TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Brian Ambrose, Community Services Director
PREPARED BY: Brian Crawford, Senior Program Manager - Parks & Recreation
SUBJECT:
title
Award Construction Contract for Glen Arbor Dog Park Project
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Award the construction contract for the Glen Arbor Dog Park Project, Capital Improvement Project (CIP) No. 8273, to the lowest responsible bidder, Voltaire Engineering, LLC., in the amount of $924,277, plus a 15% contingency;
Amend the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating and Capital Improvement Plan budgets to provide an additional budget appropriation for Capital Improvement Project No. 8273 as detailed in the fiscal impact statement; and
Authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On June 4, 2024, the City Council adopted Joint Resolution No. 24-4745, approving the Capital Improvement Plan budget for Fiscal Years 2024/25 and the Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2024-25 to 2028/29 (Vote: 5-0).
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Coordinate and deliver responsive, effective community services.
BACKGROUND
Glen Arbor Park (Park), at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Nutmeg Street, was originally established as a community park by the County of Riverside prior to the incorporation of the City of Murrieta. The Park is largely undeveloped and has a large slope, wooded areas, and a small stream during the rainy seasons. The Park’s natural setting makes it a popular destination for family pictures, hiking, and dog walking. Over the years, the Community Services Department (CSD) has fielded many safety complaints from residents concerned about the presence of off-leash dogs at the Park, a behavior that is difficult to change.
In January 2022, CSD staff applied for and was awarded a grant in the amount of $247,627, in Proposition 68 funding (Grant) known as the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018, which is a bond measure that funds parks, water, and environmental projects in California. The funds from the Grant must be spent by June 30, 2028. Staff identified an opportunity to provide an amenity for the community by using the grant funds to design and build large and small dog parks at Glen Arbor (Project) that would be ADA-accessible and usable by all residents. The new, enclosed areas, along with additional signage, may serve to curb the issue of owners allowing their dogs to be off-leash in the Park.
During the design process, it was decided to include a small, 12-space parking lot with ingress and egress on Nutmeg Street. There is currently no parking allowed on Jackson Avenue or Nutmeg Street. When the Park is busy, most visitors park on the north side of the Park in the adjacent neighborhood off of Via De Gema Linda, which creates traffic congestion. The new parking lot is intended to provide some relief for the traffic in response to comments from neighboring residents about the design of the new dog park. The total cost for inclusion of the parking lot is approximately $267,000, which includes the design, construction, striping, and construction-related consulting services. The cost for the parking lot was not included in the original project budget, nor in the amount presently budgeted for this project.
Park improvements to be provided as part of this Project include:
• Enclosed areas for large and small dogs with play features;
• Shade structures with seating;
• Water fountains that include separate outlets for both owners and pets;
• ADA-accessible, switchback-style concrete walkways with handrails to take pedestrian traffic down the slope;
• 12-space parking lot;
• ADA improvements to the curb ramp at Nutmeg Street and Via De Gema Linda and designated path of travel for park access; and
• Landscape improvements.
The City published the competitive bid opportunity for the Project to PlanetBids on January 15, 2025, and publicly advertised the Project in a regional newspaper on January 18, 2025, and again on January 28, 2025. Ten (10) bids were received prior to the extended deadline of 2 p.m. on February 17, 2025, as follows:
|
Contractor |
Total Bid |
|
Voltaire Engineering |
$924,277.00 |
|
Leonida Builders |
$976,762.50 |
|
DeArk E&C |
$984,043.00 |
|
Aster Construction Services |
$1,120,918.00 |
|
ZECO |
$1,132,493.21 |
|
Elegant Construction |
$1,169,179.50 |
|
Roadway Engineering & Construction |
$1,288,012.50 |
|
RG General Engineering |
$1,384,254.00 |
|
C.S. Legacy Construction |
$1,602,820.69 |
|
Asphalt Fabric and Engineering |
$1,737,233.90 |
The total bid amount was the basis for awarding the Project. The bids were reviewed, and the item prices were determined to be consistent with today’s construction market.
Staff recommends that the contract be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, Voltaire Engineering, LLC., in the amount of $924,277, plus a fifteen percent (15%) contingency of $138,641.55.
No bid protests were received for the Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost for the Glen Arbor Dog Park Project (CIP No. 8273) is anticipated to be $1,671,461.80, including the design, construction, soft costs for project management and consulting services, park furnishings, and contingency.
The total fiscal impact for the construction contract alone is $1,062,918.55, which includes a 15% contingency. Additionally, funds amounting to $75,138 are needed for geotechnical consulting services during construction and other construction support services. Geotechnical services are necessary for facets of the project, such as secondary inspections and testing compaction, particularly considering the construction of the parking lot and the sidewalk to be constructed on the slope.
Presently, this Project has an available budget of $449,205.83. To fund the remaining construction cost, the fifteen percent (15%) contingency, and additional construction support expenses, staff is requesting an additional budget appropriation of $688,850.80, from four funding sources, as shown in the table below:
|
Additional Project Funding Source |
Amount |
GL Account |
JL Account |
|
Fund 140 (RSA Fees) |
$205,363.89 |
1407500-71150 |
08273140-500 |
|
Fund 182 (Local Zone B) |
$47,486.91 |
1827500-71150 |
08273182-500 |
|
Fund 112 (General Capital) |
$136,000.00 |
1127500-71150 |
08273112-600 |
|
Fund 133 (Park DIF) |
300,000.00 |
1337500-71150 |
08273133-500 |
Staff recommends using $136,000 in ARPA Fund interest earnings to cover the remaining construction cost contingency. Specifically, staff suggests an operating transfer of $136,000 from the ARPA Fund (374) to the General Capital Fund (112). If the contingency funds are not needed for construction, the funds will be transferred back to the ARPA Fund for future use.
The increased cost of the project compared to the original budget is a result of both the addition of the parking lot, which was not contemplated as part of the initial project concept or budget, and the construction bid being nearly 30% more than anticipated.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Construction Contract & Proposal - Voltaire Engineering, LLC