Agenda Item Wording:
title
Public Hearing (the first of two) to appropriate $2.7M of Measure N Funds for the Downtown Streetlight Project (CIP 1410-72000/CP0345-999).
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Deadline for Action: 5/2/2022 - 1st of two public hearings in order to allocate funds for award and start construction.
Submitting Department: Administration - CIP Engineering
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Eric Bons, Senior Civil Engineer, Eric.Bons@visalia.city, 713-4350
Frank Senteno, City Engineer, Frank.Senteno@visalia.city, 713-4331
Nick Mascia, Assistant City Manager, Nick.Mascia@visalia.city, (559) 713-4323
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that City Council conduct the first of two public hearings to amend the Measure N plan and appropriate $2.7M towards the Downtown Streetlight Project (CIP 1410-72000/CP0345-999) to address a shortfall in the Downtown Streetlight project’s budget.
Background Discussion:
On April 4, 2022, staff presented the bid results for the Downtown Streetlighting Project and the Downtown Pavement Rehabilitation Project for information. The April 4th Staff report also identified budget shortfalls in each project. This Public Hearing will focus solely on the Streetlight Project since the Pavement Rehabilitation’s project budget was resolved at that meeting. Council authorized staff to begin the Measure N amendment process for the additional appropriation of $2.7M towards the Downtown Streetlight Project (CP0345).
On April 7, 2022, the Measure N Oversight Committee reviewed and approved the recommendation to appropriate $2.7M of Measure N funds towards the Downtown Streetlight Project (CP0345). Staff is returning to City Council in accordance the city’s Accountability Ordinance (Ordinance 16-21) to hold two public hearings to authorize the $2.7M appropriation. The Notice for the first Public Hearing was published on April 15, 2022, as required in a newspaper of general circulation within 14 days of the regularly scheduled and appropriately noticed City Council meeting. The notice for the second Public Hearing will be published on May 2, 2022, within 14 days of the regularly scheduled and appropriately noticed City Council meeting.
Measure N Background:
In November of 2016, the voters of Visalia passed a ½ cent Sales Tax Override, Measure N - The Visalia Essential City Services Measure. Sales Tax from Measure N will provide for essential city services such as police and fire, as well as maintenance of parks and roads. The measure uses a detailed, 10-year plan which includes hiring of personnel, construction of capital projects and equipment purchases.
As part of the measure, Council adopted an Accountability Ordinance (Ordinance 16-21) to have a high degree of accountability when using Measure N funds. As a result, the following actions are necessary to amend the Measure N spending plan:
• City Manager makes a recommendation to City Council and makes changes as requested. (Authorization granted by City Council on April 4, 2022.)
• Comments and recommendation received by Sales Tax Oversite Committee. (Measure N Oversight Committee reviewed and approved the appropriation of the additional $2.7M of Measure N funds for the Downtown Streetlight Project.)
• Two public Hearings are held at regular Council Meetings to consider recommendation to amend expenditure plan (tonight’s 1 of 2 public hearings).
Downtown Streetlight Project History:
The Downtown Street Light Project consists of replacing a 70+ years old lighting system in Downtown Visalia with a modern lighting system that meet current industry standards. It’s important to note that the primary purpose of the project is to replace this outdated and unsafe high voltage (4,000-volt) electrical lighting system. This system, with aging and deteriorated assets, makes the repair and maintenance very unsafe for City maintenance staff. Therefore, the proposed project will replace the existing system with a new multi-functional streetlight system which will provide longer lasting serviceability, normal maintenance per industry standards, lowered operational cost, and an aesthetically pleasing finished product. In addition, the project also includes pavement rehabilitation and installation of joint trench facilities to take advantage of construction efficiencies and minimize construction disruptions in the future.
The Downtown Streetlight Project and the Downtown Pavement Rehabilitation Project were advertised together because they are complimentary projects that impact the same areas. The construction proposals were higher than the engineer’s estimate and additional construction funding is needed. The Downtown Streetlight Project will make use of additional Measure N funds to make up the construction cost difference. The Downtown Pavement Rehabilitation Project is making use of additional Senate Bill 1- Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (SB1 RMRA) Fund (113) and was approved at the April 4, 2022, City Council meeting.
Fiscal Impact:
The streetlight component of the Downtown project is funded by the Measure N (141) Fund with a total project budget of $6.9M.
