AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: GABINO C. LUNA
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
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SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN SERVICES WITH W.G. ZIMMERMAN ENGINEERING, INCORPORATED FOR THE EAST BURNETT STREET HISTORICAL DISTRICT PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
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Summary:
The East Burnett Street Historical District Pedestrian and Bike Enhancement Project is currently in the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates phase. The project will construct sidewalks, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant curb ramps, retaining walls, streetlights, Class II bicycle lanes, pavement improvements, striping, and related safety improvements along the East Burnett Street and Skyline Drive corridor. W.G. Zimmerman Engineering, Inc. (WGZE) is preparing the project design under an agreement with a current not-to-exceed amount of $245,372.70.
During design development, field survey and roadway design confirmed that portions of the existing street have cross slopes exceeding the applicable Caltrans criteria for accessible pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Correcting these conditions requires raising the proposed roadway centerline profile to provide more typical and accessible cross slopes. The revised roadway profile affects grading, drainage, roadway connections, retaining-wall geometry, and other design elements. In addition, the revised retaining walls and associated drainage system require temporary and permanent easements from an adjacent property owner. The City is working with the property owner to obtain the necessary easements.
Staff recommends approving Amendment No. 2 to increase WGZE’s compensation by $55,139.25, for the required design revisions and to extend the agreement through June 30, 2027. The extension would allow WGZE, as Engineer of Record, to provide design support during bidding and construction, including responses to requests for information, review of submittals, preparation of clarifications, and resolution of design-related field issues. Funding is available within the existing project budget.
Strategic Plan Goals:
Goal No. 1 Financial Stability: Ensure the City’s long-term financial stability and resilience.
Goal No. 4 Infrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical infrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces.
Goal No. 5 High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City services.
recommendation
Recommendation:
Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement for Design Services with W.G. Zimmerman Engineering, Inc. for the East Burnett Street Historical District Pedestrian and Bike Enhancement Project, increasing compensation by $55,139.25, from $245,372.70 to a revised not-to-exceed amount of $300,691.95, and extending the agreement term through June 30, 2027, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
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Fiscal Impact:
Funding for the proposed recommendation is available within the existing project budget for the East Burnett Street Historical District Pedestrian and Bike Enhancement Project; therefore, no additional appropriation is requested. Amendment No. 2 would increase WGZE’s compensation by $55,139.25 due to the unforeseen grading design changes that arose during the design phase. The new Not-to-Exceed amount would increase to $300,691.95, which is below the approved budget of $318,000 for the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates phase.
Background:
The East Burnett Street corridor extends from Walnut Avenue to Dawson Avenue through Skyline Drive and is a frequently used pedestrian and bicycle route. The corridor lacks continuous sidewalks, bicycle facilities, and other features necessary to support safe and accessible travel. The project will close sidewalk gaps, add ADA-compliant curb ramps, construct retaining walls and streetlights, establish Class II bicycle lanes, reconstruct and resurface portions of the roadway, and install crosswalk, striping, and traffic-calming improvements.
In June 2023, the California Transportation Commission awarded the City $2,785,000 in Active Transportation Program Cycle 6 funding, with a required City contribution of $109,000. The project consists of environmental, design, and construction phases. The environmental phase has been completed, and the City filed a Notice of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act in May 2025.
On September 23, 2025, the City Council approved an Agreement for Design Services with WGZE to prepare the project plans, specifications, and estimates for a not-to-exceed amount of $245,372.70. WGZE was selected through a competitive process based on its qualifications and experience in roadway design, bikeway facilities, and traffic engineering. WGZE also assisted with the successful grant application and entered the design phase with substantial familiarity with the project. Amendment No. 1 extended the agreement term to October 17, 2026, using the previously authorized 180-calendar-day extension.
Analysis:
As WGZE advanced the design, it determined that the existing roadway cross slope in portions of the project area exceeds the applicable Caltrans criteria for ADA accessibility and bicycle travel. To provide compliant and more typical cross slopes, the proposed roadway centerline profile must be raised. This change requires revisions to the roadway profile and cross sections and corresponding updates to grading, drainage, driveway and street connections, pavement, retaining walls, and related design details.
The revised grading and roadway profile also affect the height and configuration of retaining walls along the project. The retaining walls and the drainage system behind the walls require access beyond the existing public right-of-way for construction, operation, and maintenance. The City is coordinating with the affected property owner to obtain the necessary temporary construction and permanent drainage easements. WGZE must incorporate the final easement limits and conditions into the plans and revise the retaining-wall and drainage design accordingly.
These conditions were identified through design development and require additional work beyond the services reasonably anticipated when the agreement was executed. Amendment No. 2 would compensate WGZE for the additional roadway, grading, drainage, retaining-wall, and easement-related design effort. Continuing with WGZE is appropriate because the firm is the Engineer of Record and has developed the project survey, design criteria, roadway geometry, and technical documents. Changing consultants at this stage would require substantial project familiarization, duplicate design effort, and create a risk of delay to the grant-funded project schedule.
The amendment would also extend the agreement through June 30, 2027, allowing WGZE to provide continuity through bidding and construction. Construction-phase support is expected to include responding to requests for information, reviewing contractor submittals, issuing design clarifications, evaluating proposed substitutions or field adjustments, and addressing design-related conditions encountered during construction. Maintaining the Engineer of Record through construction will support timely decisions and consistent interpretation of the approved plans and specifications.
The additional design fee is within the existing project budget and does not require an additional appropriation. Staff recommends the City Council approve Amendment No. 2 so the design revisions, easement coordination, and construction support can proceed without interruption.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
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Siamlu Cox
Attachment:
A. Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement for Design Services with W.G. Zimmerman Engineering, Incorporated.