To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Public Infrastructure
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Authorization to Utilize Road Commissioner Authority for Specified Flood Disaster Projects
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution declaring intention to use Road Commissioner authority under Public Contract Code Section 20395 for six road segments damaged during the 2024-25 winter storms on Westside Avenue, Cavedale Road, West Soda Rock Lane, Wohler Road, and Giovanetti Road, and delegating certain authorities to the Director of Sonoma Public Infrastructure (SPI) as to such projects. (First, Fourth and Fifth Districts)
B) Adopt a Resolution adjusting the FY 2024-25 budget to increase appropriations in the Roads Capital Project budget by $5,500,000 funded with a transfer of fund balance from the Tobacco Securitization fund.
(4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
Under the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act, award of construction contracts above specified dollar thresholds is a function of the Board of Supervisors. However, for the construction, repair, or maintenance of county highways, the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act allows the Board to authorize the Director of Sonoma Public Infrastructure (SPI), as the County Road Commissioner, to utilize alternative contracting procedures for such work. The Department of Public Infrastructure is requesting to complete the 2024-2025 Winter Storms Priority 1 Flood Damaged Sites using such procedures. To start these projects within their respective construction seasons, SPI is requesting the Board adopt a Resolution delegating certain public contracting authorities to the Director of SPI for these projects. If adopted, the Resolution would enable the Director to approve project plans and specifications, award and execute contracts with the lowest responsible bidder, and take other actions to administer the contracts in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 20395 of the Public Contract Code.
Discussion:
Public Contract Code Section 22031(b)(1) and Sonoma County Code Section 2-357 allow the Director of Sonoma Public Infrastructure to utilize the Road Commissioner procedures set forth in 20390 et seq. of the Public Contract Code as an alternative to the procedures set forth in the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act, for the construction, repair, or maintenance of county highways. One of the specified alternative procedures is for the Director to award contracts for work and material to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with Public Contract Code Section 20395(a)(1).
SPI is requesting Board authorization for the Director to utilize these alternative procedures for six sites, damaged as a result of the 2024-25 Winter Storms Events. The six projects are on Westside Road, Cavedale Road (two sites), West Soda Rock Lane, Wohler Road, and Giovanetti Road. The engineer’s estimates for these projects are provided below, however final contract amounts will vary based on the number of contractors who participate in the bid process, market rates for materials and equipment, and the cost of labor.
Westside Road (38.510186, -122.927321) $ 1,500,000
Cavedale Road Site 2 (38.344431, -122.478880) $ 1,000,000
Cavedale Road Site 3 (38.560833,-122.47888) $ 500,000
West Soda Rock Lane (38.652726, -122.821278) $ 1,000,000
Wohler Road (38.493890, -122.881746) $ 1,000,000
Giovanetti Road (38.462778, -122.906389) $ 500,000
Total Engineer’s Detailed Estimates $ 5,500,000
The projects will include construction of retaining structures, installation of drainage features, and repair of roads damaged during the flood events.
If approved by the Board, the Director will have the authority permitted by Public Contract Code Section 20390 et seq. as to the projects, including to:
1. Prepare, direct, and approve surveys, profiles, cross-sections, plans, and specifications, as needed.
2. Notice and publicly open bids.
3. Award, negotiate, and execute the contracts (including up to a 10% contingency) to the lowest responsible bidder contingent on funding availability.
4. Reject all bids and advertise for new bids as authorized.
5. Consider and accept or reject protests if filed.
6. Execute change orders as authorized, and
7. Take all other actions authorized under and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 20390 et seq. of the Public Contract Code.
In general, the competitive bid process is the same notwithstanding the delegation of authority to award the contract; however, the requested authorization enables SPI to award the contract after the bid process is complete rather than returning to the Board for contract award.
The combination of closures on Wohler Road Bridge at the Russian River, Westside Road, and the restricted Wohler Road at Mark West Creek significantly impacts emergency services’ ability to respond efficiently. SPI anticipates this streamlined award process will allow for work to begin six to eight weeks earlier in their respective construction season. Time is of the essence for these projects, since the subject roadways are critical roads for ingress and egress to large areas of the county, including for evacuation and emergency response purposes. In particular, repairs to Westside Road and Wohler Road are made all the more urgent since those roads are the most viable and efficient detour routes in light of the current closure of the Big Wohler Bridge for seismic repairs.
Funding for these projects will come from the Tobacco Securitization fund, which is available for use on capital projects.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly support the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 3: Continue to invest in critical road, bridge, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure.
Objective: Objective 1: Continue to maintain road segments, including designated turnouts where feasible, increase efforts on vegetation removal and drainage features, and improve pavement conditions in neighborhoods.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
None.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$5,500,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$5,500,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$5,500,000 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
$5,500,000 |
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$5,500,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Additional appropriations are being requested for FY 24-25 in the amount of $5,500,000 in the Roads Capital Projects budget (11051-34010103). Funding will come from appropriation of available fund balance in the Tobacco Securitization fund, which will be transferred to the Roads Capital Projects budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
Resolution
Budget Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.