DATE: DECEMBER 13, 2022
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, DIRECTOR
BY: HEIDI NIGGEMEYER, NPDES PROGRAM MANAGER
TITLE: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SALINAS AND WALLACE GROUP FOR THE FINAL ENGINEERING DESIGN PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND COST ESTIMATE (PS&Es) FOR THE CLOSTER PARK GREEN STREETS PROJECT RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution 1) approving a Professional Services Agreement in the amount not to exceed $508,000 between the City of Salinas and the Wallace Group for the Closter Park Green Street PS&Es and 2) authorizing the use of APRA funds appropriated for Stormwater Green Infrastructure for the agreement with Wallace Group.
BACKGROUND:
Small amounts of rain throughout a watershed incrementally add up to large volumes of runoff downstream. Similarly, small changes to stormwater runoff treatment in a watershed can cumulatively result in significant improvements to overall watershed health. The lack of proper stormwater runoff management and treatment negatively affects public health/safety, economic stability/vitality, and the quality of life for urban dwellers, not to mention the environmental quality of local waterways. Effective and intensive Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) implementation not only helps to address the impacts associated with excessive stormwater runoff, but also provides a strong overall investment value through the generation of significant social and economic benefits for the community.
In the fall of 2020, the NPDES Division was looking for a good location to implement a “green street” project to 1) demonstrate the benefits of “greening” to the community, and 2) to implement stormwater treatment facilities to support the City meeting its TMDL requirements. To accelerate progress toward NPDES permit compliance and articulate the linkage between the City’s financial investment with its stormwater program and the multitude of community benefits, the City took a strategic step to develop a green street conceptual design for the area around Closter Park to serve as a showcase first implementation of a “green street” in Salinas (see attachment). The concept project design includes the design of three green streets around Closter Park (Beech St, Towt St, and Dewey St) including biofiltration cells with diverse, drought-tolerant native plants, trees, permeable pavement, crosswalk curb extensions, and traffic and pedestrian safety improvements including a traffic circle, raised crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps and storm drainage system improvements. Final PS&E documents are necessary to 1) move the project forward should the City be awarded the Urban Greening grant, and 2) to apply for other grants for the project.
The development of the final PS&Es will include the following tasks:
Project Management and Coordination
Site Assessment
Preliminary Design Report
Project Design (Plans, Specifications, Implementation Schedule, and Cost Estimates) Final PS&E Documents
Public Stakeholder Outreach
Construction Support
A request for proposals (RFP) for interested engineering design firms was advertised on September 1, 2022 on “PlanetBids” website for the preparation of final PS&Es as described above. Submittals were received from three firms. The firms submitting qualification/proposal statements were:
Wallace Group
Sandis
Lotus Water
The submittals were reviewed based on the following selection criteria listed in the RFP document:
Understanding of scope of work to be done.
Experience with similar work.
Quality of staff for work to be done.
Capability of developing innovative or advanced technologies.
Demonstrated technical ability.
Based on these criteria, the review panel comprised of three review panel members selected Wallace Group as the top firm. Wallace Group’s proposed total compensation for these services is $508,000.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Categorical Exemption. The City of Salinas has determined that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Section 15301, Class 1, Existing Facilities), because the project includes minor alterations of existing public street and sidewalks to improve the appearance, cleanliness, safety, and infrastructure within the City of Salinas. All work would be within the existing paved roadway and road right-of-way. There would be no expansion of use, vehicular capacity, or travel lanes in any of the roadways throughout the project area. Furthermore, based on an examination of the project, the project would not result in any impacts to the environment that would cause an exception to application of the Class 1, Existing Facilities, Categorical Exemption, to the Closter Park Green Streets Project, as described below. (a) Location. Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 are qualified by consideration of where the project is to be located – a project that is ordinarily insignificant in its impact on the environment may in a particularly sensitive environment be significant.
Exception (a) does not apply because the project falls within the Class 1, Existing Facilities, exemption (not Classes 3, 4, 5, 6 or 11). (b) Cumulative Impact. All exemptions for these classes are inapplicable when the cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time is significant.
Exception (b) does not apply because there are no plans or anticipated requirements to implement the same type of project in the same place over time; therefore, no cumulative impacts are anticipated. The project would enhance the appearance and safety of local streets to the public within the City. Furthermore, BMPs will be implemented throughout project construction to minimize potential impacts on environmental resources such as water quality and the community in the project area. (c) Significance Effects. A categorical exemption shall not be used for any activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances.
Exception (c) does not apply because there is not a reasonable possibility that the project would have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. Potential project effects would be typical construction-related effects (e.g., dust, traffic, noise) and would be temporary. As described above, the project construction specifications will include implementation of several BMPs and environmental protection measures to avoid and minimize potential construction-related effects. These include measures to reduce dust, protect water quality near storm drainages, and provide access or detours for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Once constructed, the project is not anticipated to result in significant effects from operation. The project would improve the safety and appearance of public roadways, without adding traffic lanes. The project would serve as an example of improvements that can be made to existing streets to help beautify public spaces, improve effluent stormwater quality, and enhance community connection. Overall, the project would contribute to beneficial improvements to the community and beautification of Salinas. (d) Scenic Highways. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may result in damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway. This does not apply to improvements which are required as mitigation by an adopted negative declaration or certified EIR.
Exception (d) does not apply because the project would not affect any scenic highway or result in damage to scenic resources within a state scenic highway. The project includes street beautification activities and sidewalk improvements to multiple streets identified within the project area. Highway 68, which is the closest designated California State Scenic Highway, is located approximately 2 miles outside of the project area to the west. The project elements would be entirely within paved roadways and sidewalks, and would not damage or alter any scenic resources, including the sloughs, trees, rock outcroppings, or historic buildings within a designated state scenic highway. (e) Hazardous Waste Sites. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.
Exception (e) does not apply because the project area (locations of the planned improvements) is not on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 (Cortese List). The EnvirStor and GeoTracker databases were checked on June 20, 2022; and there are no active hazardous waste sites located within 2,000 feet of the project area. (f) Historical Resources. A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.
Exception (f) does not apply because the project area (locations of the planned improvements) does not include any historic resources and is not part of the Salinas Historic District. Further, project implementation would be entirely within existing paved roadways or road right-of-way and sidewalks and would not affect any structures. Therefore, the project would not cause substantial adverse changes in the significance of a historical resource.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
The proposed project and agreement meet the City Council’s Strategic Plan Initiative of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
This project relies on coordination between the Public Works Dept. (Traffic, CIP Engineering, NPDES) and the Library and Community Services Department. NPDES Division will coordinate with the CIP Engineering and Traffic Divisions regarding the design of the project. NPDES Division will coordinate with the Library and Community Services Department to ensure design and construction of the Closter Park Green Streets project aligns with the construction of the Closter Park Renovation project, funded with Urban Greening grant funds.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
The total estimated cost for the scope of work contained in the Professional Services Agreement is not to exceed $508,000. The requested funds will be allocated from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds appropriated to the NPDES Division (Fund 3911.50.8192 – Stormwater Green Infrastructure).
ATTACHMENTS:
Closter Park Green Streets Concept Design
Resolution
Professional Services Agreement – Wallace Group Closter Park Green Streets PS&Es Page | 3
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