AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: THOMAS BEKELE
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER
SUBJECT:
title
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING DESIGN CONSULTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH W.G. ZIMMERMAN ENGINEERING, INC. FOR THE EAST BURNETT STREET HISTORICAL DISTRICT PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
summary
Summary:
The 2023-2028 City of Signal Hill Strategic Plan promotes multi-model transportation through the development of bicycle lanes and walking trails, as outlined in the City’s General Plan and Circulating Element. The East Burnett Street Corridor, which extends from Walnut Avenue to Dawson Avenue, is a well-used route for pedestrians and bicyclists. In June 2023, the California Transportation Commission awarded the City $2,785,000 in Active Transportation Program (ATP) funding with a $109,000 local match. The proposed project includes new sidewalks, a Class 2 bicycle lane, ADA curb ramps, enhanced lighting, landscaping, and roadway upgrades to improve safety and accessibility.
The City completed the Project Approval and Environmental Documentation (PA&ED) phase and conducted the CEQA environmental review. In May 2025, the City filed a Notice of Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, confirming the project qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption. On July 18, 2025, Public Works released the Request for Proposals for the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) phase. Following the proposal review process and negotiations with the best qualified firm, Public Works recommends the City Council award a Professional Services Agreement to W.G. Zimmerman Engineering, Inc. to prepare the PS&E documents. If approved by the City Council, the consultant would begin work in October 2025, with completion expected by April 2026.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 1 Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability and resilience.
Goal No. 2 Community Safety: Maintain community safety by supporting public safety services and increasing emergency preparedness.
Goal No. 4 Infrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical infrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces.
recommendation
Recommendation:
1. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Professional Engineering Design Consultant Services Agreement with W.G. Zimmerman Engineering, Inc. to prepare the PS&E documents for the East Burnett Street Historical District Pedestrian and Bike Enhancement Project, for a term of 6 months and a not-to-exceed contract amount of $245,372.70, in a form approved by the City Attorney; and
2. Authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer to utilize a project contingency of up to 10% ($24,537.27) and approve a 180-calendar day term extension to accommodate any unforeseen conditions. The proposed contingency would bring the total contract agreement budget to $269,909.97.
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Fiscal Impact:
The total project budget for the East Burnett Street Historical District Pedestrian and Bike Enhancement Project is $2,894,000, which covers the cost for the PA&ED phase, PS&E, and construction. The Active Transportation Program (ATP Cycle 6) grant allocates $2,785,000, and CIP reserves contribute the remaining $109,000.
The proposed agreement with W.G. Zimmerman Engineering Incorporated, for PS&E services, totals $245,372.70. The PS&E phase has a budget of $318,000, funded with $306,000 from ATP Cycle 6 and $12,000 from CIP reserves; this amount is sufficient to cover the proposed contract.
Background:
The East Burnett Street Corridor extends from Walnut Avenue to Dawson Avenue through Skyline Drive; this segment is a heavily used route for pedestrians and bicyclists. Despite its popularity, the corridor lacks critical infrastructure, including continuous sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes, and appropriate signage to support pedestrian and bicycle safety. The City’s General Plan Circulation Element and Bikeway Plan identify this route as a priority for future multimodal improvements. As a result, staff has been actively pursuing funding opportunities to implement the necessary improvements and bring the plan to fruition.
In June 2022, the Public Works Department applied for and received funding through Cycle 6 of the California Active Transportation Program (ATP). The ATP encourages local agencies to improve infrastructure that supports walking, biking, and other non-motorized modes of transportation. The East Burnett Street Historical District Pedestrian and Bike Enhancement Project seeks to support these goals and enhance connectivity to popular community destinations, including Heritage Point Park, Hilltop Park, the Panorama Trail system, Signal Hill Elementary School, transit stops, and nearby neighborhoods.
On June 28, 2023, the California Transportation Commission approved $2,785,000 in ATP grant funds for the project, with a required City match of $109,000. On May 14, 2024, the City Council authorized execution of a Master Agreement with Caltrans to secure project funding and move forward with implementation. The East Burnett Street Historical District Pedestrian and Bike Enhancement Project consists of three phases: Project Approval and Environmental Documentation (PA&ED), preparation of Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E), and construction.
