or the coverage suspended, voided, reduced or allowed to expire until a thirty (30) day prior written notice of cancellation has been served upon the City except ten (10) days prior written notice shall be allowed for non-payment of premium.
5.3.3 The policy or policies of insurance required by Section 5.2.4 Professional Liability shall be endorsed, as follows:
5.3.3.1 Cancellation: The policy shall not be canceled or the coverage suspended, voided, reduced or allowed to expire until a thirty (30) day prior written notice of cancellation has been served upon the City except ten (I 0) days prior written notice shall be allowed for non-payment of premium.
5.4 Deductible. Any deductible or self-insured retention must be approved in writing by the City and shall protect the indemnified parties in the same manner and to the same extent as they would have been protected had the policy or policies not contained a deductible or selfinsured retention.
5.5 Evidence of Insurance. The Consultant, concurrently with the execution of the Agreement, and as a condition precedent to the effectiveness thereof, shall deliver either certified copies of the required policies, or original certificates and endorsements on forms approved by the City. The certificates and endorsements for each insurance policy shall be signed by a person authorized by that insurer to bind coverage on its behalf. At least fifteen (15) days prior to the expiration of any such policy, evidence of insurance showing that such insurance coverage has been renewed or extended shall be filed with the City. If such coverage is cancelled or reduced, Consultant shall, within ten (10) days after receipt of written notice of such cancellation or reduction of coverage, file with the City evidence of insurance showing that the required insurance has been reinstated or has been provided through another insurance company or companies.
5.6 Failure to Maintain Coverage. Consultant agrees to suspend and cease all operations hereunder during such period of time if the required insurance coverage is not in effect and evidence of insurance has not been furnished to the City. The City shall have the right to withhold any payment due Consultant until Consultant has fully complied with the insurance provisions of this Agreement.
In the event that the Consultant's operations are suspended for failure to maintain required insurance coverage, the Consultant shall not be entitled to an extension of time for completion of the Work because of production lost during suspension.
5.7 Acceptability of Insurers. Each such policy shall be from a company or companies with a current A.M. Best's rating of no less than A:VII and authorized to do business in the State of California, or otherwise allowed to place insurance through surplus line brokers under applicable provisions of the California Insurance Code or any federal law.
5.8 Insurance for Subconsultants. All subconsultants shall be included as additional insureds under the Consultant's policies, or the Consultant shall be responsible for causing subconsultants to purchase the appropriate insurance in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, including adding the City as an Additional Insured to the subconsultant's policies.
6. INSPECTION AND FINAL ACCEPTANCE
6.1 City may inspect and accept or reject any of Consultant’s work under his Agreement, either during performance or when completed. City shall reject or finally accept Consultant’s work within sixty (60) days after submitted to City. City shall reject work by a timely written explanation, otherwise Consultant’s work shall be deemed to have been accepted.
City’s acceptance shall be conclusive as to such work except with respect to latent defects, fraud and such gross mistakes as amount to fraud. Acceptance of any of Consultant’s work by City shall not constitute a waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement including, but not limited to, Section 11.2 “Indemnification” and Section 5 “Insurance.”
7. OWNERSHIP OF MATERIALS AND CONFIDENTIALITY.
7.1 Documents & Data; Licensing of Intellectual Property. This Agreement creates a non-exclusive and perpetual license for City to copy, use, modify, reuse or sublicense any and all copyrights, designs and other intellectual property embodied in plans, specifications, studies, drawings, estimates and other documents or works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, including but not limited to, physical drawings or data magnetically or otherwise recorded on computer devices, which are prepared or caused to be prepared by Consultant under this Agreement ("Documents & Data").
Consultant shall require all subconsultants to agree in writing that City is granted a non-exclusive and perpetual license for any Documents & Data the subconsultant prepares under this Agreement. Consultant represents and warrants that Consultant has the legal right to license any and all Documents & Data. Consultant makes no such representation and warranty in regard to Documents & Data which were prepared by design professionals other than Consultant or provided to Consultant by the City.
City shall not be limited in any way in its use or modification of the Documents and Data at any time, provided that any such use or modification not within the purposes intended by this Agreement shall be at City's sole risk.
