Agenda Item No. 4
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council DATE: June 12, 2023 FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Greg Ray, Public Works Director/City Engineer Erin Wiggin, Capital Improvement Project Manager
SUBJECT: West Grand Avenue Streetscape Project 4th-8th Street (CIP 2287) Design Amendment
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to approve change orders for design changes up to $130,000 for the West Grand Avenue Streetscape 4th-8th Street project.
BACKGROUND
The City has placed a strong emphasis on improving the West Grand Avenue corridor in alignment with Council Goals. Previous projects to enhance West Grand Avenue include work from Highway 1 west to State Parks property, 2nd Street to 4th Street, and 8th Street to 11th Street. These improvements have included landscaped medians, street trees, corner ramps and streetlights consistent with the West Grand Avenue Master Plan. On October 12, 2021, Council reaffirmed previous direction to proceed with the West Grand Avenue Streetscape Project (CIP 2287) in FY 2022-23, given the significant redevelopment opportunities along this section of West Grand Avenue from 4th Street to 8th Street.
On June 27, 2022, Council entered into an agreement with BKF Engineers for Design Services in the amount of $236,284 and authorized the City Manager to approve change orders up to $40,000.
In August 2022, the City was awarded a $1.5M Community Betterments Grant from the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) in recognition of the development opportunities related to this project particularly with housing. This grant helped provide funding for the project and allowed for expansion of the scope to include the design and construction of storm drains and evaluation of other elements on this section of West Grand Avenue. However, this additional scope for design of storm drains plus locating services for existing utilities and design of a water main extension onto N. 5th Street to support future development will increase design costs beyond the current $40,000 limit for change orders. In order to expedite completion of the design, staff is recommending authorization for the City Manager to approve change orders up to $130,000 for the West Grand Avenue Streetscape Project (CIP 2287) to complete the expanded design scope.
A near-final design of the project will be brought to the Council for review on June 26 prior to finalizing the design this summer and preparing construction bidding documents.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost for the original scope of design was estimated to be $236,284 with authorization to approve change orders up to $40,000. The authorization for approval of change orders will now be up to $130,000. Funding for this design work is included in the City’s General Fund.
Staff Report: West Grand Avenue Streetscape Project Design Amendment (CIP 2287) Page 2 June 12, 2023
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1. Authorize the City Manager to approve change orders for design changes up to $130,000 for the West Grand Avenue Streetscape 4th-8th Street project; or
2. Do not authorize the City Manager to approve such change orders; or
3. Provide staff with additional direction.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.