CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: February 26, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
SUBJECT: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. ___- 24 AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CHANGE ORDER WITH KEREX
ENGINEERING, INC. FOR THE TAYLOR BOULEVARD
IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (CIVIC DRIVE TO RUTH DRIVE),
PROJECT NO. 01-23
SYNOPSIS
The Taylor Boulevard Improvements Project will construct a new traffic signal at the intersection of Taylor Boulevard and Civic Drive, new sidewalk on the north side of Taylor Boulevard between Civic Drive and Ruth Drive, and new sidewalk on both sides of Civic Drive.
The purpose of this item is to receive authorization for the City Manager to execute a contract change order with Kerex Engineering, Inc. The Budget Committee reviewed this item at its February 21, 2024 meeting and recommended adoption by City Council.
DISCUSSION
Background
Project Details: This Project is included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2027 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) (Project MK-3B). It is funded through Measure K, the Traffic Mitigation Fund, and two Transportation Development Act (TDA) grants. The project scope includes the installation of a new traffic signal, ADA curb ramps, and sidewalks. When complete, the Project will provide a continuous ADA accessible path of travel for residents to walk or bike from Lucille Lane and Ruth Drive to Valley View Middle School, College Park High School, Diablo Valley College, City Police Department, Community Center, YMCA, and other office complexes on the north side of Taylor Boulevard. The plans, specifications, and estimate (PS&E) were completed by LCC Engineering and Surveying, Inc.
Construction Contract Award: On May 1, 2023, via Resolution No. 28-23, the City Council awarded the Taylor Boulevard Improvements Project (Civic Drive to Ruth Drive) Project No. 01-23 (project) to Kerex Engineering, Inc. (contractor) in the base bid amount of $1,465,424.50.
The project bid documents also included an alternate bid item to construct sidewalk on the west side of Civic Drive (the east side was included in the base bid) in the amount of $69,362.00. The project construction cost totaled $1,534,786.50 ($1,465,424.50 + $69,362.00). A construction contingency of approximately 10 percent or $154,213.50 was included for a total construction budget of $1,689,000.
Analysis
Kerex Engineering, Inc. has completed installation of traffic signal pole foundations, conduits, irrigation lines, sidewalk, curb, and gutter along Taylor Boulevard and Civic Drive. The City is currently waiting for traffic signal poles and signal timing controllers to arrive before commencing the final phase of the traffic signal installation. This work is expected to start at the beginning of March and will be followed by pavement repair work (slurry seal) by the end of the month. Weather permitting, the final pavement restoration, striping changes, and landscaping work will take place in April before activating the newly installed traffic signal.
This change order includes the following items:
• Replacement of traffic signal pole foundation damaged in vehicle crash • Installation of temporary crosswalk striping at Civic Drive/Police Station Driveway • Installation of brick pavers at the Civic Drive Median • Additional electrical work to connect to PG&E service • Replacement of mulch with sod
• Microsurfacing and striping on Norse Drive between Taylor Boulevard and Civic Drive These items are detailed below.
On December 16, 2023, at approximately 12:42 a.m. a single vehicle crash resulted in damage to the construction zone. The street sign located on the center median on Civic Drive was knocked over completely. In addition, a foundation for one of the new traffic signal poles was damaged at the northwest corner of the intersection. Upon inspection of the anchor bolts within the foundation, it was determined that the foundation would need to be replaced.
After the new sidewalk was installed along Taylor Boulevard and Civic Drive, new pedestrian connections were created in the vicinity of the project. To support pedestrian travel, the contractor added crosswalk striping as an interim measure until final striping is completed in the spring.
The median nose of Civic Drive is an ongoing maintenance issue and was also damaged in the vehicle crash. The contractor will install pavers in this location to repair the damaged landscaping and reduce maintenance.
Additional work is required to connect the traffic signal to PG&E service due to unforeseen field conditions. This includes new trenching and electrical conduits.
After discussions with maintenance and expanded work to regrade slopes in the vicinity of the project, the contractor will install sod instead of mulch in certain areas.
The residential development at 401 Taylor will be installing bicycle facilities on Lucille Drive approaching Taylor Boulevard. Community feedback has indicated a desire to extend this striping across Taylor Boulevard and continue it on the first block of Norse Drive to provide better connections to destinations like the YMCA, Community Center, and schools via Norse Drive and Civic Drive (see attached Norse Drive Striping Plan). This project provides the opportunity to install this striping using better pricing from the larger Taylor Boulevard/Civic Drive project. This will include pavement treatment and striping at the same time as the overall project.
The proposed change order cost is $127,462. It is reasonable to include a construction contingency of 10 percent, or $12,746, to cover unforeseen field conditions that would result in minor changes to the proposed change order. The total of the proposed change order with contingency is $140,208.
FISCAL IMPACT
The majority of this change order will be funded from the City’s Measure K pedestrian and bike program for FY 2023/24 for $92,335. The City will reimburse the Measure K funds when payment is received from the insurance company for the vehicle crash ($39,984); the net funding from the City’s Measure K pedestrian and bike program for FY 2023/24 for Norse Drive striping will be $52,351. The remainder will be absorbed by the existing project budget.
If approved, the proposed change order would increase the contract with Kerex Engineering, Inc. for the Taylor Boulevard Improvements Project No. 01-23, as follows:
Original Contract $1,465,424.50
Alternate Bid Item: $69,362.00
Contingency: $154,213.50
Proposed Change Order $127,462.00
Contingency: $12,746.00
TOTAL $1,829,208.00
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department.
The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Adopt the Proposed Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a change order with Kerex Engineering, Inc., for the Taylor Boulevard Improvements Project No. 01-23 in the amount of $127,462 and change order contingency funds in the amount of $12,746 for a not-to-exceed total of $140,208, and to transfer $92,335 from the Measure K pedestrian bike program, as recommended by the Budget Committee on February 21, 2024.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
Alternatively, the Council may choose not to authorize the proposed change order for the Taylor Boulevard Improvements Project No. 01-23, and may provide direction to staff.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proposed Resolution
Exhibit 1 – Change Order
Norse Drive Striping Plan
Prepared by: Ryan McClain, Transportation Manager
Reviewed by: Ananthan Kanagasundaram, City Engineer
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager