City Council Meeting: April 25, 2006

Agenda Item: 1 N  

To:                   Mayor and City Council 

From:              Craig Perkins, Director – Environmental and Public Works Management Department

Subject:          Professional Services Agreement for 20th & Cloverfield Boulevard Street Improvements

 

Recommended Action

It is recommended that the City Council:

1.  Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement with Ahbe, in an amount not to exceed $450,000 for the design of 20th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard Improvements; and

2.  Authorize the City Engineer to issue any necessary modifications to complete additional work within budget authority.

 

Executive Summary

The project site is located on 20th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard, between the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) and Pico Boulevard.  Both are heavily traveled streets within City boundaries.  The project consists of improving pedestrian and vehicular accessibility by addressing safety, traffic, and aesthetic needs of these main arterials in the City.  Streets, sidewalks, and street pedestrian lighting will be enhanced.  As part of the project, staff will host a series of public meetings to present the project concept and solicit opinions, which will be reflected in the final recommended design.  The total budget impact for the professional services agreement will not exceed $450,000.

 

On April 11, 2006, Council did not accept the recommended design firm. The current recommended design firm was among the three firms evaluated by staff. 

 

Discussion

Background

In June 2001, consultants were retained for the purpose of preparing a feasibility study to improve 20th Street and Cloverfield Boulevard safety, accessibility, and aesthetics between the I-10 and Pico Boulevard.  Preliminary concept design alternatives were developed but not reviewed with the Pico community stakeholders. The project became temporarily inactive until the current fiscal year.

 

Recently, staff circulated a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a design firm that would conduct a public outreach process with Pico community stakeholders to develop plans for street and pedestrian lights, street trees and landscaping, street pavement, sidewalks and extensions, crosswalks, and street furniture in the project area.

 

Contractor/Consultant Selection

A Request for Proposals (RFP) for design services was posted from June 23, 2005 to July 29, 2005 on the City’s web site.  The RFP packet was requested and issued to six firms for design services: Lawrence R. Moss, Amphion, Rios & Associates, Ahbe, Melendrez, and Zimmer Gunzsul Frasca Partnership.  Three proposals were received from Lawrence R. Moss, Amphion, and Ahbe.  A selection committee composed of staff from the Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Planning and Community Development Administration Divisions reviewed the proposals.  All three firms were then invited to make individual presentations to the committee.  The selection criteria included the firm’s understanding of the project’s scope, direct experience on similar projects, approach to the work, technical competence, qualifications of the proposed staff and the ability to meet the desired time frames.  In light of concerns raised by the City Council at the April 11, 2006 Council meeting, staff reviewed the second and third proposals and recommends Ahbe, the second ranked firm.

 

Ahbe has extensive experience working with many governmental agencies on a variety of complex and large-scale streetscape projects within the public sector.  Ahbe was the prime consultant for a major streetscape project for the City of Palmdale and created the master plan design guidelines, including landscape design for the streetscape and medians.  Furthermore, the firm has completed similar projects such as the Birch Street Streetscape which included hardscape improvements, slope stabilization and street trees and Brea Boulevard Streetscape where Ahbe established the streetscape design guidelines including hardscape paving, street trees and furnishings.  Ahbe’s design on the Brea Boulevard Streetscape reflects the historic themes of the City.

 

City staff contacted the reference agencies and all respondents reported that the firm met the clients’ needs.  In addition, all work was completed in a timely and cost-efficient manner while maintaining consistent quality.

 

Community meetings and project design is scheduled for summer 2006 in order to finalize project design and construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2007.  Construction will take approximately nine months to complete.

 

Public Outreach

Staff will host a series of meetings with stakeholders and the public to solicit input and develop the project concept.  Community meetings and project design activities will occur over the next few months in order to finalize a recommended project design to be presented to City Council for final approval.  Once a design is approved, it is anticipated that the project will commence in summer 2007.  Public input will be reflected in the final recommended design. 

 

Budget/Financial Impact

The total cost of this professional services agreement is not to exceed $450,000.  Funds in the amount of $450,000 are available in the following accounts:

C170522.589000

20th St. and Cloverfield Blvd.

  $50,000

C040522.589000

20th St. and Cloverfield Blvd.

$400,000

 

 

 

 

Total Available

$450,000

 

 

 

Prepared by:

Spiros A. Lazaris, P.E., Civil Engineer

 

 

 

Approved:

 

Forwarded to Council:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Craig Perkins,

Director – Environmental and Public Works Management Department

 

 

P. Lamont Ewell

City Manager