Subject: HENSLEY HISTORIC DISTRICT, W. SAN CARLOS,
AND E. SANTA CLARA PEDESTRIAN STREETLIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS
COUNCIL DISTRICTS: 3 & 6
Approval to reject all bids for the Hensley Historic District, West San Carlos, and
East Santa Clara Pedestrian Streetlighting Improvement Project, and authorization for the Director of Public Works to re-advertise and re-bid the project. CEQA: Exempt
BACKGROUND
The Hensley Historic District is a part of the Jackson-Taylor Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. The project boundaries of the District are defined as North Second, East Empire, North Sixth, and East Julian Streets (map attached). The perimeter of the District is based upon random locations of the individual properties surveyed for inclusion in the National Register of Historical Places.
The Hensley Historic District is distinguished by its variety and quantity of architecturally historic homes and street trees found predominantly within these boundaries. The proposed initial phase of the pedestrian scale streetlighting improvements is located on 3rd and 4th Streets between Empire Street and the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The West San Carlos Street pedestrian scale street lighting project site is located on W. San Carlos Street, between Wabash and Topeka Streets. West San Carlos Street is a neighborhood business district with a variety of retail commercial businesses. This particular section of West San Carlos Street is known for its variety of antique and specialty stores. Median island landscape and palm tree uplighting improvements have been completed in several phases from Meridian to Bascom Avenue since 1993.
The East Santa Clara Street pedestrian scale street lighting project site is located on East Santa Clara Street between 7th and 10th Streets and 23rd and 26th Streets. East Santa Clara Street, between 7th Street and Highway 101 is a Neighborhood Business District that has received several streetscape improvements over the past 15 years including street trees, street and sidewalk improvements, and commercial building façade treatments. The East Santa Clara Street business association selected pedestrian oriented areas within their Neighborhood Business District to receive the proposed streetlights.
These three project sites have been selected to receive streetlighting improvements that will provide aesthetic, ornamental lighting at a pedestrian scale ranging from 12 to 16 feet tall. The proposed luminaire is known as the “Single Acorn,” a name given for its resemblance to an acorn. This type of lighting has been implemented successfully in the downtown area and in neighborhood business districts. The three projects are proposed to be constructed on a concurrent schedule due to their similar scopes of work.
The scope of work for this project consists of the demolition of asphalt-concrete pavement and concrete pavement, removal of soil, traffic control, grading and compaction, installation of asphalt-concrete, concrete curb and gutter, concrete paving, electrical conduit and lighting, electrical service, topsoil, planting, irrigation, and decorative paving materials.
In addition to the base bid there are two add alternate bid items:
Add Alternate No. 1: Hensley Street Streetlights with Related Work
Add Alternate No. 2: Electrical Accessories for Festoon Lighting
Bids were received on May 24, 2001 with
the following results:
|
Contractor |
Base Bid |
Add Alt.
No. 1
|
Add Alt. No. 2 |
Total Bid |
Variances Amount |
Over/ (Under) Percent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blossom Valley Construction, Inc. (San José) |
$1,931,750 |
$16,700 |
$7,000 |
$1,955,450 |
$771,450 |
65 |
Engineer’s Estimate |
$1,150,000 |
$9,000 |
$25,000 |
$1,184,000 |
--- |
-- |
After reviewing and evaluating the individual bid items, staff recommends that the City Council reject the bid, following which staff will immediately re-bid the project.
The low bid submitted by Blossom Valley Construction Company, Inc. in the amount of $1,955,450 is 65 percent above the Engineer’s Estimate. A review of the individual bid items revealed that the cost submitted for all individual bid items was significantly higher than the Engineer’s Estimate.
There were eight contractors who purchased plans and specifications and who indicated interest in bidding the project. Six of the eight contractors were “C-10” licensed Electrical Contractors, and two were “A” licensed General Contractors. Each Electrical Contractor contacted after the bid opening indicated that they were interested in the project either as a subcontractor to a prime contractor or as a prime contractor. However, all Electrical Contractors stated that they were over committed with a backlog of work and had insufficient time to prepare a bid. Two contractors stated that they were unable to meet the City’s time frame of 150 calendar days to complete the project.
To improve the likelihood of receiving bids within the project construction budget, staff intends to make the following changes in the re-bid of the project:
1. Increase the number of calendar days to complete the project for each project site.
2. Increase the number of calendar days for advertisement to receive bids..
It is expected that a report on the re-bid of the project will be forwarded to the City Council in August 2001. If staff increases the number of calendar days for construction of the streetlighting project, it is expected that the completion of this project will be in July 2002, approximately four months later than the originally anticipated date of March 2002.
Preliminary designs for the street lighting
of the Hensley Historic District were presented to representatives from the
Hensley Historic District in February 2001.
A meeting with the District representatives was conducted at the project
site to finalize light post locations.
The project scope of work has also been presented to and approved by the
West San Carlos Street and East Santa Clara Street Neighborhood Business
Districts.
This proposed project was listed on the City’s Internet bid line and advertised in the San José Mercury News and San José Post Record. Bid packages for all Department of Public Works construction projects are routinely provided to a standard list of various contractor organizations, builder’s exchanges and disadvantaged business organizations, including United Minority Business Enterprises and the San José Minority Business Development Center.
This proposed project has been coordinated with the Departments of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement and Transportation and the Offices of Council District 3 and 6, the City Attorney, and the Risk Manager. In addition, the City received a written confirmation from the University of California Lick Observatory which stated they had no objections to the pedestrian scale streetlighting in this project.
COST IMPLICATIONS
1. COST OF RECOMMENDATION: Engineer’s Estimate: $1,150,000
2. COST OF PROJECT:
|
Project Development |
$ 0 |
|
|
Construction |
1,150,000 |
|
|
Construction Contingency |
56,000 |
|
|
Design and Construction Management |
228,000 |
|
|
TOTAL |
$1,434,000 |
3. SOURCE OF FUNDING: 450 – Redevelopment Agency Improvements
001 – General Fund
4. ESTIMATED START DATE OF CONSTRUCTION: October 2001
5. ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF CONSTRUCTION: July 2002
|
Fund: |
001 |
|
Appn: |
6615 |
|
RC: |
103273 |
|
Amount: |
$374,000 |
|
Budget Document: |
2000-2001 Appropriation Ordinance, section 2.26, item 7(j). |
|
Fund: |
450 |
|
Appn: |
6812 |
|
RC: |
113613 |
|
Amount: |
$630,000* |
|
Budget Document: |
2000-2001 Appropriation Ordinance, section 20.05, item 3(z18). |
|
Fund: |
450 |
|
Appn: |
6811 |
|
RC: |
113623 |
|
Amount: |
$430,000** |
|
Budget Document: |
2000-2001 Appropriation Ordinance, section 20.05, item 3(z16). |
* Includes PSM #240 for West San Carlos Street dated 10-11-00 in the amount of $42,000 and
Amendment #1 to PSM #240 dated 4-13-01 in the amount of $588,000 for a total amount of $630,000.
** Includes PSM #238 for East Santa Clara Street dated 10-11-00 in the amount of $41,000 and
Amendment #1 to PSM #238 dated 4-13-01 in the amount of $389,000 for a total amount of $430,000.
The City of San José Nondiscrimination Requirements are included in this project as required by Chapter 4.08 of San José Municipal Code.
Exempt.
RAJEEV BATRA
Acting Director, Public Works Department