7.2 Books and Records. Consultant shall maintain any and all documents and records demonstrating or relating to Consultant’s performance of the Services. Consultant shall maintain any and all ledgers, books of account, invoices, vouchers, canceled checks, or other documents or records evidencing or relating to work, services, expenditures and disbursements charged to City pursuant to this Agreement. Any and all such documents or records shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall be sufficiently complete and detailed so as to permit an accurate evaluation of the services provided by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement. Any and all such documents or records shall be maintained for three(3) years from the date of execution of this Agreement and to the extent required by laws relating to audits of public agencies and their expenditures.
Any and all records or documents required to be maintained pursuant to this section shall be
made available for inspection, audit and copying, at any time during regular business hours, upon request by City or its designated representative. Copies of such documents or records shall be provided directly to the City for inspection, audit and copying when it is practical to do so; otherwise, unless an alternative is mutually agreed upon, such documents and records shall be made available at Consultant’s address indicated for receipt of notices in this Agreement.
Where City has reason to believe that any of the documents or records required to be maintained pursuant to this section may be lost or discarded due to dissolution or termination of Consultant’s business, City may, by written request, require that custody of such documents or records be given to the City. Access to such documents and records shall be granted to City, as well as to its successors-in-interest and authorized representatives.
7.3 Confidentiality. All Documents & Data are confidential, and Consultant agrees that they shall not be made available to any individual or organization without the prior written approval of the City, except by court order.
8. ACCOUNTING RECORDS.
8.1 Maintenance and Inspection. Consultant shall maintain and make available for inspection by the City and its auditor's accurate records of all its costs, disbursements and receipts with respect to any work under this Agreement. Such inspections may be made during regular office hours at any time until one (1) year after the final payments under this Agreement are made to the Consultant.
9. SUBCONTRACTING.
9.1 Prior Approval Required. Consultant shall not subcontract any portion of the work required by this Agreement, except as expressly stated herein, without prior written approval of City. Subcontracts, if any, shall contain a provision making them subject to all provisions stipulated in this Agreement.
10. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.
10.1 Grounds for Termination. The City may, by written notice to Consultant, terminate all or any part of this Agreement at any time and without cause by giving written notice to Consultant of such termination. Such notice shall specify the effective date thereof, which shall be at least seven (7) days after the date of the notice. Consultant may not terminate this Agreement except for cause.
10.2 Compensation Upon Termination. Upon termination, Consultant shall be compensated only for those Services which have been adequately rendered to the City up to the effective date of termination. This compensation shall include all reasonable and non-cancelable costs incurred by Consultant and its approved subconsultants (specifically Gallaway Enterprises, Bollard Acoustical Consultants, and Fehr & Peers) as of the date of notice. Consultant shall be entitled to no further compensation or "lost profits" on the uncompleted portion of the Services.
10.3 Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is terminated as provided herein, City may require Consultant to provide all finished or unfinished Documents and Data and other information of any kind prepared by Consultant in connection with the performance of Services under this Agreement. Consultant shall be required to provide such document and other information within fifteen (15) days of the request.
10.4 Additional Services. In the event of termination, the City may procure services similar to those terminated from other providers upon such terms as the City deems appropriate.
11. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
11.1 Delivery of Notices. All notices permitted or required under this Agreement shall be given to the respective parties at the following address, or at such other address as the respective parties may provide in writing for this purpose:
City:
City of Gridley
685 Kentucky Street
Gridley, CA 95948
Attn: Elisa Arteaga, City Administrator
Consultant:
LACO Associates
12 Williamsburg Lane
Chico, CA 95926
Attn: Michael Nelson, CEO
Such notice shall be deemed made when personally delivered or when mailed, forty-eight (48) hours after deposit in the U.S. Mail, first class postage prepaid and addressed to the party at its applicable address. Actual notice shall be deemed adequate notice on the date actual notice occurred, regardless of the method of service.
11.2 Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Consultant shall indemnify and hold the City, its elected officials, officers, employees, agents and volunteers free and harmless from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, liability, loss,
damage or injury, in law or equity, to property or persons, including wrongful death, in any manner to the extent caused by the sole negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct of Consultant, its officials, officers, employees, agents, subcontractors and subconsultants, including without limitation the payment of all consequential damages and attorneys' fees and other related costs and expenses, except such loss or damage which was caused by the active negligence, sole negligence, or willful misconduct of the City.
Consultant's obligation to indemnify shall not be restricted to insurance proceeds, if any, received by the City, its elected officials, officers, employees, agents or volunteers.
