Item Number: 1
City Council / Board of Directors
Public Hearing(s)
Meeting of: August 19, 2025
Submitted By:
Fredy Bonilla, City Engineer
Subject:
2025 Citywide Street Improvements Project – Approve Notice of Exemption and Award of Construction Contract
Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council:
(1) Open and conduct a public hearing, and receive testimony regarding the proposed Project;
(2) Close the Public Hearing;
(3) Approve the Notice of Exemption and authorize staff to file the notice with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, and the County Clerk; (4) Adopt Resolution No. 25-065 to amend the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 budget to reflect an additional appropriation of $728,000 from Fund 250 and additional expenses in the amount of $728,000 from Fund 250; and
(5) Award a Construction Contract to Vance Corporation, in the amount of $4,950,661.32 for the 2025 Citywide Street Improvements Project, CC26-031.
Fiscal Impact:
The 2025 Citywide Streets Improvements Project (Project) includes four locations of proposed work that were budgeted individually. This action will result in a fiscal impact of $4,950,661.32. The Project will be funded through the following sources: SB1 (Fund 221), Measure I (Fund 250), Water (Fund 410), Sewer (Fund 425), and State Grant (Fund 230).
The Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) were included in the budgets for Fiscal Years (FY) 2023/2024, 2024/2025 and 2025/2026. The budgeted funds exceeding the contract amount for each project location will be allocated for construction management expenses, including but not limited to consultant services for special inspections, geotechnical materials testing, and construction surveying and staking. The Budget project account numbers ending in 60150 correspond to Ridgecrest Road; those ending in 60151 pertain to Roy Rogers Drive; the account number ending in 63010 is designated for Green Tree Boulevard; and those ending in 70050 are associated with Village Drive. 4 2
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An additional appropriation is required for one of the Project budget account codes.
Sufficient funds are available within all the remaining budget accounts to cover the planned expenses for the Project. The budget for Roy Rogers Drive (Project 60151) requires an additional appropriation in the amount of $728,000.00 for construction and construction management expenses. Adoption of Resolution No. 25-065 (Attachment A) will reflect an additional appropriation from Fund 250 Measure I and an additional expense, increasing the project budget by $531,006.25 to $1,259,006.25. There are sufficient funds in Fund 250 for the additional budget appropriation and expenditure; the current cash balance of Measure I is estimated to be $7,187,887.00. Funds remaining in each project budget account will return to the respective fund balance after the completion of the Project. Please refer to Table A below for a detailed breakdown of fund account codes, fund names, additional appropriation, available budget amounts, and the total available budget.
Table A
Funding Account
Codes
Fund
Name
Additional
Appropriation
Available
Budget
Total Budget
2214500-55315-60150 SB1 $1,200,000.00 $1,200,000.00
2504500-55315-60150 Measure I $1,027,062.11 $1,027,062.11 4104500-55315-60150 Water $30,000.00 $30,000.00
2214500-55315-60151 SB1 $1,200,000.00 $1,200,000.00
2504500-55315-60151 Measure I $728,000.00 $531,006.25 $1,259,006.25 4104500-55315-60151 Water $30,000.00 $30,000.00
4254500-55335-60151 Sewer $45,500.00 $45,500.00
2504500-55330-63010 Measure I $85,000.00 $85,000.00
2304500-55315-70050 Grant $250,000.00 $250,000.00
2504500-55315-70050 Measure I $308,000.00 $308,000.00
Total: $728,000.00 $4,706,568.36 $5,434,568.36
Strategic Plan Goal:
This project aligns with “Goal E: Invest in Infrastructure” in the City of Victorville Strategic Plan 2023-2026. The proposed project will prolong the life of public streets, improve accessibility, and safety on Ridgecrest Road, Roy Rogers Drive, Green Tree Boulevard, and Village Drive.
Background:
The Project includes four locations of proposed work, please refer to Attachment B (Vicinity Map) for the project locations and limits of work. The Project locations include:
(1) Ridgecrest Road from Bear Valley Road to Pahute Avenue (2) Roy Rogers Drive from Amargosa Rd to I-15
(3) Green Tree Boulevard from Coad Road to Ridgecrest Road (4) Village Drive from Puesta Del Sol Drive to Tawney Ridge Lane The locations include two road segment reconstruction projects, one sidewalk project, and one pavement restriping project. The scope of work will include full depth 4 2
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reconstruction and rehabilitation of approximately two one-half mile arterial road segments incorporating the placement of asphalt concrete pavement, aggregate base, geogrid, and earthwork. The scope of work will also include cold milling and export of asphalt concrete, installation and removal of pavement striping and markings, installation of metal hand railings and chain-link fencing, minor traffic signal modifications, and landscape restoration. Additional improvements will involve the demolition and construction of concrete curbs & gutters, cross gutters & spandrels, sidewalks, drive approaches, driveways, parkway drains, and ADA-compliant curb ramps.
