Agenda Item: 5
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: October 11, 2022
SUBJECT: VIA PRINCESSA PARK, PROJECT P3033 - AWARD DESIGN
CONTRACT
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Shannon Pickett
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Extend the current contract and authorize an increased expenditure authority with Psomas for design services for Via Princessa Park, Project P3033, in the amount of $3,952,362 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $395,236, for a total additional contract amount not to exceed $4,347,598.
2. Execute a design services contract with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (operating as Metrolink) in the amount of $437,000 for plan and permit approvals, training, flagman services, and design operations.
3. Award a professional services contract to MNS Engineers, Inc., to provide staff augmentation for design review services for Via Princessa Park, Project P3033, in the amount of $70,640 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $7,064, for a total contract amount not to exceed $77,704.
4. Award a professional services contract to Michael Baker International, Inc., to provide California Environmental Quality Act services for Via Princessa Park, Project P3033, in the amount of $415,074 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $41,507, for a total contract amount not to exceed $456,581.
5. Authorize the City Manager or designee to approve permitting fees and associated contracts with sole source utilities and rail authorities for Via Princessa Park, Project P3033, in a total amount not to exceed $600,000.
6. Appropriate $1,000,000 from the Measure W Municipal Fund (Fund 271) to Via Princessa Park Design Expenditure Account P3033271-516101.
7. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clarita (City) owns approximately 33 acres of property along the south bank of the Santa Clara River, east of Whites Canyon Road and north of Via Princessa, as shown on the attached location map. In 2008, this site was incorporated into the City’s overall Park Master Plan as a potential future park location within the community. The current demand within the City for field use, tournaments, and special events far exceed the available multipurpose field space. Additionally, in 2015, the site was identified in the Enhanced Watershed Management Program Implementation Plan as a desirable location for a regional treatment facility to help meet the City’s infiltration requirements. The overall scope of the project helps meet the City’s anticipated future recreational needs and supports the Building and Creating Community theme of the City’s five-year strategic plan, Santa Clarita 2025.
On August 30, 2021, a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a two-phase design was published for the Via Princessa Park project. Phase 1 was a Master Plan and Access Study and Phase 2 is Final Design and Construction Support. The RFP asked firms to identify their relevant experience with similar projects and demonstrate their design approach for this project. As part of their RFP response, each firm was asked to address the work effort and provide a separate cost for the Park Master Plan and Access Study and Final Design and Construction Support. The final design includes the complete plans, specifications, and engineer’s estimates for construction. City staff evaluated this information as part of the overall assessment of each firm during their review of the proposals.
The City received three proposals and based on the evaluation criteria set forth in the proposal for both phases and the recommendation by City staff, the Phase 1 Park Master Plan and Access Study design contract was awarded to Psomas at the November 23, 2021, City Council meeting.
The Park Master Plan and Access Study was recently completed and includes the addition of four full-sized multipurpose fields, the installation of sports field lighting, a playground, an infiltration facility, a restroom building, landscaping and irrigation, and 33 additional parking spaces. Also included is a grade-separated railroad undercrossing for pedestrian and vehicle access from the existing parking lot to the proposed park location. Vehicle access will be restricted to park maintenance, security, and emergency response vehicles only.
An extension of the current contract with Psomas for Phase 2 will provide for Final Design and Construction Support necessary for the development of the future park. The scope includes architectural, engineering, and landscape design services required to prepare construction documents and provide bid assistance to support the proposed site improvements. The requested design contingency will cover the costs of additional design efforts due to unforeseen conditions or conflicts uncovered during site investigations and design coordination.
California Government Code 4526 prescribes the selection of architectural and engineering 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 architectural and engineering services based on cost. City staff was able to reach an agreement with Psomas for a fair and reasonable price.
The additional appropriations will cover fees associated with the project, such as California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) services, staff augmentation for plan review, Envision certification, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) approval, and associated utility fees. The additional appropriation will also cover the increase in railroad design fees due to the complexity of coordination with Metrolink.
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) Design Services Agreement A portion of the project is within SCRRA’s right-of-way and will modify SCRRA facilities, thus requiring a design service agreement between the City and SCRRA. The City will prepare design plans and submit them to SCRRA for plan review and permit approvals. SCRRA will provide the required training and flagging for design operations, such as surveying, utility investigation, and geotechnical work.
Solicitation Process for As-Needed Staff Augmentation
In October 2019, the City conducted a formal RFP process to solicit proposals from qualified firms to provide professional engineering services in eight categories of work on an as-needed basis to support the City’s Capital Improvement Projects division. The RFP responses were reviewed and evaluated based on each firm’s ability to meet the specific needs of the City. The RFP was downloaded by 137 companies and in the category of Staff Augmentation, nine responses were received. Of those, six were selected to enter into multi-year as-needed contracts.
Among those was MNS Engineers, Inc.
MNS Engineers, Inc., was selected based on their pre-qualifications and availability to meet the project deadlines and milestones. City staff recommends awarding MNS Engineers, Inc., a professional services contract for staff augmentation services for the Via Princessa Park project.
Solicitation Process for As-Needed CEQA Services
In May 2020, following a formal RFP process for as-needed CEQA services, the City Council awarded multi-year contracts to five consultants: Dudek, Michael Baker International, Inc., ICF Jones & Stokes, Inc., Envicom Corporation, and SWCA Environmental Consultants. For the CEQA needs of the Via Princessa Park project, staff requested proposals from the five aforementioned consultants and received two responses. City staff reviewed and scored the firms on a 100-point scale as follows:
Rank Company Location Score
1. Michael Baker International, Inc. Long Beach, CA 94
2. Dudek Pasadena, CA 85
The scoring system was based on the following criteria: an understanding of the scope and approach to the required work and key development tasks, the consultant’s experience with similar projects, qualifications of the project team and their resources, and organization of the
proposal. Michael Baker International, Inc., demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the project needs and provided a detailed scope of work and approach to the project. The firm identified key elements that will need to be addressed during the CEQA process. City staff recommends awarding Michael Baker International, Inc., a professional services contract for CEQA services for the Via Princessa Park project.
Agency Contracts and Permitting Fees
The additional requested spending authority will cover various anticipated permitting fees, not to exceed $600,000 in the aggregate, associated with sole source utilities and rail authorities, including, but not limited to, Los Angeles County, Southern California Edison, Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, and UPRR. These permitting fees are non-negotiable and are based on established rates set by the agencies. Once the CEQA and permitting process is complete, staff will request authorization from the City Council to obtain mitigation for the project.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended actions, budget amount in expenditure account P3033271- 516101 (Measure W Fund) will total $6,330,248 and would be available to support the recommended contracts.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Proposal for Psomas (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) Proposal for MNS Engineers, Inc. (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) SCRRA Design Support Fees (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) Proposal for Michael Baker International (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)