Agenda Item: 11
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: October 28, 2025
SUBJECT: VIA PRINCESSA PARK - PHASE IA, PROJECT P3033 - PLANS,
SPECIFICATIONS, AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Shannon Pickett
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Approve the plans and specifications for the Via Princessa Park – Phase IA, Project P3033.
2. Award a construction contract to James McMinn, Inc., for Phase IA Rough Grading in the amount of $1,019,400 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $152,910, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,172,310.
3. Award a professional services contract to Michael Baker International, Inc., for environmental monitoring and surveying services in the amount of $343,720 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $34,372, for a total contract amount not to exceed $378,092.
4. Award the professional services contract to Psomas, to provide construction support services in the amount of $295,660 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $29,566, for a total contract amount not to exceed $325,226.
5. Amend the design services agreement and authorize an increased expenditure authority for permit fees, training, and flagman services with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority in the amount of $316,030 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $31,603, for a total amount not to exceed $347,633.
6. Authorize executing a contract with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians to provide tribal monitoring services in the amount of $60,000 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $6,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $66,000.
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. Additionally, in 2015, the site was identified in the Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP) Implementation Plan as a desirable location for a regional treatment facility to help meet the City’s water infiltration requirements.
The City Council awarded design contracts for Via Princessa Park on November 23, 2021, and October 11, 2022. The project includes four full-sized multipurpose fields, four pickleball courts, sports field lighting, a playground and natural play area, a restroom building, landscaping and irrigation, additional parking spaces, and an infiltration facility.
The project will be constructed in multiple phases. Phase IA construction includes the rough grading and clearing and grubbing. Phase IB will include the construction of the railroad undercrossing for park access, Honby Channel culvert extension, and infiltration facility. Phase II will construct the various park amenities, including the restroom building and parking lot improvements.
The overall scope of the project accommodates the City’s anticipated future recreational needs, is consistent with the stormwater infiltration requirements outlined in the Upper Santa Clara River EWMP, and supports the Building and Creating Community theme of the City’s five-year strategic plan, Santa Clarita 2025.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements were previously completed when the draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration’s (IS/MND) availability and public comment period, was duly noticed through the posting of a Notice of Completion (November 9, 2023) and a Notice of Intent (November 13, 2023) on the State Clearinghouse website (SCH# 2023110299), as a legal notice in the Santa Clarita Signal (newspaper), Los Angeles County Clerk CEQA Notice website (Filing #2023243939), notices posted at the location, and the City’s Planning Division’s website. In addition, hard copies of the entire IS/MND were made publicly available at the Valencia Library, City Clerk’s Office counter and the Planning counter within City Hall. The 30-day public comment period began on November 13, 2023, and continued through December 12, 2023. Comments were considered and responses to comments assembled.
The IS/MND and the Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program were finalized and adopted by City staff on January 3, 2024. The documents are available on the City website <http://santaclarita.gov/ViaPrincessaParkCEQA>.
Construction Contract
An invitation to bid was published and circulated via the City’s e-procurement system, BidNet, on September 16, 2025. The City transmitted the solicitation to 2,240 vendors on BidNet, of which 108 vendors downloaded materials. A total of 13 bids were submitted and opened on
October 14, 2025. The results of the bids are shown below.
Company Location Bid Amount
James McMinn, Inc. Riverside, CA $1,019,400
Miller Equipment Co., Inc. Lancaster, CA $1,215,804
Toro Enterprises, Inc. Oxnard, CA $1,276,821
Staples Construction Company, Inc. Ventura, CA $1,625,083 Urban Habitat Palm Desert, CA $1,903,659
C.A. Rasmussen, Inc. Valencia, CA $2,345,300
Remedial Transportation Services Shafter, CA $2,420,245 MDB General Engineering, Inc. San Diego, CA $2,693,302
Lee Construction Co. Simi Valley, CA $2,916,405
Summer Construction, Inc. Santa Paula, CA $3,162,540
Union Engineering Company, Inc. Ventura, CA $3,445,084
Doja, Inc. Ontario, CA $3,550,700
CSI Services San Pedro, CA $5,276,700
Staff recommends the project be awarded to James McMinn Inc., the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. This contractor possesses a valid contractor’s license and is in good standing with the Contractors State License Board. The contractor’s bid was reviewed for accuracy and conformance to the contract documents and was found to be complete. The bid proposal adheres to the project's plans and specifications and is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
The requested contingency will cover the cost of unforeseen site conditions such as potential utility conflicts and fees, abandoned utilities not shown in record drawings, field adjustments and investigations, including potholing for utility locations and coordination with other agencies, and additional work requested by the City or other permitting agencies.
While the City maintains a Support of Local Businesses policy that can be utilized by the City Council when warranted, the City is governed by the California Public Contract Code with regard to public works project procurement. In this type of procurement, the California Public Contract Code does not permit a city to utilize a Support of Local Businesses policy and instead requires the contract be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Environmental Support Services Contract
The City conducted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit proposals from qualified firms to provide environmental support services for the Via Princessa Park project. The RFP was published and circulated via the City’s e-procurement system, BidNet, on September 9, 2025.