I0.3 Laws and Regulations. Consultant shall keep itself fully informed of and in compliance with all local, state and federal laws, rules, regulations and ordinances in any manner affecting the performance of the Project or the Services, including without limitation City business license requirements and all Cal/OSHA requirements, and shall give all noticesrequired by law.
10.4 Prohibited Interests. Consultant covenants that neither it, nor any of its employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors has any interest, nor shall they acquire any interest, direct or indirect, in the subject of the Agreement, nor any other interest which would conflict in any manner or degree with the performance of the Services hereunder.
10.5 Prevailing Wages. Consultant is aware of the requirements of California Labor Code section 1720, et seq., and 1770, et seq., as well as California Code of Regulations, Title 8, section 16000, et seq., ("Prevailing Wage Laws"), which require the payment of prevailing wage rates and the performance of other requirements on "public works" and "maintenance" projects.
If the Services are subject to the Prevailing Wage Laws, Consultant agrees to fully comply with such Prevailing Wage Laws.
10.6 Equal Opportunity Employment. Consultant shall not engage in unlawful employment discrimination. Such unlawful employment discrimination includes, but is not limited to, employment discrimination based upon a person's race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical handicap, medical condition, marital status, gender, citizenship or sexual orientation.
10.7 Labor Certification. By its signature hereunder, Consultant certifies that it is aware of the provisions of Section 3700 of the California Labor Code which require every employer to be insured against liability for Worker's Compensation or to undertake selfinsurance in accordance with the provisions of that Code, and agrees to comply with such provisions before commencing the performance of the Services.
10.8 Attorneys' Fees. If either party commences an action against the other party, either legal, administrative or otherwise, arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees and all other costs of such action.
10.9 Assignment or Transfer. Consultant shall not assign or transfer any interest in this Agreement whether by assignment or novation, without the prior written consent of the City, which will not be unreasonably withheld. Provided, however, that claims for money due or to become due Consultant from the City under this Agreement may be assigned to a financial institution or to a trustee in bankruptcy, without such approval. Notice of any assignment or transfer, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be furnished promptly to the City.
10.10 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding on the successors and assigns of the Parties.
10.11 Amendment; Modification. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing and signed by both Parties.
10.12 Waiver. No waiver of any default shall constitute a waiver of any other default or breach, whether of the same or other covenant or condition. No waiver, benefit, privilege or service voluntarily given or performed by a Party shall give the other Party any contractual rights by custom, estoppel or otherwise.
10.13 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties relative to the Services specified herein. There are no understandings, agreements, conditions, representations, warranties or promises with respect to this Agreement, except those contained in or referred to in the writing.
10.14 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. Venue shall be in Butte County.
10.15 Time of Essence. Time is of the essence for each and every provision of this Agreement.
10.16 Interpretation. Since the Parties or their agents have participated fully in the preparation of this Agreement, the language of this Agreement shall be construed simply, according to its fair meaning, and not strictly for or against any Party.
10.17 No Third Party Beneficiaries. There are no intended third party beneficiaries of any right or obligation assumed by the Parties.
10.18 Authority to Enter Agreement. Each Party warrants that the individuals who have signed this Agreement have the legal power, right and authority to make this Agreement and bind each respective Party.
10.19 Invalidity; Severability. If any portion of this Agreement is declared invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
10.20 Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of whichshall constitute an original.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of theday and year first above written.
CITY OF GRIDLEY LACO Associates
By: _
Elisa Arteaga
City Administrator
By:
Michael Nelson
CEO
Attest:
By:
City Clerk
Approved as to Form:
By:
___________________________
City Attorney
City Council Agenda Item #8
Staff Report
Date: March 16, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Elisa Arteaga, City Administrator and Staff
Subject: Central Gridley Pedestrian Connectivity and Equal Access Project – CMAQ Funded Design
Recommendation
City staff respectfully requests City Council direction regarding pursuit of potential construction funding opportunities for the Central Gridley Pedestrian Connectivity and Equal Access Project.
Background
The Central Gridley Pedestrian Connectivity and Equal Access Project was developed to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility within central Gridley, particularly along routes serving McKinley Elementary School and Sycamore Middle School.
The City previously received funding through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program to complete the design of the project. The project was developed to address gaps in sidewalks, ADA crosswalks, and pedestrian accessibility improvements along several streets within the central portion of the City.
During the design process, field reviews identified additional sidewalk gaps and accessibility barriers that affect pedestrian travel along routes commonly used by students and residents. The project scope was adjusted to address these issues and improve pedestrian safety and accessibility along these corridors.
Engineering plans for the project have been completed, positioning the project for potential future construction funding opportunities if a suitable funding source can be identified.
While the project provides meaningful pedestrian accessibility improvements, staff understands that the project may not be as competitive for certain grant programs without additional supporting data such as documented traffic, safety, or collision history within the project area. In addition, some funding programs prioritize projects that include bicycle mobility improvements or broader multimodal transportation enhancements.
If directed by the City Council, staff may evaluate opportunities to strengthen the project for future funding opportunities by incorporating additional data analysis or considering potential modifications to the project that could improve bicycle connectivity or overall multimodal mobility within the corridor.
City Council direction is requested regarding whether staff should pursue additional evaluation of potential funding opportunities or potential modifications to improve the project’s competitiveness for future grant programs.
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Financial Impact
Fiscal impacts are currently unknown. If directed by the City Council, staff will evaluate potential funding opportunities and develop updated cost estimates for construction of the project improvements Compliance with City Council Strategic Plan or Budget Goals The City Council and City staff are committed to providing effective leadership while providing quality cost effective local government services.
Attachments – None
City Council Agenda Item #9
Staff Report
Date: March 16, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Elisa Arteaga, City Administrator and Staff
Subject: Cherry Street Sidewalk Improvements
Recommendation
City staff respectfully requests City Council direction regarding development of the Cherry Street Sidewalk Improvements Project and coordination with the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) to pursue potential regional funding opportunities.
Background
Cherry Street is an important east–west corridor within the City of Gridley that connects residential neighborhoods with commercial areas and community amenities near the State Route 99 corridor.
Portions of Cherry Street currently lack continuous sidewalks, requiring pedestrians to walk within the roadway or along informal pathways.
Constructing sidewalks along Cherry Street would improve pedestrian safety and accessibility for residents traveling between nearby housing areas, parks, and commercial destinations. The proposed improvements would include installation of new ADA-compliant sidewalks, curb ramps, and related curb and gutter improvements where necessary to create a continuous pedestrian facility along the corridor.
Improvements would also include reconstruction or modification of driveway approaches where needed to maintain an accessible path of travel and ensure compliance with current accessibility standards.
Existing conditions within portions of the corridor consist of deteriorated pavement edges, compacted gravel, and other informal walking paths that do not meet accessibility standards. These conditions can create challenges for pedestrians, particularly seniors, children, and individuals with mobility limitations.
Improving pedestrian facilities along Cherry Street would help address these accessibility concerns while encouraging safer pedestrian travel within the neighborhood. The project may also support broader community goals related to walkability, public safety, and improved access to local services.
Staff has begun preliminary discussions with the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) regarding potential opportunities to pursue regional funding programs, including Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding, which supports projects that improve multimodal transportation options and reduce vehicle emissions. BCAG recently released a call for CMAQ project nominations with applications due April 17, 2026. Based on preliminary discussions, the Cherry Street sidewalk improvements may be well suited for consideration through this regional programming process. City Council direction is requested regarding whether staff should proceed with project scoping and coordination with BCAG in order to evaluate the project for potential CMAQ funding opportunities.
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City Council direction is requested regarding whether staff should proceed with project scoping, preliminary engineering, and coordination with BCAG to evaluate potential funding opportunities.
Financial Impact
Fiscal impacts are currently unknown. If directed by the City Council, staff will develop preliminary engineering scopes and cost estimates necessary to pursue grant funding opportunities and future project implementation.
Compliance with City Council Strategic Plan or Budget Goals The City Council and City staff are committed to providing effective leadership while providing quality cost effective local government services.
Attachments – None
City Council Agenda Item #10
Staff Report
Date: March 16, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Elisa Arteaga, City Administrator and Staff
Subject: Fairview Gap Closure and E. Gridley Road Pedestrian Improvements Recommendation
City staff respectfully requests City Council direction regarding development of the Fairview Gap Closure and E. Gridley Road Pedestrian Improvements Project and pursuit of potential Active Transportation Program (ATP) funding opportunities.
Background
Fairview Drive and E. Gridley Road serve as important neighborhood corridors within the City of Gridley and provide access to nearby residential areas, schools, and community destinations. Portions of these corridors currently contain gaps in pedestrian infrastructure, limiting safe pedestrian access and connectivity within the neighborhood.
These corridors also provide access to Gridley High School and surrounding community facilities, making pedestrian safety improvements in this area particularly important for students and families traveling within the neighborhood.
Closing the existing sidewalk gaps along Fairview Drive would improve pedestrian safety and accessibility by providing a continuous path of travel for residents, including students traveling to and from nearby schools. Improvements may include construction of new ADA-compliant sidewalks, curb ramps, curb and gutter improvements, and related intersection or crossing enhancements where necessary.
Potential improvements within the corridor may extend beyond sidewalk gap closures and could include a range of pedestrian and traffic safety measures to be evaluated during preliminary design. These concepts may include modifications to the intersection of Fairview Drive and E. Gridley Road such as a roundabout, mini-roundabout, or other controlled intersection treatment to improve traffic operations and pedestrian safety. Additional improvements could include narrowing the roadway to accommodate wider sidewalks, improved pedestrian crossing locations set back from intersection corners, enhanced pedestrian warning signage or flashing beacons, and other traffic calming features. During project development, staff may also evaluate opportunities to extend improvements north toward the Gridley High School area and east along E. Gridley Road toward the fairgrounds in order to improve connectivity and provide a more comprehensive corridor safety improvement.
Recent planning efforts, including the City’s Local Road Safety Plan, the Butte County Safety Action Plan, and other regional safety studies, have identified pedestrian safety and connectivity improvements as important priorities for the community. These planning efforts highlight the importance of improving X Regular
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pedestrian infrastructure along neighborhood corridors and routes commonly used by students and families.
The Fairview corridor has also been discussed with regional partners, including Butte County Public Health and the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG), as a potential candidate for future Active Transportation Program (ATP) funding. ATP funding supports projects that improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, particularly those that enhance Safe Routes to School and neighborhood connectivity.
Based on preliminary discussions with regional partners, staff recommend pursuing Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding to support preliminary engineering, design, and evaluation of potential alternatives for the corridor. Completion of this work would help position the project for a future Active Transportation Program (ATP) application for construction funding, either in the upcoming funding cycle or a subsequent cycle depending on project readiness and funding availability.
City Council direction is requested regarding whether staff should proceed with further project development, including preliminary engineering, cost estimates, and evaluation of potential grant funding opportunities.
Financial Impact
Fiscal impacts are currently unknown. If directed by the City Council, staff will develop preliminary engineering scopes and cost estimates necessary to pursue grant funding opportunities and future project implementation.
Compliance with City Council Strategic Plan or Budget Goals The City Council and City staff are committed to providing effective leadership while providing quality cost effective local government services.
Attachments – None
City Council Agenda Item #11
Staff Report
Date: March 16,2026 (date of meeting)
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Elisa Arteaga, City Administrator and Staff
Subject: Moose Lodge Sidewalk Gap Closure – State Route 99 Pedestrian Improvements Recommendation
City staff respectfully requests City Council direction regarding pursuing right-of-way acquisition and continued coordination with Caltrans and the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) to construct a sidewalk gap closure along the west side of State Route 99 near the Moose Lodge property.
Background
State Route 99 is a major transportation corridor that runs through the City of Gridley and serves as an important connection between residential neighborhoods and commercial areas within the community.
Caltrans is currently developing improvements along the State Route 99 corridor within the City. During coordination with Caltrans and the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG), a sidewalk gap was identified along the west side of State Route 99 near the Moose Lodge property, extending south from Cherry Street toward the McDonald’s commercial area.
Existing conditions within this segment consist of compacted gravel and deteriorated asphalt that do not meet accessibility standards and present challenges for pedestrians, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. The absence of a continuous sidewalk requires pedestrians to walk adjacent to high-speed highway traffic along one of the City’s busiest corridors.
The proposed project would construct new ADA-compliant sidewalk and curb ramps, install curb and gutter improvements, and remove existing safety hazards within the corridor. The project would also remove an existing valley gutter and several diagonal parking spaces located in front of the Moose Lodge that require vehicles to back directly into State Route 99 when exiting, creating safety concerns for both motorists and pedestrians. Removing these parking spaces would improve sight distance, reduce conflict points with highway traffic, and allow for construction of a continuous sidewalk.
