HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-02 City Council (27)TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Manager’ Rep r
10
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
DATE:AUGUST 2, 1999 CMR:322:99
SUBJECT:REJECTION OF BIDS - LUCIE STERN COMMUNITY CENTER
COURTYARD AND WALKWAYS PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION
Staff requests that Council reject all bids received for the Lucie Stern Community Center
Courtyard and walkways project and permit staffto rend the project with a revised scope of
work.
DISCUSSION
Project Description
As part of the FY 1996-97 CIP 19702, staff began design of the Lucie Stem Community
Center Courtyard and Walkways project on October 20, 1997 (Notice to Proceed date). The
Lucie Stern Community Center is a highly visible and heavily used City facility and is listed
as a Category 1 facility on the Palo Alto Historical Building Inventory. The deteriorated
brick paving at the courtyard and walkways is a potential hazard to pedestrians and facility
users and does not comply with the regulations governing disabled access.
Reconstrnction of the brick paving at the courtyard and walkways will enhance facility user
safety and comfort and reduce the potential for injuries. The existing bricks will be removed,
salvaged, stored, and reinstalled, and in some locations, new antique bricks closely matching
the existing bricks will be used to make up for the unsalvageable bricks to preserve the
historic design and retain the original character. The project also includes reconstrncting new
ramps with handrails to comply with the regulations governing disabled access. The work
also includes furnishing benches, a fountain, lighting in the Courtyard, incidental
modifications of the irrigation systems, and landscape planting. The sidewalk, driveway, and
curb adjacent to the Community Center, which meet the criteria for the City’s Sidewalk
Replacement Policy, will also be replaced.
The Historical Review Board (HRB) and the Architectural Review Board (ARB) have
reviewed the project. They recommended additional constrnction to restore the Lucie Stem
CMR:322:99 Page 1 of 3
Communi~, Center to its previous historic appearance. The changes from the original scope
of work that have been recommended include an additional twenty customized/replicated
historic light posts on the walkways; twenty-four extra ceiling lights; one customized
fountain, instead of one from the catalog; eight customized curvilinear and eight customized
straight, heavy wood benches instead of catalog benches; ten more trash receptacles; eight
new planter pots; nine existing historic post lights, and refurbishing six pendant lights; and
new related conduit, wiring and utility boxes to be installed under the brick walkways as
required.
Bid Process
On July 6, 1999, two bids were received, as indicated on the attached Bid Summary. The
bids ranged from a low of $804,747 to a high of $894,461. The low bid was 69.45 percent
above the consultant’s estimate of $474,940. Based on conversations with the contractors
and the project consultant, it was established that the bids were higher than expected due to
increased labor cost for highly skilled masonry laborers and the cost of the customized
products instead of products from the catalog.
Due to the excessive difference between the low bid and the construction estimate, staff
recommends rejecting all bids. After staff modifies the project scope the project will be rebid
and returned to Council for action at a future date.
Staff plans to modify" the scope by dividing the project in two phases. With the current
budget, Phase I will be courtyard reconstruction which includes brick paving, drainage, and
lightings at the courtyard; and refurbishing all existing post mounted lights and pendant
lights as base bid with the central fountain as an "add alternate".
Phase II (future project, needs additional funding) will be outside brick walkways
reconstruction and site furnishing. Phase II includes brick paving and lightings at the outside
walkways; benches, trash receptacles, planters pots and the central fountain at the courtyard.
RESOURCE IMPACT
None.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section
15301C and no further environmental review is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Bid Summary
PREPARED BY: Michael Jackson, Deputy Director, Public Works Operations
CMR:322:99 Page 2 of 3
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
GLENN S. RO~"ERTS
Director of Public Wo~:ks
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Assistant City Manager
CMR:322:99 Page 3 of 3
ATTACHMENT A
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