The table below shows the budget summary for the Downtown Streetlight Project:
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Project Funding: |
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Measure N Fund (141) - Streetlighting: |
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$6,900,000 |
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Total Project Funding: |
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$6,900,000 |
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Project Costs: |
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Design Staff Time (Estimated) |
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$350,000 |
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Design -Consultant (QK Inc.) |
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$460,590 |
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Construction Management -Staff Time (Estimated) |
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$196,000 |
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Streetlight Procurement |
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$822,050 |
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Construction Management (NV5, Inc.) |
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$515,386 |
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Construction -Streetlighting (AC Electric, Not Awarded) |
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$6,279,318 |
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Construction Contingency (Estimated 15%) |
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$942,000 |
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Total Project Costs: |
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$9,565,344 |
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Summary: |
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Total Project Funding: |
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$6,900,000 |
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Total Project Cost: |
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$9,565,344 |
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Approx. Funding Needed: |
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($2,665,344) |
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Total Proposed Funding: |
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Measure N Fund (141) - Streetlighting: |
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$6,900,000 |
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Measure N Transfer Request: |
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$2,700,000 |
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Total Proposed Funding: |
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$9,600,000 |
Due to the identified budget shortfall and in order to complete the project for the Downtown Streetlight, staff has presented the request for the additional $2.7M to the Measure N Oversight Comment and received their approval to process the amendment to the Measure N Expenditure Plan. This is the first of two public hearings, which comprises the process for the amendment to the Measure N Expenditure Plan and the appropriation of the funds for the Downtown Streetlight Project.
Prior Council Action:
April 7, 2022 - The Measure N Oversight Committee reviewed and approved the Measure N amendment for the appropriation of $2,700,000 towards the Downtown Streetlight Project.
April 4, 2022 - City Council received the bid results for the Downtown Streetlight and Downtown Pavement Rehabilitation Projects for information. Authorized staff to begin the Measure N amendment process for the appropriation of $2.7M towards the Downtown Streetlight Project. Council authorized the appropriation of $2,141,800 of SB1 RMRA funds towards the Downtown Pavement Rehabilitation Project.
December 6, 2021 - City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with NV5, Inc. to provide the construction management services for the Downtown Streetlight Project and Pavement Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $644,233.00.
November 15, 2021 - City Council authorized the City Manager to purchase the streetlight poles for the Downtown Streetlight Project from AV Poles and Lighting of Lancaster, CA, in the amount of $822,050.25.
November 15, 2021 - City staff presented the preliminary construction staging plans for the Downtown Streetlight Project and Downtown Pavement Rehabilitation Projects.
June 7, 2021 - City staff presented the recommendation for the appropriation of $2.4M for the Downtown Streetlight Project to the second public hearing. The committee reviewed and approved the recommendations.
May 17, 2021 - City staff presented the recommendation for the appropriation of $2.4M for the Downtown Streetlight Project to the first public hearing. The committee reviewed and approved the recommendations.
April 22, 2021 - City Staff presented the recommendation for the appropriation of $2.4M for the Downtown Streetlight project to the Measure N Oversight Committee. The Committee reviewed and approved the recommendation.
March 15, 2021 - City Staff presented decorative streetlight options for the downtown streetlight project. City Council approved the recommendation for the layout option 3 and streetlight scenario 3 and Measure N amendment process to approve the appropriation of $2.4M for the Streetlight project.
December 07, 2020 - City Staff presented standards for installing Back Flow Preventors within the public right of way. City Council approved the recommendation for the standards.
July 21, 2020 - City Staff presented revised layout options for the Downtown Streetlight Project. City Council approved the recommendation for a core decorative streetlight style.
June 01, 2020 - City Staff presented layout options for the Downtown Streetlight Project. City Council requested additional information from City Staff.
October 21, 2019 - Council authorized award of the design contract for the Downtown Streetlight Project to Quad Knopf for an amount not to exceed $407,098.00.
October 15, 2018 - City Staff presented an update of the downtown streetlights project to City Council during a work session item.
April 16, 2018 - Council approved Resolution No. 2018-25 to designate various road projects for 2018/19 funding from the State of California Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Senate Bill SB1)
Other:
None.
Alternatives:
None
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to conduct the first of two public hearings on the proposed Measure N amendment to appropriate $2.7M of Measure N Funds for the Downtown Streetlight Project.
end
Environmental Assessment Status:
No NEPA Environmental Assessment required for this project.
CEQA Review:
Categorical Exemption, Section 15301(c), issued February 06, 2020, for the Downtown Streetlight Project.
Attachments:
Power Point Presentation.