TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7006 for Bellflower Boulevard, between Pacific Coast Highway and Atherton Street; award a contract to Sequel Contractors, Inc., of Santa Fe Springs, CA, in the amount of $1,786,611, and authorize a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $178,661, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,965,272; authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments;
Increase appropriation in the Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund
(SR 181) in the Public Works Department (PW) by $397,084, offset by reimbursement grant revenue; and
Accept Categorical Exemption No. CE 14-125. (Districts 3,4)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into a contract with Sequel Contractors, Inc. (Sequel), for street improvements on Bellflower Boulevard, between Pacific Coast Highway and Atherton Street, which is in need of rehabilitation (Exhibit A). The rehabilitation work consists of replacing damaged curbs, gutters, driveways, alley entrances, and sidewalks; tree trimming and root shaving; reconstructing deteriorated pavement by cold milling and resurfacing; and installation of reflectorized K-71 flexible post delineators, restoration of pavement markers, markings, traffic striping, signage and curb paint. This project will eliminate one northbound lane on Bellflower Boulevard between Atherton and Pacific Coast Highway for construction of a Class IV bikeway on Bellflower Boulevard, creating a bikeway separated from vehicular traffic. The Class IV bikeway will provide for connectivity to local Long Beach activity centers that are included within the City’s approved Bicycle Master Plan. Construction of the bikeway is supported by a grant award in the amount of $397,084 made available under the Caltrans Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA) Grant, which provides funding for bicycle projects. The City Council authorized the City Manager to apply for, and accept, this grant on January 5, 2010.
The bid was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on March 8, 2017, and 4,317 potential bidders specializing in construction services were notified of the bid opportunity. Of those bidders, 73 downloaded the bid documents via the City’s electronic bid system. The bid document was made available from the Purchasing Division, located on the seventh floor of City Hall, and the Division’s website at www.longbeach.gov/purchasing <http://www.longbeach.gov/purchasing>. A bid announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division’s weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 22 local, minority, and women-owned business groups. Bid documents were also sent to several trade publications and plan rooms catering to these groups within the construction industry. A total of five bids were received on April 5, 2017. Of those five bidders, none were Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) or Long Beach Businesses (Local), one was a certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE), and one was a. Sequel Contractors Inc., of Santa Fe Springs, CA (not DBE, MBE, WBE or Local), was the lowest responsible bidder.
Local Business Outreach
In an effort to align with the City’s outreach goals, Long Beach businesses are encouraged to submit bids for City contracts. The Purchasing Division assists businesses with registering on the PlanetBids database to download bid specifications. Through outreach, 386 Long Beach vendors were notified to submit bids, of which eight downloaded and one submitted a bid. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the bidder pool.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on June 7, 2017 and by Budget Analysis Officer Julissa José-Murray on June 29, 2017.
SUSTAINABILITY / ENVIRONMENTAL
The old asphalt material to be removed under this contract (approximate 8,670 tons) will be recycled into new asphalt or utilized as base material on other street projects. The street will be resurfaced with asphalt containing up to 20 percent recycled material. Finally, 650 tons of road base made from recycled concrete, rock, sand, and asphalt will be utilized in this project, and all concrete work will include recycled waste ash, diverting these materials from landfills.
This project includes the construction of a Class IV bikeway on Bellflower Boulevard, providing residents with more recreational and health benefits achieved by cycling. The project will also allow for residents to use bicycles as an alternate mode of transportation, resulting in less vehicle usage and a reduction of air pollution harmful to the environment.
In conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act, Categorical Exemption No. CE 14-125 was issued for this project (Exhibit B).
COMPLETE STREETS ASSESSMENT
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 1358 (the California Complete Streets Act), and as part of the implementation of the Mobility Element of the Long Beach General Plan, the City’s practice is to conduct a complete streets assessment for all roadway construction projects. The project site, Bellflower Boulevard between Pacific Coast Highway and Atherton Street, is a mixed-use area, zoned for community commercial automobile-oriented, institutional, park and single-family residential. It currently has four-foot to ten-foot wide sidewalks, five bus stops served by one Long Beach Transit route, and bike lanes on both sides of the street. The bike lanes are being widened and updated to current standards. The current infrastructure encourages the use of multi-modes of transportation by motorists, bicyclists, public transit passengers, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The project site has landscaping areas along the sidewalks. Currently, the tree well spacing is between 25 feet and 40 feet.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7006 and award a contract concurrently is requested on July 18, 2017, to ensure the contract is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost for this project is estimated at $2,576,412, which includes the contract award amount of $1,965,272, including contingency and the cost for design, construction, construction management, labor compliance, and project oversight. This project is supported by $1,400,000 in Federal MAP-21 funds, $779,328 in State Gas Tax funds, and $397,084 in BTA grant funds. The BTA grant is not currently appropriated. Accordingly, the appropriation increase of $397,084 is requested in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Department of Public Works (PW), offset by grant reimbursement revenue. There is no cost match associated with this grant.
Approval of this recommendation will provide continued support to our local economy. The number of additional local jobs created by this project will not be known until the contractors complete their hiring and construction has commenced.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
CRAIG A. BECK
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER