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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: October 15, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Lynn Merrill, Director of Public Works
Department: Public Works
Subject: Approve a Task Order with Rick Engineering Company for Navigation Center Civil Engineering Design Work for a
total amount not to exceed $250,000 (Ward 1)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California:
1. Approve the Task Order with Rick Engineering Company for the Navigation Center in the amount of $200,000 (Project); and
2. Authorize the Project design contingency costs for unforeseen conditions in the total amount of $50,000; and
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents with Rick Engineering Company; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to expend the contingency fund, if necessary, to complete the Project.
City Manager’s Comments:
The City Manager recommends approval. The $50,000 contingency will only be expended if items approved by the City Manager.
Executive Summary
The proposed Task Order with Rick Engineering Company will initiate the civil engineering design work for site improvements for the Navigation Center. The scope includes, but is not limited to, land surveying, site layout, grading plan, utility plan, water quality 2 9
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documents, and landscaping plan.
Once the design is completed, the City will be able to proceed with advertisement and construction of the Navigation Center site improvements. These improvements will prepare the site for the arrival of the modular buildings that will make up the Navigation Center facilities. The total proposed design cost and contingencies will be paid for by previously allocated Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funds.
Background
The City of San Bernardino previously declared a Homeless State of Emergency in 2022 and recently renewed the emergency declaration. The city, through a variety of sources, has received $21,800,000 for the construction of a Homeless Navigation Center, to be located at the former School of Hope site, located at 796 East 6th Street within the City.
The Homeless Navigation Center is designed to provide emergency shelter and wrap- around services for the City’s homeless population.
The School of Hope site is a former active school site that provided a variety of services to special needs students from the mid-1980s to recently. The property was deemed no longer needed by the School District and was subsequently transferred to the City Municipal Water Department in 2022. The site formerly consisted of a u-shaped complex of classrooms and administrative buildings around a central internal courtyard area.
In 2022, the City, through the San Bernardino Municipal Water Department, contracted with L. Y. Environmental, Inc., of Redlands, California to conduct a comprehensive asbestos and lead base paint survey of the existing buildings as a precursor to demolition of the site. Two surveys were completed, and asbestos was identified in various locations within the building. During the demolishing the asbestos was removed and hauled away by the contractor to an authorized dumping site The City acquired the property from the Water Department in 2023 for use as the Navigation Center site.
On December 4th, 2024, the Mayor and City Council approved an agreement for Design Services and Purchase of Delivery of Good with Mandeville Modular in the amount of $10,093,027, including a 15% contingency budget. A Professional Services Agreement was also awarded to CREDE Construction Advisory in the amount of $1,091,148 for Development Management Services of the Navigation Center.
To expedite the completion of the Project, the existing complex of buildings at the former School of Hope site—where hazardous materials had been previously identified in a July 2022 report by L.Y. Environmental, Inc. was abated and fully demolished ahead of schedule as of July 21, 2025.
Discussion
Despite multiple extensions discussed during weekly coordination meetings, Mandeville Modulars has been unable to deliver the on-site civil improvement plans by the deadline previously established by the City. Therefore, the City has decided to proceed with the selection of on-call consultant to complete the designs necessary to prepare the Project site.
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On June 24, 2025, staff requested engineering design services proposals to construct site improvements for the Project. Staff reviewed the proposals for completeness. The lowest responsive proposal was from Rick Engineering Company.
List of Consultants (Original Proposals)
Rick Engineering Company Riverside, CA $192,200
IMEG Consulting Ontario, CA $199,540
Hernandez, Kroone & Associate (HKA) San Bernardino, CA $215,140 After a follow-up discussion between staff and Rick Engineering Company, revisions were made to the scope and fee to help ensure the Project needs are met. Staff recommend approving the Task Order to Rick Engineering Company to complete the engineering design for the Navigation center improvements
The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Research
Boundary Survey and Analysis
Existing Topography Check
Supplemental Topography (As
Needed)
Final Site Layout
Precise Grading Plan
6th Ave. Street Improvement
Plans
Onsite Utility Plan
IWater Net Analysis
Concept Layout of WQ, Detention,
& Drainage
Final Drainage Study
Final Detention Analysis
Final WQMP
Final WR Report Processing
SWPPP
Plan Processing
Meetings, Management, and
Coordination
Specifications and Estimate
To complete this scope of work Staff recommend allocating available Measure S Fund balance for the proposed design services. The cost of the Task Order is $200,000. An additional $50,000 is also recommended for contingencies. The total design services cost is $250,000.
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
The project is consistent with Key Target No. 3a: Improved Quality of Life – reduce the burden of the unsheltered through engagement, collaboration, and partnerships with other entities.
Fiscal Impact
The total fiscal impact associated with this action is $250,000. The funding will be allocated from the available HHAP Fund balance.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California:
1. Approve the Task Order with Rick Engineering Company for the Navigation Center in the amount of $200,000 (Project); and
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2. Authorize the Project design contingency costs for unforeseen conditions in the total amount of $50,000.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents with Rick Engineering Company; and
4. Authorize the City Manager or designee to expend the contingency fund, if necessary, to complete the Project.
Attachments
Attachment 1 Task Order with Rick Engineering Company
Attachment 2 Project Location
Ward:
First Ward
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
December 4, 2024 Award of Design Services and Purchase Agreement with Mandeville Modular for Site Design, Modular Design, and Purchase of Modular Units and Award of Professional Services Agreement with CREDE Construction Advisory for Development Management Services (Ward 1)
CC: Eric Levitt, City Manager