Agenda Item Wording:
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Award Design Contract - Authorize the City Manager to award a professional design services contract to 4Creeks Inc in the amount of $264,114 for the design of Modoc Basin and the Linwood Embankment, appropriate $50,800 from the 221 Storm Construction Fund and $35,100 from the 261 Waterways Fund, and authorize the City Manager to execute a Measure R Supplemental Agreement with the Tulare County Transportation Authority (TCTA).
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Prepared by:
Katherine Woodhull-Fuget, Associate Engineer, Katherine.Woodhull-Fuget@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4447; Eric Bons, Senior Civil Engineer, Eric.Bons@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4350; Chris Crawford, City Engineer, Chris.Crawford@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4331; Jason Huckleberry, Engineering & Building Director, Jason.Huckleberry@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4495
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that Council authorize the City Manager to award a professional design services contract to 4Creeks Inc for the design of Modoc Basin and the Linwood Embankment in the amount of $264,114, appropriate $50,800 from the 221 Storm Construction Fund and $35,100 from the 261 Waterways Fund, and authorize the City Manager to execute a Measure R Supplemental Agreement with the Tulare County Transportation Authority (TCTA) to utilize funds from the Measure R Trailways Fund (132) towards this project.
Summary:
This project will regrade the existing Modoc Basin located on the north side of Riggin to accommodate the extension of Linwood Street to the north. Design will include deepening the basin east of the Linwood alignment, grading the Linwood embankment, filling in the basin west of Linwood, a landscaped recreational trail around the basin, and potentially a parking lot for trail users.
Background Discussion:
Modoc Basin, located on the north side of Riggin Ave between Demaree and Akers, was acquired from the Modoc Ditch Company (MDC) by the City of Visalia in 2016. The basin serves as both a stormwater retention basin and a groundwater recharge basin and can receive flows from Modoc Ditch. The City has an operational agreement with MDC regarding the use of Modoc Ditch for stormwater purposes which permits MDC to use Modoc Basin for water balancing and recharge purposes from June through October each year as long as their use does not interfere with use by the City.
In order to accommodate incoming development north of the basin, this project will regrade the basin for the future extension of Linwood St. Dirt from the eastern portion of the basin will be used to fill in the western portion and the alignment of Linwood St. This will result in a deeper basin with a reduced total footprint. While the basin depth will be increased (a total depth of 25 ft is anticipated), staff intend to keep the side slopes as gradual as possible, and do not anticipate fencing the basin at this time.
Consultant Selection and Scope of Work
On April 25, 2025, the City Council awarded the On-Call Civil Engineering Services contract (RFQ 24-25-29) to six (6) qualified consulting firms: Peters Engineering Group, 4Creeks, Inc., Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group, TRC Engineers, Inc., Lane Engineers, Inc., and CWE.
4Creeks, Inc was selected from the approved list of on-call consultants to submit a proposal for design services related to this project. They are very familiar with the project vicinity, having designed the widening of Riggin Ave as well as a number of the neighboring subdivisions. Following review of their proposal, scope refinement, and fee negotiations, 4Creeks’ proposed fee of $264,114 is determined to be reasonable.
4Creeks’ scope of work includes preparing plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for the regrading of Modoc Basin, the Linwood embankment, and a recreational trail around the regraded basin. Full design of Linwood street is not included in the project scope, and only grades to road subgrade will be included in the PS&E. Engineering expects complete street design to be done in conjunction with incoming development to the north.
Designed trail improvements will include a decomposed granite (DG) trail and landscaping at a minimum, with an asphalt trail adjacent to the DG and a parking lot for trail users if space permits. Construction of trail improvements will depend on funding availability.
The proposed fee of $264,114 includes the optional tasks of bidding and construction support services, which would be provided on a time and materials basis not to exceed $16,796.
Fiscal Impact:
This project is funded by multiple funds: SD Construction (221), Groundwater Recharge (224), Transportation Impact Fee (241), and Measure R Trailways (132). Based on proportional share of estimated construction costs, the design phase costs should be distributed as shown in the table below:
|
Fund |
% Cost Share |
Design Phase Total |
Budgeted Funds |
Fund Surplus (Deficit) |
Appropriation Request |
|
221 - SD Const |
37% |
$ 156,300 |
$ 105,500 |
$ (50,800) |
$ 50,800 |
|
224 - GW Recharge |
21% |
$ 91,400 |
$ 105,500 |
$ 14,100 |
|
|
241 - TIF |
9% |
$ 38,000 |
$ 367,500 |
$ 329,500 |
|
|
132 - MR Trails |
25% |
$ 104,800 |
$ 2,270,000 |
$ 2,165,200 |
|
|
261 - Waterways |
8% |
$ 35,100 |
$ - |
$ (35,100) |
$ 35,100 |
The total design phase cost is estimated to be $425,600 when considering staff time and other soft costs associated with the project design phase. Based on the proportional distribution of costs, staff requests an additional appropriation of $50,800 from fund 221 SD Construction and $35,100 from fund 261 Waterways for their share of the design phase.
Staff intends to submit a CIP request in the upcoming budget cycle for construction.
Council previously approved the appropriation of Measure R Trailways funds to fund the trail component of the project as part of the adoption of the 2-year Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24 . A Measure R Supplemental Agreement is required to authorize the city to utilize Measure R Trailways funds towards this project. Staff recommends that City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a Measure R Supplemental Agreement with the TCTA allowing the use of $104,800 of Measure R Trailways funds towards the design phase of the project.
Prior Council Action:
February 1, 2016 - City Council conducted the second reading of and adoption of Ordinance 2016-01 for the sale to Modoc Ditch Company (MDC) of two City-owned properties located on the Saint John’s River and authorized the City Manager to execute the sale as part of the Basin Exchange Agreement.
January 19, 2016 - City Council conduced the first reading of Ordinance 2016-01 for the sale to MDC of two City owned properties located on the Saint John’s River as part of the Basin Exchange Agreement.
October 19, 2015 - City Council in closed session authorized the execution of the Basin Exchange Agreement with MDC for the Modoc Basin property.
Other: None
Alternatives: None Recommended
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to to award a professional design services contract to 4Creeks Inc in the amount of $264,114 for the design of Modoc Basin and the Linwood Embankment, appropriate $50,800 from the Storm Construction Fund and 35,100 from the Waterways Fund, and authorize the City Manager to execute a Measure R Supplemental Agreement with the Tulare County Transportation Authority (TCTA) to utilize funds from the Measure R Trailways Fund.
Environmental Assessment Status: NEPA Environmental Assessment is not needed for this project.
CEQA Review: Staff intend to prepare a Notice of Exemption for this project.
Deadline for Action: 12/15/2025
Attachments:
1. Project Vicinity Map
2. Ownership Disclosure
3. 4Creeks Modoc Basin Proposal