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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-08-22 - AGENDA REPORTS - DESIGN CONTR AWARD NEWHALL (2)Agenda Item: CITY OF SANTA CLARITA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval: CONSENT CALENDAR Item to be presented by: Christopher Price DATE: August 22, 2006 SUBJECT: AWARD OF DESIGN CONTRACT FOR DOWNTOWN NEWHALL RESTRIPE PROJECT DEPARTMENT: Community Development RECOMMENDED ACTION Redevelopment Agency award the design contract change order to Advantec Consulting Engineers, Inc. for the preparation of Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS & E) for the Downtown Newhall Restripe Project; Transfer funds from Account No. 3610-8001 to Downtown Restripe Project Number S2016901-8001, in the amount of $50,000 and authorize a 10 percent contingency expenditure in the amount of $10,000 (no contingency was added to the original contract of $49,500) for a total of $109,500 and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval. BACKGROUND The City of Santa Clarita Redevelopment Agency's (RDA) approval and adoption of the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan (Plan) became effective on December 22, 2005. The Plan creates the framework and development code necessary to revitalize what was once the "Old Town" of Newhall into a thriving pedestrian oriented shopping, dining, and entertainment district. One of the first physical changes to be made under the Plan is aimed at creating a calmer, pedestrian friendly environment along the stretch of San Fernando Road that will plant the seed that will eventually grow into the City's new "Main Street." This will be accomplished by removing a traffic lane from San Fernando Road in the downtown area and replacing it with angled parking . In order to remove that lane provisions must be made to accomodate the existing commuter traffic through the area. While the Architects of the Plan (Moule & Polyzoides) continue to work with City staff and APPROVED sub -consultants on the design of the permanent Streetscape improvements, Advantec Consulting Engineers has already begun the preliminary analysis and design of improvements to Railroad Avenue. The award of this change order will provide for the complete design of all remaining aspects of the restripe project, enabling staff to shift the majority of "commuter" traffic from San Fernando Road onto Railroad Avenue through the downtown area. The work under way, together with this change order will allow these specialized traffic engineers to prepare plans that will remove a lane of traffic from San Fernando Road and replace it with striped angled parking for the benefit of patrons and businesses. Modifications to signals, median islands, and some curb and gutter will be necessary to accomplish this, and parking along the East side of Railroad Avenue will likely need to be eliminated once these plan are executed. All of these changes and impacts were identified and discussed during the public participation process that created the Plan, however additional public meetings will be held as the process moves forward. The design of this complex Public Works project will take approximately four months from the award of this contract. Staff anticipates that an agenda item to award the construction contract would be brought before the agency board during one of the first meetings of 2007. Construction is anticipated to take three to five months after the award of that contract. On Friday July 7, 2006, City staff received proposals from the following consultants: Katz, Okistu & Associates Tustin, CA Advantec Consulting Engineers Diamond Bar, CA Staff interviewed both responding consultants during the weeks of the 10th and the 17th and recommended that the City Manager award a contract to Advantec Consulting Engineers Inc. for the initial stages of work. Staff now recommends that Advantec Consulting Engineers, Inc. be awarded a change order for this project in order to complete the entire traffic re -configuration project for Downtown Newhall. This firm has delivered several significant projects for the City and other agencies in Southern California. The references indicated high marks on their performance and quality of work. Their proposal cost was well within the range of staffs estimate. As the implementation process continues and begins to include more investment from the private sector, the then complete streetscape plans will be incrementally constructed. Much like a graphic novel artist begins with the lines that define his subject matter and follows up later with the colorful art that brings life to his work, this striping project will remodel the vehicular patterns of the project area so that the streetscape will then be able to help bring new life to Downtown Newhall. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other actions as determined by the Redevelopment Agency. FISCAL IMPACT Funds for this project will be located in Project No. 52016901-8001 in the amount of $109,500. Funds for the eventual construction of these improvements have been earmarked by the RDA for this specific purpose and should be adequate to provide for the completion of this entire project.