Construction projects that may result in a significant and adverse change in the environment require an environmental review per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). It is a routine requirement to comply with CEQA guidelines before construction starts on a project. The City must review all public works projects to determine how they will comply with CEQA requirements before making a discretionary recommendation of approval of a construction project prior to award of a construction contract.
The California Code of Regulations Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3 provides guidelines for the implementation of CEQA. Article 5 of such guidelines identifies certain types of projects which have been determined not to have a significant effect on the environment and which are exempt from the provisions of CEQA. City staff evaluated the scope of these projects and determined they are Categorically Exempt under Article 19, Section 15301(c): Existing Facilities (Class 1) of CEQA guidelines. Each project location consists of developed roads with existing asphalt pavement, barren graded shoulders, and/or concrete improvements such as curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. The reconstruction, rehabilitation, and completion of the existing improvements are considered minor, as they do not propose any capacity increases or disturbance of existing native natural habitat.
Pursuant to Article 5, §15061, after determining that a project is exempt from CEQA, and once the project is approved by its governing body, the Notice of Exemption (Attachment C) will be recorded. This recording initiates a 35-day statute of limitations during which any party may file an appeal if they believe a categorical exemption is being improperly used to limit the possibility of legal challenge.
The improvements along Ridgecrest Road involves comprehensive reconstruction of the existing pavement to improve roadway conditions. Additionally, the project involves the installation of a new sidewalk segment on the east side of the road, just north of Bear Valley Road, to close an existing gap and complete pedestrian connections, thereby improving accessibility and safety. All non-ADA compliant curb ramps and driveway approaches will be upgraded to meet current ADA and City standards. Utility adjustments will be carried out to support the upgraded infrastructure and ensure smooth traffic operations. Ridgecrest Road is classified as an arterial roadway on a north-south alignment and carries a high volume of automobile traffic, accommodating approximately 19,000 vehicles per day. Subsections of the road segment proposed for reconstruction were constructed dating back to 1989. Over the past 35 years of service, some sections in this half-mile stretch of road have been resurfaced or widened with developments. The 4 2
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last major rehabilitation surface treatment for a small section of this road was completed in 2005. The current conditions of the roadway pavement exhibit various forms of distress, including, alligator cracking, shoving, potholes, raveling, and rutting, indicating that the asphalt and subgrade soils have reached the end of their design life. Furthermore, in the Pavement Management Report of 2024, the pavement condition index (PCI) survey found this segment of road to range from 26 to 35, considered to be a poor pavement condition.
The improvements along Roy Rogers Drive will include comprehensive reconstruction of existing pavement to enhance roadway durability and performance. As part of the project, one ADA-compliant ramp will be reconstructed to ensure accessibility for all users, including individuals with disabilities. A rockscape median will be constructed just east of Civic Drive to eliminate mid-block U-turns currently made over the existing plastic delineators which require frequent replacement, while also enhancing the corridor’s aesthetic appeal. Additionally, utility and signal adjustments will be implemented to accommodate the new infrastructure and optimize traffic operations, ensuring a safer and more efficient transportation environment. Roy Rogers Drive is classified as a super- arterial roadway on an east-west alignment. As such, it experiences a high level of automobile traffic, accommodating approximately 36,000 vehicles per day. Subsections of the road segment proposed for reconstruction were constructed dating back to 1991.
Over the past 34 years of service, some sections in this half-mile stretch of road have undergone pavement preservation treatments or roadway widening as part of adjacent development projects. The last major road improvement in this section occurred in 2008, in conjunction with the construction of the Desert Sun Plaza. Current conditions of the roadway pavement include distresses such as: block cracking, alligator cracking, shoving, potholes, and rutting which indicate the asphalt and subgrade soils have reached the end of their design life. Furthermore, in the Pavement Management Report of 2024, the pavement condition index (PCI) survey found this segment of road to range from 50 to 53, considered to be a fair pavement condition.
The restriping of Green Tree Boulevard will include lane adjustments designed to improve traffic flow and enhance driver safety. Significant traffic congestion during peaks hours of activity currently results in traffic being backed up from Ridgecrest Road to Hesperia Road. These modifications are designed to increase storage capacity of the eastbound approach to the intersection of Ridgecrest Road when the light is red, and provide smoother transitions for merging vehicles, reducing confusion and minimizing potential conflicts. In conjunction with the striping changes, updated signage will be installed to clearly communicate lane configurations and reinforce safe merging practices, contributing to a more efficient and secure driving experience along the corridor.
