SR 12-12-2023 5L
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: December 12, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.L
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Architecture Services
Subject: Award Construction Contract to RAMCO for the 7th Street Fencing Upgrade
and Activation Project
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing
Facilities), Section 15302 (Replacement/Reconstruction), Section 15304 (Minor
Alterations to Land), and Section 15311 (Accessory Structures) of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award Bid #SP2577 to RAMCO General Engineering Contractor for construction
services for the 7th Street Fencing Upgrade and Activation Project for the
Department of Transportation.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with RAMCO
General Engineering Contractor in an amount not to exceed $1,985,000
(including a $250,000 contingency).
4. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any necessary change orders to
complete additional work within contract authority.
5. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
section of this report.
Summary
The 7th Street Fencing Upgrade and Activation Project (Project) would deliver capital
improvements to Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus property located at 1620 6th Street. The
Project is funded through a combination of local funds and federal grant funds under the
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) FY21 Section 5307 1% Associated Transit
Improvement Funding Program. Improvements include fencing upgrades to adequately
secure facilities including the City’s fueling station at Olympic and Fifth and the
conversion of an underutilized twelve-foot landscape buffer along the west side of 7th
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Street into an active series of dog exercise, picnic, and mobility parking areas. Staff
recommends awarding a construction contract to RAMCO General Engineering
Contractor for the Project in an amount not to exceed $1,985,000 (including a $250,000
contingency). Construction is expected to begin by spring 2024 and be completed within
six months.
Discussion
The City of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (BBB) property located at 1620 6th Street is
bounded by 5th Street to the west, Colorado Avenue to the north, 7th Street to the east,
and Olympic Boulevard to the south. The site presently contains the BBB’s
administration building, maintenance facilities, staff and bus parking, and fueling station.
The site is adjacent to Downtown Santa Monica’s Expo light rail station and a major
BBB bus stop that provides regional connectivity via Route 7 and Rapid 7. The BBB
property and its immediate vicinity fall within the Transit Adjacent land-use district
designated in the City’s Downtown Community Plan.
The BBB property’s fencing along the west side of 7th Street north of Olympic
Boulevard is at the end of its useful life and requires removal and replacement. The
fueling station located at the northeast corner of 5th Street and Olympic Boulevard has
often been vandalized and requires new fencing with motorized vehicular access gates
and a pedestrian access gate for maintenance. By making these upgrades, City
facilities would be adequately maintained and secured, and would result in ongoing cost
savings. Further, in support of the Downtown Community Plan vision for vibrant, publicly
accessible open spaces and amenities to meet the growing needs of the Downtown
neighborhood, the underutilized twelve-foot landscape buffer along the west side of 7th
Street would be converted into open green space designed for dog exercise as well as
separate areas for downtown residents, visitors, and employees to meet, picnic or pick
up or drop off an e-bike or e-scooter from a shared mobility device drop zone. See
Figure 1 below for project location and context.
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Figure 1: Project Location
Funded through a combination of local funds and federal grant funds under the FTA
FY21 Section 5307 1% Associated Transit Improvement Funding Program, this project
would deliver the following capital improvements:
• Replace existing 7th Street fence and gates and increase visibility between
southeast surface parking lot and sidewalk.
• Install new fencing at the fueling station area with motorized vehicular access
gates and a pedestrian access gate. Westbound Olympic Boulevard would be
reconfigured to create a dedicated right turn lane into the fueling station.
• Create four fenced and gated dog exercise areas (two areas for large dogs, an
area for small dogs, and an area for injured/in-training dogs). New dog exercise
areas would include a sprinkler system, pet drinking fountains, pet waste
stations, dog play elements, seating, lighting, and signage.
• One picnic area with on-site movable furniture, trees, and shade devices.
• Removal of existing panels in the decorative wall at Colorado Avenue to increase
visibility. Finish framed openings consistent to existing design.
• Designated shared mobility e-bike/e-scooter drop zone.
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• Shade trees, landscaping improvements, and plant relocation.
Low maintenance and low-cost solutions were considered throughout design. Ongoing
maintenance costs are anticipated to be nominal increases, if any, given that Big Blue
Bus already maintains trash and landscape in the area, as well as currently funds extra
security details that may be curtailed after successful activation. Construction is
expected to begin by spring 2024 and be completed within six months.
Engagement
On September 1, 2020, the City issued a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain
professional design services for the Project. On January 12, 2021, Council awarded
RFP #2577 to SWA Group and authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a
professional services agreement with SWA Group in an amount not to exceed $158,000
(including a 10% contingency). On June 24, 2021, staff and the consultant team hosted
a virtual public workshop and invited the community and stakeholders to provide input
on draft concept plans. On July 19, 2021, staff presented to and received Architectural
Review Board (ARB) approval for the project. The design work incorporating community
and stakeholder input is complete.
