REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Jason Simpson, City Manager
Prepared by:Rick De Santiago, Public Works Manager
Date:October 28, 2025
Subject:Agreement with Cotter Construction, Inc. for the Summerhill Drive Median Street Improvement Plan (CIP Project No. Z10067)
Recommendation
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a Public Works Construction Agreement with Cotter Construction, Inc. for $199,825.40 for the Summerhill Drive Median Street Improvement Plan in such final form as approved by the City Attorney, authorize the City Manager to execute change orders not to exceed a 10% contingency of $19,982.00, and authorize the City Clerk to record the Notice of Completion once it is determined the work is complete and the improvements are accepted.
Background
City staff have identified ongoing traffic congestion along Summerhill Drive, mainly caused by the high number of vehicles queuing at the In-N-Out restaurant drive-thru. This congestion blocks access to nearby businesses, including KFC, and causes vehicle backups that extend to Canyon Estates Drive. The current median setup creates unsafe conditions and inefficient traffic flow.
Discussion
The Summerhill Drive Median Improvement Project aims to:
Redesign the current median to improve traffic flow and safety. Reduce the drive-thru queue from In-N-Out that blocks KFC access. Improve access to nearby businesses.
Reduce vehicle backups on Summerhill Drive and Canyon Estates Drive.
PW Construction Agreement with Cotter Construction
City staff received 3 proposals for the Summerhill Drive Median Street Improvement Plan. The amounts of each proposal are listed below:
Name of Company Amount
Cotter Construction, Inc. $199,825.40
Aneen Construction, Inc. $285,500.00
J&M Leyva Enterprises, Inc. $440,269.61
Bidding Procedures
Chapter 3.12 of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code, entitled Informal Bidding Procedures for Public Works Projects, provides for informal bidding procedures governing the selection of contractors and the award of contracts for public works projects according to Public Contract Code Sections 22032(b) and 22034, as authorized and directed by Public Contract Code Section 22034.
As noted above, the low bid is within the informal bid limit of $200,000. The low bidder has also met the City’s street improvement requirements.
Fiscal Impact
Funds are available in the City’s Capital Improvement Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Agreement
Exhibit A - Proposal
Exhibit B - Site Map
Public Works