The City transmitted the solicitation to 3,401 vendors on BidNet, of which 111 vendors downloaded the RFP. A total of four companies provided proposals for consideration.
These proposals were reviewed and evaluated based on each company’s ability to meet the specific needs of the City. An evaluation panel, comprised of staff from the Public Works Department, scored the responses using the following categories of weighted criteria:
• Consultant qualifications and overall project team experience (30 percent) • Project understanding (20 percent)
• Proposed methodology and ability to meet the scope of work (20 percent) • Responsiveness to the RFP and thoroughness of proposal (15 percent) • Overall value and cost (10 percent)
• References (5 percent)
The evaluation panel scored the responses based on a 100-point scale, with the results outlined below:
Rank Company Location Score
1 Michael Baker International, Inc. Long Beach, CA 90
2 Wildscape Restoration, Inc. Ventura, CA 86
3 Helix Environmental Planning, Inc. Irvine, CA 86
4 Chambers Group, Inc. Costa Mesa, CA 82
In reviewing proposals, the evaluation panel awarded the highest score to Michael Baker International, Inc. (MBI). The evaluation panel determined that MBI’s proposal offered the best overall value to meet the environmental support needs.
MBI demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the project needs and provided a detailed scope of work and approach to the project. Based on their experience with similar projects, and the completeness of their proposal for this project, staff recommends awarding the professional services contract to MBI for Phase IA environmental support services. The proposal is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
The requested contingency will cover the cost of additional surveys and monitoring requested by the City or other permitting agencies.
Construction Support Services Contract
The City conducted an RFP to solicit proposals from qualified firms to provide a two-phase design for the Via Princessa Park project. The first design phase was for the Master Plan and Access Study, and the second design phase was for the Final Design and Construction Support.
The RFP was published and circulated via the City’s e-procurement system, BidNet, on August 30, 2021. Firms were evaluated based on the entire scope of services. The City Council awarded the initial concept design contract for Master Plan and Access Study services for a total amount not to exceed $1,097,645 to Psomas at the November 23, 2021, City Council meeting. The City Council awarded the final design services contract for a total amount not to exceed $4,347,598 to Psomas at the October 11, 2022, City Council meeting. Psomas is the Engineer of Record for the Via Princessa Park project.
In order to provide appropriate construction support services for Phase IA construction, it is recommended that Psomas be awarded a contract in the amount of $325,226, including contingency for unforeseen design constraints, design modifications requested by the City or other permitting agencies, and field investigations. This will allow Psomas to provide construction support, surveying, geotechnical inspection and testing, request for information responses, submittal reviews, and recommended design modifications as Phase IA of the project is constructed. The proposal is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) Design Services Agreement A design services agreement with SCRRA was authorized at the October 11, 2022, City Council meeting for a total amount not to exceed $437,000. The design services agreement was for SCRRA to provide plan reviews, permit approvals, and the required training and flagging for design operations, such as surveying, utility investigation, and geotechnical work.
In order to allow construction access across the at-grade railroad crossing during Phase IA construction, an amendment of the current agreement with SCRRA and an increased expenditure authority in the amount of $347,633, including contingency for additional flagging requested by the City, is recommended to provide the right-of-entry permit and the required training and flagging for construction operations. The design services agreement is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
Tribal Monitoring Services Contract
As part of the CEQA process and adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project, tribal monitoring is required for the grading operations at the site which exceed five feet in depth.
Tribal monitoring is consistent with AB52 requirements and is intended to monitor the site for any cultural artifacts that may exist.
The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians is the sole source for tribal monitoring services for this project. Based on the anticipated scope of work and time required to monitor grading and excavating activities, staff recommends executing a tribal monitoring services contract with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians for Phase IA in the total amount of $66,000, including contingency for additional monitoring requested by the City or other permitting agencies. The proposal is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
Project Budget
The City Council appropriated $34,500,000 for this project upon adoption of the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget for Phases IA and IB. The proposed actions represent $1,585,943 for construction and other agency costs, $703,318 for construction support, and $180,000 for project administration costs for Phase IA. Project administrative costs include staff time, project management, public works inspections, environmental inspections and support, utility fees, and labor compliance monitoring. The remaining budget will be used for the construction, construction support, and project administration of Phase IB.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adequate funds are available in project expenditure accounts P3033259-516101 (Miscellaneous State Grants), P3033262-516101 (Prop A Park Bond), P3033271-516101 (Measure W Municipal Fund), P3033274-516101 (Measure W Regional Fund), and P3033723-516101 (Facilities Fund) to support the recommended actions and associated project costs.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Bid for James McMinn, Inc. (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) Proposal for Michael Baker International (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) Proposal for Psomas (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) Proposal for SCRRA & Original Agreement (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) Proposal for Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)