City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MAY 21, 2024 FROM: PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY WARD: 1
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: AWARD BID NO. 8083 TO MIDCAL DREDGING, INC. OF RIVERDALE, CALIFORNIA FOR THE FAIRMOUNT PARK lake dredging PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $925,000; AND AUTHORIZE 15% CHANGE ORDER AUTHORITY UP TO $138,750 FOR A CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $1,063,750 ISSUE:
Award Bid No. 8083 to MidCal Dredging, Inc. of Riverdale, California, for the Fairmount Park Lake Dredging Project in the amount of $925,000; and authorize a 15% change order authority up to $138,750 for a total contract amount not-to-exceed $1,063,750.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Award Bid No. 8083 to MidCal Dredging, Inc. of Riverdale, California, in the amount of $925,000 for the Fairmount Park Lake Dredging Project; Authorize 15% change order authority in an amount up to $138,750 for project changes including, but not limited to, unforeseen conditions or necessary design changes, for a total contract amount not-to-exceed $1,063,750; and Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute a Construction Agreement with MidCal Dredging, Inc. of Riverdale, California including making minor and non-substantive changes.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act to facilitate the recovery from the devastating economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan Act established the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, which provides a combined $350 billion in assistance to eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to assist in the economic and health recovery by providing resources to address impacts resulting from the crisis.
BACKGROUND:
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) established the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to provide resources to support communities that are struggling with the impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The US Department of the Treasury (Treasury) first released the Interim Final Rule providing eligibility guidance as well as regularly updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). The Interim Final Rule provided initial guidance and served to help communities develop proposals for funding.
On November 9, 2021, the City Council approved the ARPA funding Expenditure Category Plan for the first allocation in the amount of $36,767,594 following the Interim Final Rule guidelines. Additionally, the City Council directed staff to return with an itemized list for Parks infrastructure needs during the second allocation of funding for consideration. The Final Rule was issued on January 6, 2022, and became effective on April 1, 2022.
On February 7, 2023, the City Council approved the ARPA expenditure plan for the second allocation of grant funds in the amount of $36,767,594 and reallocated $1,600,000 from the first plan to the Park Maintenance Project funding. These approvals allocated $10 million for Parks Deferred Maintenance Projects including funding for the renovation of several playgrounds. The approval of the ARPA funding allows the City to make an initial investment towards addressing the City’s deteriorating park infrastructure priority needs, including renovations of parking lots, the replacement of HVAC systems, flooring replacements and playground renovations equitably throughout all wards.
On June 21, 2023, the Parks and Recreation Commission received an update on the ARPA funding received and the planned projects.
On October 10, 2023, the City Council reallocated funds from various America Rescue Plan Act Expenditure Plan Projects to the Citywide Park Improvement Program in the amount of $3,000,000 including $1,000,000 for Fairmount Lake Dredging.
DISCUSSION:
Fairmount Park is our City’s cherished signature park. The park occupies about 280 acres in Downtown Riverside. Its central core was established as a park in 1898 and is a city historic resource. Additional surrounding land has been added to the park over time, and in 1911, the world-renowned Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm developed a plan that guided further improvement of the park. Today, the park includes lakes, playgrounds, a water play splash pad, shaded picnic areas, golf course, boat house, boat launch, fishing pier, band shell, rose garden, lawn bowling, the Izaak Walton clubhouse, and acres of pastoral open space. Mature heritage Montezuma cypress trees outlining the lakes are a notable feature in the park.
Fairmount Lake was created in 1904 within the floodplains of the Santa Ana River. The larger Lake Evans and smaller Brown Lake were later developed in 1924 creating the park’s 3-lake system that is in place today. The lake system is part of the city’s watershed and stormwater drainage network. Springbrook Wash (also known as the University Wash) carries runoff from the northeastern portion of the city and enters the Fairmount Park lake system from the northeast near Market Street. Stormwater then passes through the lake and through the park to flow into the Santa Ana River to the west. Sediment and silt carried by stormwater settles in the lake bottom, reducing the water-holding capacity of the lake and reducing the depth of the lake. This has negative impacts on the lake’s health and prevents recreational use of the lake for boating activities. The shallow depth, poor circulation, and excess nutrients may be contributing factors leading to algae blooms.
The lake was last dredged in 2007 and before that in the 1980s. During the 2007 dredging, approximately 20,684 cubic yards of sediment was removed from Fairmount Lake, and 72,113 cubic yards was removed from the larger Lake Evans. The current project proposes to remove about 26,000 cubic yards of sediment from Fairmount Lake only. This will restore Fairmount Lake’s depth enough to allow recreational boating to return. The dredged material will be stockpiled and allowed to dewater in an undeveloped area of the park to the west of Lake Evans, as shown on attached Site Plan (Attachment 2). The dredged material is rich in nutrients and after drying out, will be made available for agricultural or other uses through the City’s standard process for selling/donating surplus materials, or a similar means that meets City policies and procedures. The dredged materials will produce an odor during the drying process. Signs will be placed at the stockpiling site to inform park users and neighbors of the temporary smell. This project does not propose dredging of Lake Evans or Brown Lake, however, the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department (PRCSD) will continue to seek funding to dredge the lake system on a more regular basis as part of routine maintenance activities.
Biological services and monitoring will be required for this project to comply with environmental regulations. Proposals have been received from biological consultants and a separate purchase order will be issued for the work.
On March 22, 2024, the Purchasing Division posted Bid No. 8083 on the City’s website for the Fairmount Park Lake Dredging and Stockpiling project. The City notified six hundred sixteen (616) vendors and had thirty-nine (39) Prospective Bidders listed, twenty-five (25) of which were classified as potential Prime bidders.
On April 12, 2024, one bid was received. A Non-Bidder Status Update request was sent to all Prospective bidders to clarify why only one response was received. There were four (4) responses to the request, two (2) declining to clarify their reasons for not participating, and two (2) stating that they were unable to provide the services outlined in the scope of work.
Per the attached Bid Award Recommendation, the responsible bidder is MidCal Dredging, Inc. of Riverdale, California. Staff’s review of this bidder’s references has elicited no negative information. Further, the State Contractor’s Licensing Board records indicate that this bidder’s license is current, active, and in good standing.
The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCSD), therefore, recommends that a construction contract in the amount of $925,000 be awarded to MidCal Dredging, Inc. for the Fairmount Park Lake Dredging and Stockpiling Project including:
Base Bid Item I-A: Lake Dredging ($700,000),
Base Bid Item I-B: Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan ($46,000) Base Bid Item I-C: Stockpile, Dewatering Basin Grading, and Erosion Control Plan ($179,000) The Purchasing Resolution No. 24101 Section 508 states that “Contracts procured through Formal Procurement shall be awarded by the Awarding Entity to the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder.” The Purchasing Manager concurs that the recommendation to Award Bid No. 8083 to MidCal Dredging, Inc. is in compliance with Purchasing Resolution No. 24101 Section 508.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The work contributes to the “Arts, Culture and Recreation” priority of the Envision Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan, which aims to provide diverse community experiences and personal enrichment opportunities for people of all ages.
The work contributes to goals 1.3, to improve parks, recreational amenities, open space, and trail development, and fulfill critical lifecycle and facility maintenance needs, and goal 1.4, to prioritize safety at parks, trails, arts, cultural and recreational facilities.
Community Trust – The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department is entrusted to be stewards of the natural and recreational resources within our City’s park lands. This project is needed to improve the health of the lake and restore its capacity as part of the City’s watershed and drainage system. The project will also restore lake depth to allow the return of recreational boating at Fairmount Lake.
Equity – Fairmount Park is considered a regional park and serves the entire Riverside community. The park amenities are open to everyone.
Fiscal Responsibility – The competitive procurement of services for this project is in accordance with Purchasing Resolution No. 24101 Section 508. The contract will be awarded using ARPA grant funds.
Innovation – This project improves the changing lake environment by using a modern low-impact method to dredge sediment and restore capacity and recreational uses for the community.
Sustainability & Resiliency – This project addresses the present need to remove sediment from the lake to improve lake health and restore recreational boating opportunities, without compromising the ability of the community to enjoy the lake in the future.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the action is $1,063,750, which includes a 15% contingency in the amount of $138,750. The estimated overall project construction cost, including construction contract award, construction contingency, contract administration, permits, inspections and biological services and monitoring is outlined in Table 1. Sufficient funds are budgeted and available as listed in Table 2 below.
Table 1.
Construction Contract Award
$925,000
Construction Contingency (15%)
$138,750
Permits, testing, inspections, administration (10%)
$92,500
Biological services and monitoring (Vendor TBD through Solicitation Process) $53,000
Total Project Cost
$1,209,250
Table 2.
Fund
Project
Account
Amount
Grants & Restricted Programs
Citywide Park Improvements
9279500-440120
$1,209,250
Prepared by: Alisa Sramala, Principal Park Project Manager Approved by: Pamela M. Galera, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Bid Award Recommendation
Site Plan
Fairmount Park Lake Dredging ● Page 2