Ripon City Council
Special Meeting Minutes
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
SPECIAL MEETING
12:00 PM
The Special Meeting was called to order by Mayor Zuber at 12:00 PM.
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Leo Zuber Mayor Present
Daniel de Graaf Vice Mayor Absent
Gary Barton Council Member Present
Dean Uecker Council Member Present
Michael Restuccia Council Member Present
OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Kevin Werner, City Attorney Tom Terpstra via phone, Director of Public Works James Pease, City Clerk Lisa Roos, Deputy City Clerk Jane Kilgore, Information Systems Technician Alex Arias, Michael Musca, Terrence Musca.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
No one from the public wished to speak at this time.
ADDITION OF EMERGENCY ITEM:
City Attorney Terpstra requested that a resolution authorizing the City Administrator to select and thereafter enter into contracts with qualified contractors as needed to alleviate the emergency conditions of the Stanislaus River Pedestrian Bridge be added to the agenda as an Emergency Item.
Motion to add an Emergency Item to the Agenda as Item 1A.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
SECONDER: Gary Barton, Council Member
AYES: Zuber, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia
ABSENT: de Graaf
City Council Page 2 April 26, 2024
1. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
A. RESOLUTION NO. 24-9
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIPON
AUTHORIZING THE CITY
ADMINISTRATOR TO SELECT AND
THEREAFTER ENTER INTO
CONTRACT(S) WITH QUALIFIED
CONTRACTORS AS NEEDED TO
ALLEVIATE THE EMERGENCY
CONDITIONS OF THE STANISLAUS
RIVER PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
Adopt the resolution authorizing the City
Administrator to select and thereafter enter
into contract(s) with qualified contractors
as needed to alleviate the emergency
conditions of the Stanislaus River
Pedestrian Bridge.
City Attorney Terpstra said that in October 2023 the Stanislaus River Pedestrian Bridge sustained significant structural damage from a fallen tree. He said despite efforts to seal off damaged portions of the Bridge, it has become a potentially attractive nuisance and the risk of further damage and/or personal injury constitutes emergency circumstances. Terpstra said section 21068 of the California Public Contracts Code permits the City Council to adopt a Resolution authorizing the City to undertake the necessary repairs without public bidding.
City Administrator Werner said it is unusual for an item like this to go out to bid because the bridge segment can only be built by one supplier and the City is working with Contech. He said the other part of the project is setting the bridge piece in place. He said it is important to allow the contractors to have the opportunity to determine the best means and method of installation. Werner said this will be the most expedient and cost efficient way to repair the bridge.
Council Member Restuccia asked if staff has a contractor in mind. Werner said staff is working with different contractors right now.
Mayor Zuber said he understands this to mean that the City will be overseeing the project as opposed to contracting with a firm to manage the repair of the bridge. Werner confirmed.
Council Member Uecker asked if there is any potential use for the bridge. Public Works Director Pease clarified it is only a piece of the bridge that is going to be replaced.
Vice Mayor de Graaf joined the meeting.
Council Member Barton confirmed that Contech will be building the bridge segment and the entity who will place the bridge segment will be a different contractor. Werner confirmed.
Michael Musca asked for clarification regarding the funding source of the $107,000 and questioned if the insurance provider would pay that full amount. Public Works Director Pease said there is a $100,000 deductible for this claim and everything after that will be covered by the City’s insurance provider.
City Council Page 3 April 26, 2024
Werner said staff is still calculating the total cost of the project because of the environmental consulting and work that has to be done and the cost of installation. He said staff will bring this back to the Council and the public to keep them informed of the process and cost.
Werner said it will be up to the Council to determine how they want to fund the repair.
Uecker asked where Ripon ends and Salida begins. Werner said that Ripon is 100% responsible for the bridge per the Memorandum of Understanding, but Stanislaus County has reached out and said they would like to be involved in repairing the bridge.
Council Member Barton asked Pease if staff is satisfied that this is the only segment that sustained damaged and needs to be replaced. Pease confirmed.
Motion to adopt Resolution 24-9 authorizing the City Administrator to select and thereafter enter into contract(s) with qualified contractors as needed to alleviate the emergency conditions of the Stanislaus River Pedestrian Bridge.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Gary Barton, Council Member
SECONDER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: Zuber, de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia
B. STANISLAUS RIVER BIKE/PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
Discussion/Action Approve the purchase of a replacement pedestrian truss bridge segment from
Contech Engineered Solutions LLC in the
amount of $107,565 (funding source:
Insurance Provider).
Public Works Director Pease said this is a quote from the original builder of the bridge, Contech, to replace the damaged bridge section. He said the lead time is October at this point but Contech said they would try to fit this in between larger projects.
Council Member Uecker asked if there is anyone in Ripon who can manufacture the bridge segment. Pease said not to his knowledge and in discussions with the structural engineer, it made sense to go to the original manufacturer of the bridge to obtain a replacement.
Pease said the next step is to complete the environmental process to discuss what needs to be done to remove the damaged section and install the new section and eliminate any possible future threats from trees coming down on other segments of the bridge.
City Council Page 4 April 26, 2024
Motion to approve the purchase of a replacement pedestrian truss bridge segment from Contech Engineered Solutions LLC in the amount of $107,565.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
SECONDER: Dean Uecker, Council Member
AYES: Zuber, de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia
2. CLOSED SESSION
PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON CLOSED SESSION MATTERS: No one from the public wished to speak at this time.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Michael Restuccia, Dean Uecker, Gary Barton, Vice Mayor Daniel de Graaf, Mayor Leo Zuber.
OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Kevin Werner, City Attorney Tom Terpstra via phone, City Clerk Lisa Roos.
IN THE MATTER OF:
(1) Conference with Labor Negotiators
Labor negotiations pursuant to Section 54957.6 of the California Government Code. (a) Police Officers Association
(b) Ripon Sergeants Association
(c) Public Works Employees
(d) Unrepresented Employees
Return to open session.
City Attorney Terpstra said Council met in closed session to receive an update on labor negotiations, staff was given direction and no reportable action was taken.
3. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:19 PM. (Signed) Leo Zuber
Mayor
ATTEST:
(Signed) Lisa Roos
City Clerk