The council on this week voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to execute a contract with Jordahl Construction to complete the Five Corners Pedestrian Improvement Project.
The project would be for a maximum sum of $4,737,805.
City Manager David Maistros would also be authorized to amend the contract once the scope of work is final, according to the staff report by CIP Director Bob Greenlaw and Management Analyst Devin Hart.
The city manager could, at his discretion, approve additional items up to $300,000.
Councilmember Michael Ponce made the motion to approve the proposal.
“The reason I wanted to make the motion is that this started in 2008 when I was first on the council and for us to take 16 years to get here … ” Ponce’s voice trailed off. Someone in the room chuckled.
Councilmember Lisa Lavelle seconded the motion.
Background
“The City of Avalon’s Five-Corner Comprehensive Pedestrian Project is a METRO grant funded project proposing complete streets design improvements to the intersections of Tremont Street, Avalon Canyon Road, Country Club Drive, and Sumner Avenue,” according to the city’s website.
“The improvements include: new sidewalks, safer crossings, comfortable and accessible public transit stops, traffic calming, landscape beautification, and wayfinding,” according to cityofavalon.com.
The scope of the project has been revised.
“The revised scope meets all of the criteria outlined in the grant agreements, but removes approximately $349,790 of work associated with construction of City Hall parking, and a development pad to be used for a future workforce housing project,” according to Hart and Greenlaw.
“To preserve the funding allocation from CTC [California Transportation Commission] – $3.21 million — and to continue to advance this project toward completion, City Staff requests the City Council authorizes the City Manager to execute a contract with Jordhal Construction, Inc., for the completion of the Five Corners Pedestrian Improvement Project on the condition the contract may not exceed the sum $4,737,805,” according to Hart and Greenlaw.
According to their staff report, the total project cost is below the budgeted $5.3 million.
Speaking to the Avalon City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Greenlaw said the project began before he got there and he has been here more than seven years.
“Covid really slowed things down,” Greenlaw said.
He said electrical, gas, and water utilities were going to be done by subcontractors who are off the Island. He cited those as factors that were driving prices “way out of whack” from original estimates for the project.
“We reduced some items down,” Greenlaw said.
An alternative he mentioned was having the intersection paved instead of putting out pavers.
“It takes some of the nice look away but it also reduces the price down by about $85,000,” Greenlaw said.
“We’re looking for anything that would reduce this down,” Greenlaw said.
Utility costs were driven in part because of development and by designer selection of where to put them, according to Greenlaw.
“What we’re trying to do is get to that award so that we can award a contract to Jordahl Construction so that we can tell the California Transportation Commission that we have awarded the project,” Greenlaw said.
“Then we can work within our procurement standards to still do the things we need to do,” Greenlaw said.
Greenlaw asked the council to delegate some authority to the city manager.
“The reason’ we’re doing that is just because we want to be more nimble as we work through it,” Greenlaw said.
Councilmember Lavelle suggested looking at using funds from the cog from the housing project. Lavelle also suggested talking to county officials to see if any art funding was available. She also asked if the city could talk to tree people about replacements for the trees and foliage once everything is done.
Greenlaw said they have a landscape plan and staff anticipated using native species.
“We work with the Conservancy on that and what they have as far as stock,” Greenlaw said.
