Santa Monica, California Council Meeting: January 23, 2001

To: Mayor and City Council

From: City Staff

Subject: Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract with Kabbara Engineering for an Amount Not to Exceed $194,400, for Project Design Services for the 4th Street Traffic Plan and the Colorado Boulevard Median (Mid City Traffic Plan)

Introduction

This report recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Kabbara Engineering for an amount not to exceed $194,400 (including a 15% contingency), to provide project design services for the 4th Street Traffic Plan between Pico Boulevard and the south City Limits, and a landscaped median along Colorado Avenue between Stewart Street and Centinela Avenue.

Discussion

On February 15, 2000, in conjunction with a review of residential traffic management, the Council approved the 4th Street Traffic Plan between Pico Boulevard and the south city limits. The plan includes median modifications, curb extensions, enhanced crosswalks, and a traffic circle at the intersection at Strand.

East of Stewart Street, Colorado Avenue has a structure and function similar to Broadway, where a median is being constructed as part of the Mid City Traffic Plan and the Crosswalk Enhancement Program. Colorado Avenue, like Broadway, has been affected and will continue to be affected by increased traffic due to the development in the Special Office District. Recent input from residents indicates that the construction of a median along the residential section of Colorado would have a beneficial effect. As part of the project management and design services, staff will conduct a community meeting to gauge support for a Colorado Avenue median between Stewart Street and Centinela Avenue. Should the neighborhood support the proposed design, staff will request an appropriation for construction funding from the Special Office District Mitigation Fund.

Staff issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for project design services for the 4th Street and Colorado Avenue projects. RFP's were sent to six firms and two proposals were received. An interdepartmental committee interviewed and evaluated the two consultants.

Staff recommends that Kabbara Engineering be selected to design the 4th Street Traffic Plan and Colorado median. They and their subconsultants demonstrated the best overall understanding of the projects and scope of work, and have designed similar projects for other public agencies in Southern California.

Budget/Fiscal Impact

This contract will be funded from existing CIP accounts. The 4th Street portion will be charged to the Neighborhood Traffic Measures account which is funded from the General Fund. The Colorado Avenue portion will be charged to the Mid City Traffic Plan account which is funded from the Water Garden and Colorado Place Traffic Mitigation Fees.

Kabbara Engineering Contract:

Project	Costs (Including 15% Contingency	Account Number/Description
Colorado Median	$ 81,700	C01027098.589000 (Mid City Traffic Improvements)
4th Street Traffic Plan	$112,700	C01084100.589000 (Neighborhood Traffic Measures)
TOTAL	$194,400

Recommendation

It is recommended the City Council:

1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Kabbara Engineering for an amount not to exceed $194,400, to provide project design services for the design of the 4th Street Traffic Plan between Pico Boulevard and the south City Limits, and a landscaped median Colorado Avenue between Stewart and Centinela Avenue.

2. Authorize the Director of Planning and Community Development to issue any change orders to complete additional work within budget authority and in accordance with the Administrative Instruction on change orders.

Prepared by: Suzanne Frick, Director of Planning and Community Development

Ron Fuchiwaki, Traffic Operations Manager