In addition to improving accessibility, the proposed improvements would address several existing safety concerns within the project area. The current configuration includes a valley gutter and diagonal parking spaces in front of the Moose Lodge that require vehicles to back directly into State Route 99 when exiting. This configuration creates potential conflict points between vehicles, pedestrians, and highspeed highway traffic. Removal of these parking spaces would improve sight distance, reduce vehicle conflicts, and allow construction of a continuous sidewalk along the corridor, significantly improving pedestrian safety.
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A preliminary opinion of probable construction cost has been developed for planning purposes to help the City evaluate potential funding opportunities. While detailed project costs have not yet been finalized, the preliminary estimate indicates that the improvements may be achievable as a relatively small infrastructure project compared to other corridor improvements along State Route 99. This information may assist the City in evaluating potential funding opportunities and determining whether the project could be incorporated into the planned Caltrans corridor improvements.
Recent improvements along State Route 99 were intended to connect new multifamily housing developments south of Cherry Street with nearby commercial destinations. However, pedestrian access impediments within this segment were not fully addressed in the original project design. Cherry Street represents the first location where pedestrians traveling north on the west side of State Route 99 can safely cross the highway, making this segment critical to the overall pedestrian network within the City.
While substantial pedestrian improvements have been completed on the east side of State Route 99, this location remains one of the last significant sidewalk gaps along the corridor. Closing this gap would provide a continuous pedestrian route along the west side of State Route 99 and improve safety and accessibility for residents traveling between nearby housing, commercial areas, and community destinations.
The City is currently coordinating with the Moose Lodge regarding the potential dedication of the necessary right-of-way or a future right-of-way agreement to allow construction of the sidewalk improvements. If the right-of-way can be secured, the City may be able to incorporate the improvements into the future Caltrans State Route 99 project, reducing overall project costs and improving coordination with corridor improvements.
City Council direction is requested regarding pursuing right-of-way dedication and continued coordination with partner agencies to advance the sidewalk gap closure project.
Financial Impact
Fiscal impacts are currently unknown. If directed by the City Council, staff will develop preliminary engineering scopes and cost estimates necessary to pursue funding opportunities and project implementation
Compliance with City Council Strategic Plan or Budget Goals The City Council and City staff are committed to providing effective leadership while providing quality cost effective local government services.
Attachments – Letter to BCAG
February 9, 2026
Attn: Ivan Garcia
Butte County Association of Governments
326 Huss Drive, Suite 150
Chico, CA 95928
Subject: 03-1h140 GRIDLEY STATE ROUTE 99 IMPROVEMENTS – CHERRY
STREET SIDEWALK GAP CLOSURE
Dear Mr. Garcia,
As a partner with the State and the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) on the subject project, the City of Gridley respectfully requests consideration for the addition of a sidewalk gap closure project along the west side of State Route 99. The proposed improvements would extend south from Cherry Street to the McDonald’s commercial area.
This project would construct new ADA compliant sidewalk and curb ramps, install a marked pedestrian crosswalk across Cherry Street, add curb and gutter improvements, and remove existing safety hazards. Current conditions consist of compacted gravel and severely degraded asphalt that do not meet accessibility standards and present challenges for pedestrians, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
The project also includes removal of an existing valley gutter and six diagonal parking spaces located in front of the Moose Lodge. These parking spaces require vehicles to back directly into State Route 99 to exit, creating a significant safety concern for both motorists and pedestrians. Their removal would improve sight distance, reduce conflict points with highway traffic, and allow for continuous sidewalk construction within this segment of the corridor.
Recent Caltrans improvements were intended to connect newly constructed apartment complexes located south of Cherry Street on the west side of State Route 99 to nearby commercial and retail destinations. However, pedestrian access impediments within this project area were not fully addressed in the original design. Cherry Street represents the first location where pedestrians traveling north on the west side of State Route 99 can safely cross the highway, making this segment critical to overall pedestrian network connectivity.
While substantial pedestrian improvements have recently been completed on the east side of State Route 99, this portion on the west side remains one of the last significant sidewalk gaps within the City of Gridley. Closing this gap would complete a continuous, accessible pedestrian route along one of the city’s most heavily traveled corridors.
This project advances public safety by separating pedestrians from high-speed highway traffic, improves ADA accessibility, and supports equitable access for residents living in new multifamily housing. It also aligns with broader transportation and land use goals by encouraging walking, reducing vehicle dependency, and supporting safe connections between residential and commercial areas.