Vendor Selection
Bidder Recommendation
Best Bidder RAMCO General Engineering Contractor
Evaluation Criteria Price, Experience and Technical Competence
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.180
Submittals Received
Vendor Total
(base bid and alternate bids)
RAMCO General Engineering Contractor $1,984,496.50
Access Pacific, Inc. $2,706,901.50
Axiom Group $3,057,959.00
C.S. Legacy Construction $3,127,223.33
Bid Data
Date
Posted Posted On Advertise In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
09/12/23 City’s Online Santa Monica 41 10/11/23
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Bidding Site Daily Press
Best Bidder Justification
Staff recommends RAMCO General Engineering Contractor as the best bidder based
on bid price and experience and technical competence. The recommended bidder has
demonstrated the ability to perform and complete quality work on past projects for the
City of Santa Monica.
Environmental Review
The bid award for the 7th Street Fencing Upgrade and Activation Project is exempt from
CEQA pursuant to Sections 15301 (Class 1 Existing Facilities), Section 15302
(Replacement and Reconstruction), Section 15304 (Alterations in Land), and Section
15311 (Accessory Structures) of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301 of CEQA
Guidelines provides exemption for the minor alteration of existing public or private
facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use. Section 15302 provides exemption
for the replacement of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be
located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same
purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. Section 15304 provides exemption of
minor public or private alterations in the condition of land and/or vegetation. Section
15311 provides for the construction of minor accessory structures that are accessory to
institutional facilities. The project would make improvements to the existing BBB
property and Olympic Boulevard, including the installation of new restriping/painting,
lighting, replacement fencing, landscaping, and open space area. Therefore, the project
qualifies for exemption under Sections 15301, 15302, 15304, and 15311. In addition,
none of the exceptions specified in Section 15300.2 of CEQA Guidelines would apply
that preclude the use of this CEQA exemption. The project site is not located in a
sensitive environment, would not have a significant effect on the environment, would not
damage scenic resources, would not be located on a hazardous waste site, and would
not cause a change to historic resources. Therefore, this project is categorically exempt
from CEQA.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
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06/23/20 (Attachment A) FY 20-22 Biennial Capital Improvement Program Budget —
7th Street Fencing Upgrade Project
01/12/21 (Attachment B) Award Request for Proposal SP2577 and enter into
Agreement with SWA Group for Design Services
06/22/21 (Attachment C) FY 21-23 Biennial Capital Improvement Program Budget —
Addendum to FY 20-22 CIP Budget — 7th Street Fencing
Upgrade Project
09/28/21 (Attachment D) Repealed Resolution #10244 (CCS) and Adopted Proposed
Revisions to the City’s Off-Leash Dog Area Policy to Include
Rules for the Off-Leash Dog Area at the BBB Property
06/27/23 (Attachment E) FY 23-25 Biennial Capital Improvement Program Budget —
Addendum to FY22-24 CIP Budget — 7th Street Fencing
Upgrade Project
Below is a table showing Council approved changes in project budget over time, as well
as the change included in this report.
Total Project Budget – 7th Street Fencing
Meeting Date(s) Description Amount
Added
6/12/18 Initial Project Budget $495,000
6/23/20 and 6/22/21 Expanded Scope Based on Community Input $982,789
6/27/23 Increase Due to Cost Escalation and Inflation $300,000
Total Project Budget To Date $1,777,789
12/12/23 New Appropriation to Award Contract $400,000
Revised Total Project Budget $2,177,789
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
To accommodate the contract amount, administrative costs, and work completed to
date on the design contract, staff seeks authority to increase the total project budget by
appropriating $400,000 of Federal Section 5307 reimbursable funds from the Big Blue
Bus Fund.
FY 2023-24 CIP Budget Changes
Additional Appropriation of Funds Requested
Account # Amount
C6007380.689000 $400,000
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Staff seeks authority to award a contract with RAMCO General Engineering Contractor
for construction services for the 7th Street Fencing Upgrade and Activation Project as
follows:
Contract Request
FY 2023-24 Budget
Request Amount
CIP Account # Total Contract
Amount
$1,985,000 C6007380.689000 $1,985,000
Total $1,985,000
Prepared By: Linda Cogswell, CIP Project Manager
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. June 23, 2020 Staff Report (Web Link)
B. January 12, 2021 Staff Report (Web Link)
C. June 22, 2021 Staff Report (Web Link)
D. September 28, 2021 Staff Report (Web Link)
E. June 27, 2023 Staff Report (Web Link)
F. Oaks Initiative Form - RAMCO General Engineering Contractor
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Packet Pg. 379 Attachment: Oaks Initiative Form - RAMCO General Engineering Contractor (6112 : Award Construction Contract to RAMCO for the 7th