SR-513-009 (2)~_ . .
~ ~;tya, City Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: April 25, 2006
Agenda Item: ~~
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 2ptn
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 20t" 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
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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,
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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.
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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 ineetings 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.
Budqet/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 20t" St. and Cloverfield Blvd. $50,000
C040522.589000 20th St. and CloverField Blvd. 400 000
Total Available $450,000
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Prepared by:
Spiros A. Lazaris, P.E., Civil Engineer
Approved:
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Craig Perki ,
Director - Environmental and Public
Works Management Department
ity Manager
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