The City is actively coordinating with the Moose Lodge to secure the necessary right of way or execute a memorandum of understanding for future right of way, demonstrating local commitment and project readiness.
Funding this project would address a long-standing safety deficiency, eliminate a critical sidewalk gap in Gridley, and provide lasting mobility, safety, and accessibility benefits to the community.
Sincerely,
Dave Harden
City Engineer, City of Gridley
SIDEWALK GAP CLOSU
1082 Sunrise Avenue, Suite 100
Roseville, California 95661
916.783.4100
CHERRY ST SR-99
Opinion of Probable Construction Cost
Project Name:
Gridley SR-99 Cherry Street Gap Closure Project
Location
South of Cherry St on SR-99
ROADWAY SUBTOTAL
CONSTRUCTION SUBTOTAL =
Construction Management 20% =
Engineering and Environmental 20% =
PROJECT 2026 TOTAL =
Contingency 25% =
2026 PROJECTED PROJECT BUDGET=
BENNETT ENGINEERING SERVICES ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE QUANTITIES AND FINAL PAY QUANTITIES. 4 35,000.00$
2 1
Item
No.
14,400.00$
12,000.00$
3 Traffic Control 1 LS 25,000.00$ 25,000.00$
500 SQFT 75,000.00$ 8 Minor Concrete (Sidewalk) 2,
87,575.00$
$ 440,000.00
250,200.00$
10,000.00$
QTY. CHECKER DATE PRICED BY DATE
35,000.00$
Utility Coordination and Relocations 1 LS 20,000.00$ 20,000.00$ Mobilization and Demobilization
ITEM DESCRIPTION
Estimated
Quantity
Unit Unit Price
($/Unit)
Amount
($)
1 25,300.00$
Aggregate Base
10%
Project No:
16607
Client Project No. Client Name
City of Gridley
D. Harden 2/5/2026 D. Harden 2/9/2026
QTY. ORIGINATOR
DRAFT
DATE
350,300.00$
9 Minor Concrete (Curb Ramp) 1 EA 8,000.00$ 8,000.00$
50,040.00$
50,040.00$
250,200.00$
10 Minor Concrete (Driveway) 1 EA 18,000.00$
6 LS
30.00$
120 CY 120.00$
18,000.00$
Excavation & Grading 230 CY 110.00$
5 Hot Mix Asphalt - Type A 30 TON 250.00$ 7,500.00$
7 Curb & Gutter 300 LF 40.00$
10 Striping & Signage 1 LS 10,000.00$
https://us-partner-integrations.egnyte.com/msoffice/wopi/files/4c9451f3-67f5-431a-a476-ea10c759c3ad/WOPIServiceId_TP_EGNYTE_PLUS/WOPIUserId_-/Estimate for Hwy 99 Moose Lodge Sidewalk_ Cost Estimate and Quantities-20260205Estimate-Base Bid
2/9/2026
City Council Agenda Item #12
Staff Report
Date: March 16, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Elisa Arteaga, City Administrator and Staff
Subject: Wilson School Area Traffic Safety Improvements Recommendation
City staff respectfully requests City Council direction regarding evaluation of potential traffic safety improvements in the Wilson School area.
Background
The Wilson School area has been identified as a location where pedestrian safety and traffic circulation improvements may be beneficial. School areas often experience higher levels of pedestrian activity during arrival and dismissal periods, and improving circulation and pedestrian visibility can help enhance safety for students and families.
Initial observations within the area indicate potential challenges related to pedestrian crossings, vehicle circulation, and sight distance near the school campus. These conditions can create conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians during peak school activity periods.
Potential improvements that may be evaluated include modifications to traffic circulation, improved pedestrian crossings, enhanced signage or pavement markings, and other safety measures intended to improve visibility and pedestrian access near the school.
Staff has also discussed potential improvements with regional partners and understands that some safety improvements near schools may be eligible for targeted safety funding programs. However, additional evaluation would be necessary to determine the most appropriate improvements and potential funding opportunities.
City Council direction is requested regarding whether staff should proceed with further evaluation of potential safety improvements in the Wilson School area.
Financial Impact
Fiscal impacts are currently unknown. If directed by the City Council, staff will evaluate potential improvement options and develop preliminary cost estimates.
Compliance with City Council Strategic Plan or Budget Goals The City Council and City staff are committed to providing effective leadership while providing quality cost effective local government services.
Attachments – None
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