In July 2023, the Engineering Department submitted a grant application entitled “Village Drive Sidewalk Project” in response to the 2023 Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Call for Projects, under the Small Projects category for Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities. This category allowed for a maximum funding request amount of $250,000. In August 2023, the City Engineer received notification from SBCTA staff that the grant application had been selected for presentation to the Board of Directors for funding approval. On October 13, 2023, the Engineering Department was informed by SBCTA 4 2
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that the board approved the application, awarding the maximum grant amount of $250,000. A minimum local match of $308,000 was required and has been budgeted using Measure I funds for the project. The improvements along Village Drive will establish a continuous and safe concrete sidewalk for pedestrians between the intersections of Tawney Ridge Lane and Puesta Del Sol Drive, where the City recently constructed traffic signals. Approximately 90% of the frontage along this segment is already developed with residential lots, but with several sidewalk gaps remaining in between. The project will include removing and replacing existing driveway approaches to incorporate wheelchair bypasses that meet current City accessibility standards. Additional work will involve modifying portions of existing driveways on private property, and other existing improvements as required to construct a continuous sidewalk.
Discussion:
This project consolidates four (4) budgeted capital improvement projects into a single contract. The City Council approved the following projects in the FY 24/25 Budget:
Ridgecrest Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Bear Valley Road to Pahute Avenue, Project 60150) and Roy Rogers Drive Pavement Restoration Project (Amargosa Road to I-15, Project 60151). Funding for the Green Tree Boulevard Restriping Project (Project 63010) was included in the approved FY 25/26 Budget. Additionally, the Village Drive Sidewalk Project (Project 70050) was incorporated into the FY 23/24 Budget through a budget amendment, Resolution No. 23-083, which was approved by the City Council on December 5, 2023.
The project plans, special provisions, and bid package were designed and prepared inhouse by Engineering Staff. Construction management and standard inspections will also be performed by Engineering Staff. Special inspections will be conducted by a consulting firm under one of the On-Call Geotechnical and Engineering Testing Services agreements approved by the Council on March 5, 2024.
It is a routine requirement to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) before construction starts on a public works project. The Notice of Exemption describes the project activities and states that the project is categorically exempt under CEQA §15301(c) for the replacement and minor alteration of existing public infrastructure.
For the Roy Rogers Drive project, the estimated cost of construction proposed and approved in the FY 2024/25 Budget was for a scope of work to grind and cap the existing asphalt pavement with a thin overlay of new asphalt concrete pavement based upon the PCI ranking. After a thorough examination of the existing pavement by a geotechnical consultant, it was found the constructed road was structurally deficient to carry the load of the vehicles using it. The scope of work was changed to remove and reconstruct the structural section of the road to handle the weight of the vehicles. Improving the structural integrity of the road will provide a street with a longer life span. This change in the scope of work increased the cost of construction, exceeding the amount of Measure I funding budgeted for the project. As a result, an additional appropriation of Measure I funding 4 2
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from the unbudgeted Fund 250 balance is required to cover the additional construction and project management expenses.
The project was bid using formal bid procedures in accordance with Victorville Municipal Code §2.28.210 and the California Public Contract Code. Advertising of the project started on July 21, 2025. On August 12, 2025, three (3) bids were received and publicly read aloud. The bidders and bid results are shown below:
Company Base Bid Amount
Vance Corporation $4,950,661.32
Sully Miller Contracting Company $5,415,000.00
C.A. Rasmussen, Inc. $5,740,882.55
After a careful review of the bid proposals, staff determined that the lowest responsive, responsible bidder was Vance Corporation. The Engineer’s Estimate for the project before advertisement was approximately $4,491,000. The low bid came in at 1.89 percent above the Engineer’s Estimate.
Construction is likely to begin in September 2025 but could be postponed to the Spring of 2026. It is estimated the duration of the Project will be approximately eighty (80) working days, or four (4) months. The start date and total duration of the project will depend on weather conditions.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Notice of Exemption, adopt Resolution No. 25-065 to amend the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget appropriating $728,000 from Measure I for construction expenditures, and award a construction contract (Attachment D) in an amount of $4,950,661.32 to Vance Corporation, for the 2025 Citywide Street Improvements Project.
Staff is available for any questions Council may have.
Prepared By:
Sarah Mayne, Management Technician
Harry Mayo, Senior Civil Engineer
Attachments: A. Resolution 25-065
B. Vicinity Map
C. Notice of Exemption
D. Contract