____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
Agenda Item No: 2.h
Meeting Date: May 4, 2026
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Public Works
Prepared by: Mariana Sanchez, Junior Engineer
April Miller, Public Works Director
City Manager Approval: __________
TOPIC: LINCOLN AVENUE FROM SECOND STREET TO PALOMA AVENUE SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PARAMETRIX, INC. TO PROVIDE
DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR THE LINCOLN AVENUE FROM
SECOND STREET TO PALOMA AVENUE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $792,720 AND AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $567,720 FROM THE CITY GAS TAX FUND (206)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Parametrix, Inc. to provide design and environmental services for the Lincoln Avenue from Second Street to Paloma Avenue Safety Improvements Project (the “Project”) in the amount not to exceed $792,720 and authorizing a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $567,720 from the City Gas Tax Fund (206).
BACKGROUND:
The Project is located along San Rafael’s Lincoln Avenue Corridor, extending from Second Street to Paloma Avenue. As part of the 2024 Marin County Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP), a High Collision Network (HCN) was developed using collision data from 2017 to 2021 to identify roadway segments and intersections with elevated crash rates. The proposed Project includes multiple segments identified in the HCN, including the City’s highest-collision intersection at Lincoln Avenue and Mission Avenue, as well as other high-collision intersections along the corridor.
To improve safety, the Project will implement new striping and updated signal phasing to provide protected left-turn movements at signalized intersections. Additional enhancements include traffic signal upgrades, improved intersection lighting, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, and pedestrian crossing improvements, including curb ramp upgrades.
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On February 2, 2026, the City Council adopted a resolution approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute a Program Supplement Agreement with the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for $180,000 in Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Federal funds, Cycle 12, for the Preliminary Engineering (PE) phase of this Project.
ANALYSIS:
The City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for this Project on January 12, 2026, and received four proposals from qualified firms. After reviewing the proposals, all firms were invited to participate in a video conference interview hosted by the selection committee on February 24 and 25, 2026. Selection of the qualified firm was based on criteria specified in the RFP, including, but not limited to, completeness of the proposal, understanding of the project scope of work, ability to meet deadlines and operate within budget, relevant experience and success in similar projects, experience and quality of project team, and familiarity with federal procedures.
The selection committee found Parametrix, Inc. and its sub-consultants to be the most qualified consultant team for this Project.
Approval of the amendment to the PSA is consistent with the City Council’s Three-Year Strategic Plan, specifically Goal B.1, which is to develop and maintain an integrated multi-modal transportation network that serves users effectively and safely, and Goal B.2, which focuses on enhancing the City’s traffic safety policies and traffic management systems.
The recommended Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Parametrix, Inc. will provide professional services associated with the Project, including project management, public outreach, preliminary engineering, environmental compliance and permitting, right-of-way certification, plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&Es), and construction documents. Additional optional tasks in the RFP, including bid-phase and construction support services, will be evaluated before the construction award and are not part of the current PSA recommendation. City staff reviewed Parametrix’s fee proposal and found it to be complete and within industry standards.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommendations in this staff report will authorize the PSA with Parametrix, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $792,720 to complete the full design and environmental studies of the Project, including the preliminary engineering (PE), environmental (ENV), and right-of-way (ROW) phases.
During the course of negotiations with Parametrix for the PSA, City staff identified additional design needs for the Project related to utility relocations, additional curb ramp designs, additional survey requirements for right-of-way access, and additional required traffic signal upgrades.
Due to the expanded design scope, a supplemental appropriation of $567,720 from Gas Tax - Fund 206 (Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account, RMRA) is requested to cover the remaining costs to complete the Project's PE, ENVE, and ROW phases. There is sufficient unutilized funds within Fund 206 from RMRA to supplement this appropriation request.
The Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget (Gas Tax – Fund 206), approved by City Council on June 2, 2025, included appropriations totaling $225,000 for the Project’s PE, ENV, and ROW phases.
Additional funds for the CON phase will be appropriated in future fiscal years, following completion of the PE, ENV, and ROW phases and upon receipt of construction obligation authorization from Caltrans.
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OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider in this matter:
1. Adopt the resolution as presented.
2. Do not adopt the resolution and provide direction to staff.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Parametrix, Inc. to provide design and environmental services for the Lincoln Avenue from Second Street to Paloma Avenue Safety Improvements Project (the “Project”) in the amount not to exceed $792,720 and authorizing a supplemental budget appropriation in the amount of $567,720 from the City Gas Tax Fund (206).
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Draft Professional Services Agreement with Parametrix, Inc.
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PARAMETRIX, INC. TO PROVIDE DESIGN AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR THE LINCOLN AVENUE FROM SECOND STREET TO
PALOMA AVENUE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $792,720 AND AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $567,720 FROM THE CITY GAS TAX FUND (206)
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael (“City”) advertised and solicited a Request for Proposals (RFP) in accordance with the City’s Municipal code released on January 12, 2026, for the project entitled:
“Lincoln Avenue from Second Street to Paloma Avenue Safety Improvements Project”
City Project No. C44F26T002
the Department of Public Works received two proposals; and WHEREAS, staff reviewed the proposals and identified Parametrix, Inc. to be the most qualified firm; and
WHEREAS, the cost proposal from Parametrix, Inc. was found to be complete and within industry standards; and
WHEREAS, the project has received funding through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to perform an environmental assessment, complete design, and complete construction for the project; and
WHEREAS, funding in the amount of $225,000 to support the recommended Agreement is provided within the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 budget appropriations (the Lincoln Avenue from Second Street to Paloma Avenue Safety Improvements Project – Gas Tax Fund 206); and WHEREAS, supplemental budget appropriations are requested to support the remaining costs associated with completing the design of the Lincoln Avenue from Second Street to Paloma Avenue Safety Improvements Project, to be funded through the available balance within the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (Gas Tax - Fund 206).
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL RESOLVES as follows:
1. The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Parametrix, Inc. to provide design and environmental services for the Lincoln Avenue from Second Street to Paloma Avenue Safety Improvements Project in the amount not to exceed $792,720, in a form approved by the City Attorney and authorizing supplemental budget appropriations from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account.
2. The Director of Public Works or designee is hereby authorized to take any and all such actions and make changes as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose of this resolution.
I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, the 4th day of May 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
_____________________
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk