TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Bob Moehling, Public Works Director
PREPARED BY: Jeff Hitch, City Engineer
SUBJECT:
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Engineering Design Services for the Keller Road at I-215 Interchange Project, CIP No. 8449
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RECOMMENDATION
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Approve the Agreement for engineering design services for the Keller Road at I-215 Interchange, Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) No. 8449, with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc., in the amount of $1,837,160.59;
Authorize a 10% engineering design contingency of $183,716; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement and any amendments to the Agreement not-to-exceed 10% of the contract amount.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On July 18, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 18-3952, approving Amendment No. 8 to the Design Engineering Services Agreement with Jacobs Engineering, Inc. (Vote: 5-0).
On June 3, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 25-4836, approving the Capital Improvement Plan budget for Fiscal Year 2024/25, and the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 to 2028/29 Capital Improvement Plan, which included the Keller Road at I-215 Interchange project, CIP No. 8449 (Vote: 5-0).
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Plan, program and create infrastructure development.
DISCUSSION
The Keller Road at Interstate 215 (I-215) Interchange project, CIP 8449, is a top City infrastructure priority project. The project was initiated in 2010 and proposes to construct a new interchange one (1) mile south of the existing Scott Road Interchange on I-215. At that time, the construction cost was estimated at $12,000,000.
Jacobs Engineering Group (JEG) has completed the project's design work to date, which includes the completion of the Project Initiation Document and Preliminary Environmental Analysis Report , as well as continuing work on the Project Approval/Environmental Documentation (PA/ED) documents. The PA/ED was stalled as a result of Caltrans requiring the completion of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) due to the State’s reliance on Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) analysis and other cumulative impact studies. JEG also prepared the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) documents up to the 65% level, which were submitted to Caltrans in June 2025, to begin the review and approval process.
Caltrans approved the Draft Project Report and Draft Environmental Document (DED) in June 2025. The DED was made available for public review via a Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment . An open forum hearing was held at City Hall on July 8, 2025, with five (5) residents attending and providing verbal comments. The closure of the public review period occurred on July 29, 2025. JEG will address all comments submitted during the public review period, which will allow Caltrans to submit the DED to the Federal Highway Administration for review and approval. JEG will continue to facilitate the approval of the DED, at which point the environmental document will be deemed complete and will obtain the status of a Final Environmental Document (FED). After the FED approval, the City’s agreement for engineering services with JEG will be deemed complete and terminated.
The City decided to open the next phase of the project design process to all qualified design firms. The required tasks are to complete the final design, including advancing the 65% PS&E documents to 100% status, complete right-of-way engineering, and provide construction design support.
On April 17, 2025, the City advertised a Request for Qualifications (for the final engineering design services for the project via PlanetBids. The City received four (4) Statements of Qualifications and sealed proposals on May 15, 2025. The Engineering Division formed a four (4) person review panel, including Caltrans, the City of Menifee, and two (2) members of the Engineering team, to review and score the SOQs. The panel selected Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. (MTC) as the most qualified firm. MTC is a full-service, multi-disciplinary consulting corporation that specializes in planning and designing Caltrans interchanges, complete streets, and multi-modal connectivity projects. After negotiations with MTC, staff settled on the remaining scope of work outlined in the Agreement for a fee of $1,837,160.59. Staff recommends approving a 10% contingency in the event of minor additions that would be subject to approval by the City Manager.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $1,837,160.59, plus a ten percent (10%) contingency of $183,716, is available in CIP No. 8449. The funding necessary for this agreement is made up of $1,600,545 available in Fund 380 State Transportation Improvement Program and the remaining $420,331.59 available in Fund 128 DIF-Freeway.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc.