Agenda Item: 16
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: June 28, 2022
SUBJECT: NEWHALL RANCH ROAD BRIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL
MITIGATION, PROJECT R1006 - AWARD CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACT
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Shannon Pickett
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Award a construction contract to HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc., for the Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Environmental Mitigation, Project R1006 in the amount of $1,074,046 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $107,405, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,181,451.
2. Authorize a one-time transfer of funds in the amount of $951,111 to the Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Environmental Mitigation, Project R1006 from the following accounts:
• $695,875 in Miscellaneous Federal Grants funds (Fund 229) from the McBean Parkway Bridge Environmental Mitigation, Project R1005 expenditure account R1005229-516101 to expenditure account R1006229-516101; • $148,507 in Valencia Bridge & Thoroughfare funds (Fund 303) from the McBean Parkway Bridge Environmental Mitigation, Project R1005 expenditure account R1005303-516101 to expenditure account R1006303-516101; and • $106,729 in Miscellaneous Federal Grants funds (Fund 229) from the Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Widening over San Francisquito Creek, Project S1039 expenditure account S1039229-516101 to expenditure account R1006229-516101.
3. Appropriate one-time funds in the amount of $343,634 from the Miscellaneous Federal Grant Fund (Fund 229) to expenditure account R1006229-516101 and increase Miscellaneous Federal Grant revenue account 229-442409 by $343,634.
4. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
The Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Environmental Mitigation project will implement streambed restoration within the areas of the Santa Clara River (River) and San Francisquito Creek (Creek) to mitigate the permanent impacts resulting from the Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Widening project, as authorized through the environmental permits.
In accordance with the provisions of the Natural River Management Plan (NRMP), this project will remove, maintain, and monitor exotic, highly invasive vegetation, such as Arundo donax (Giant Reed) and Tamarix spp (Salt Cedar). Mitigation will occur in three areas, described as (A), (B), and (C) on the attached location map. The NRMP evaluates proposed projects and their permanent impacts along the River, and is a joint Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Study that includes authorizations through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Streambed Alteration Agreement, and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board Waste Discharge Requirements.
The highly invasive, non-native vegetation from the areas within the River has overgrown and displaced the native vegetation resulting in diminished habitat for wildlife and over consumption of limited groundwater. By abating and managing the new growth and re-growth of the invasive vegetation, native plants will re-establish in the area and, in time, native habitats will return.
Another benefit to the abatement of the invasive, non-native plants is the reduction of their potential contribution to wildfires. These plants, when dry, are highly combustible and, when growing in a concentrated area, have contributed to the spread of wildfires.
The first year of the Newhall Ranch Road Bridge Environmental Mitigation project will include the removal of non-native vegetation, and the remaining five years will provide ongoing maintenance for the streambed restoration to ensure complete abatement and promote the recruitment of native species that will support indigenous wildlife. This project supports the Sustaining Public Infrastructure theme of the City of Santa Clarita’s (City) five-year strategic plan, Santa Clarita 2025.
On February 22, 2022, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was prepared and posted on BidNet. On March 24, 2022, the City received three proposals. Staff reviewed and scored the firms on a 100- point scale as follows:
Rank Company Location Score
1. HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. La Mesa, CA 88.33
2. Gothic Landscape, Inc. Santa Clarita, CA 84.00
3. Habitat Restoration Sciences, Inc. Vista, CA 83.33
The scoring system was based on the following criteria: an understanding of the project’s objectives and responsibilities, approach to the required work, consultant’s previous experience with similar projects, experience working within the Santa Clarita Valley, qualifications of the project team and their resources, and organization of the proposal.
HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. (HELIX) demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the project’s needs and provided a detailed scope of work and approach to the project. The contractor possesses a valid C27 State Contractor’s License and is in good standing with the Contractors State License Board. In addition, HELIX employs personnel who possess active Category B licenses for landscape maintenance and Category F aquatic licenses. Based on their experience and qualifications with previous projects and the completeness of their proposal, staff recommends awarding the maintenance contract to HELIX. The requested contingency will be used for any unforeseen conditions that may occur during the contract period.
California Government Code 4526 prescribes the selection of professional environmental services to be based on demonstrated competence and professional qualifications necessary for the satisfactory performance of the services required and does not authorize the selection of professional environmental services based on costs. Staff opened HELIX’s cost proposal and negotiated a final contract at a fair and reasonable price for the services requested in the RFP.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended actions, adequate funds will be availabe in expenditure accounts R1006229-516101 and R1006303-516101 to support the recommended contract.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Bid Proposal for HELIX Environmental Planning, Inc. (available in the City Clerk’s Reading File)