Phase I of the project secured environmental clearance in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). On October 22, 2024, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with Catalyst Environmental Solutions Corporation to complete this phase of the project. Catalyst conducted the environmental analysis and prepared the required documentation. In May 2025, the City filed a Notice of Exemption for the project under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, citing the project as a Class 1 Categorical Exemption applicable for existing facilities. The exemption concluded that the project would not result in significant environmental impacts and qualified for streamlined environmental clearance.
Phase II of the project includes preparing plans, specifications, and estimates to transition the project into construction; this phase encompasses the following improvements:
• Construction of approximately 1,560 linear feet of sidewalks along East Burnett Street between Gaviota Avenue and Cherry Avenue, including retaining walls and parkway landscaping.
• Installation of 14 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps.
• Installation of 15 sidewalk lights to enhance pedestrian safety.
• Striping of approximately 2,830 linear feet of new Class II bike lanes along East Burnett Avenue and Skyline Drive from Walnut Avenue to Dawson Avenue.
• Full-depth reconstruction of the roadway between Walnut Avenue and Cherry Avenue and cold-planing with resurfacing along Skyline Drive.
• Installation of a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB), three painted crosswalks, and traffic calming measures, including striping and pavement markings.
The proposed improvements would eliminate existing sidewalk gaps, enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and establish a critical multimodal link within Signal Hill’s circulation network. The project supports the City’s long-term goals by increasing active transportation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving neighborhood connectivity within a historically significant area of the community.
Analysis:
On July 18, 2025, staff issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the preparation of the PS&E for the East Burnett Street Historical District Pedestrian and Bike Enhancement Project. The City posted the RFP at the following locations:
• PlanetBids via the City’s online portal
• City Website
• Public notice locations as identified in Signal Hill Municipal Code Section 1.08.010
Staff sent notifications to prospective proposers through the City’s electronic bidding system; 54 prospective proposers downloaded the contract documents. The proposals were due to the City on August 29, 2025, at 2:00 pm.
Proposal Opening
The City received six (6) proposals from the following firms by the proposal deadline:
|
Consultant |
Cost |
|
AYCE Consulting Engineers, Incorporated |
$ 262,114.00 |
|
Kreuzer Consulting Group |
$ 193,830.00 |
|
Onward Engineering |
$ 269,701.60 |
|
RKA Consulting Group |
$ 199,284.00 |
|
Sunbeam Solar Technologies |
$ 314,660.00 |
|
W.G. Zimmerman Engineering, Incorporated |
$ 376,198.58 |
Staff verified each proposal for completeness and compliance with City requirements and confirmed that all firms had the required certifications and experience to perform the work under this agreement.
Evaluation Process and Consultant Selection
Following the receipt of all proposals, the City’s Consultant Selection Committee (consisting of the Public Works Director, Associate Engineer, and Contracts Manager) evaluated the submittals in accordance with the following criteria:
A. Qualifications and Experience of the Firm
B. Qualifications and experience of the personnel assigned to the project team
C. Project Understanding, Approach and Responsiveness
D. Cost of Services
Based on technical proposal evaluations, staff determined that W.G. Zimmerman Engineering, Inc. (WGZE) best met the criteria. WGZE presented a clear and well-defined methodology. The firm demonstrated the necessary qualifications, competence and relevant experience in roadway design, bikeway facilities, and traffic engineering. WGZE also helped prepare the successful ATP Cycle 6 grant application for this project, providing continuity and familiarity that will benefit the project design phase. WGZE’s recent completion of the Spring Street ATP Bicycle Gap Closure Project further underscores WGZE’s ability to deliver projects of similar scope and complexity.
Staff evaluated the proposal and negotiated adjustments to ensure the completeness of the scope of services, and the reasonableness and competitiveness of the fees. Staff deemed the total not-to-exceed cost of $245,372.70 to be reasonable based on the agreed-upon anticipated work and is consistent with the City’s engineering estimates. The proposed cost for design services is consistent with the staff’s projected estimates and supported by the project budget.
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council award the Contract Services Agreement to W.G. Zimmerman Engineering, Inc. for the East Burnett Street Historical District Pedestrian and Bike Enhancement Project’s PS&E preparation, for a not-to-exceed amount of $245,372.70 and a term of 6 months. If approved by the City Council, staff would issue a Notice to Proceed to WGZE in October 2025, anticipating contract completion by April 2026.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
_________________________
Siamlu Cox
Attachment:
A. WGZE Design Consultant Agreement