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: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
Award the construction contract for the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance Project.
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Approve the plans and specifications for the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance Project (County Project M24004).
B) Award a construction contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder Ecological Solutions CA, LLC in the amount of $285,311.
C) Authorize a 10% contingency in the amount of $28,532 for a total, not-to-exceed contract amount of $313,843.
D) Authorize the Director of Sonoma County Public Infrastructure to execute construction contract M24004.
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Public Infrastructure (SPI) is requesting that the Board approve the plans and specifications and award a construction contract to Ecological Solutions CA, LLC. for the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance Project. If approved, the construction contract amount will be $285,311, plus a 10% contingency.
Up to 88.53% of eligible project costs are reimbursable through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has currently authorized $124,650 in federal funding for the project.
Discussion:
The Regional Water Quality Control Board (“Water Board”) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (“Fish and Wildlife”) required mitigation planting and monitoring for their permit requirements to build the new Boyes Boulevard Bridge, which completed construction in 2022. The permit requirements include five years of monitoring after the initial planting for plants and most trees, ten years of monitoring for oak trees, and submitting annual reports, and success criteria for vegetative canopy cover and ground cover of plants.
The proposed contractor will provide the initial planting and five years of watering and plant maintenance necessary to support compliance with the Water Board and Fish and Wildlife requirements. SPI and/or Permit Sonoma staff are expected to perform the required monitoring and submit the annual reports.
The Initial Study and Mitigative Negative Declaration for the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Project were published in 2007. In June, the Board adopted the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation and Monitoring Program pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) conformance was received in Summer 2017, and NEPA revalidation allowing the project to proceed to the mitigation planting and monitoring phase was received in May 2021.
Commencement of construction of the mitigation planting project has been delayed due to a lengthy right-of-way acquisition process and the rejection of all bids received when this project was originally advertised.
The Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance Project was re-advertised for construction bids from July 22, 2026, to September 2, 2026. Bids were opened on September 2, 2026. The bids were received and are as follows:
• Ecological Solutions CA: $285,311
• Hanford Applied Restoration and Conservation: $420,268
• Bortolussi and Watkin: $575,995
The Engineer’s Estimate for the Project was $320,000. The lowest bid of $285,311 was 10.84% lower than the Engineer’s Estimate. The second lowest bid of $420,268 was 47.3% higher than the lowest bid. The major differences between the lowest bidder and the Engineer’s Estimate were the costs of plants and trees.
Caltrans authorized $124,650 in construction funding for the project in 2021. Estimated costs have increased since that authorization. In anticipation of additional funding needs, SPI submitted a funding request for $586,700 to Caltrans earlier in 2026 and has been approved by Caltrans. The County is responsible for 11.47% of the costs associated with this project, with Caltrans reimbursing the remainder.
SPI is anticipated to administer the construction contract, collect required plant data, and submit the annual monitoring reports required by Water Board and Fish and Wildlife.
In accordance with Public Contract Code Section 20128, the contract must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder Ecological Solutions CA, LLC. is registered with the Department of Industrial Relations, possesses an active landscaping license, and has experience in planting, replanting, watering and plant maintenance services.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports 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 4: Identify and retrofit bridges in County that are at high risk for damage during earthquakes.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
7/7/2026: Board rejected all bids received for the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance Project from the 20 January 2026 bid opening.
2/4/2020: Board approved Second Amendment to the Agreement with Valley of the Moon Water District for Water System Improvements and Water Facility Adjustments for the new Boyes Boulevard Bridge Replacement project.
8/6/2019: Board awarded the administration of the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Replacement construction contract to Ghirardelli Associates, Inc.
7/9/2019: Board awarded the construction contract to Gordon Ball Incorporated for construction of the new Boyes Boulevard Bridge.
7/10/2018: Board approved agreement with Valley of the Moon Water District for water systems improvements. Valley of the Moon Water District agreed to fund $ 253,200 for said water system improvements.
4/4/2017: Board approved Second Amendment to agreement with design consultant Moffatt and Nichol for additional design services to design for Valley of the Moon Water District’s water system improvements and related design services during the construction phase.
9/1/2015: Board approved First Amendment to agreement with Moffatt and Nichol, extending the term of the agreement to June 2019 at no additional cost.
5/7/2013: Board approved agreement with Moffatt and Nichol for engineering design work for Boyes Boulevard Bridge over Sonoma Creek.
6/2007: Board adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration per CEQA and approved Mitigation and Monitoring Program (Resolution Number 07-0583).
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$62,768.60 |
$62,768.60 |
$62,768.60 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$62,768.60 |
$62,768.60 |
$62,768.60 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$55,569.04 |
$55,569.04 |
$55,569.04 |
|
Fees/Other |
$7,199.56 |
$7,199.56 |
$7,199.56 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$62,768.60 |
$62,768.60 |
$62,768.60 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Fiscal Year 2026-27 appropriations for the proposed Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance contract are included in the Road Maintenance (11051-34010102) Adopted budget. Appropriations for costs incurred in future fiscal years will be included in future Road Maintenance Recommended budgets.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will reimburse up to 88.53% of eligible project costs. Caltrans has currently authorized $124,650 in federal funding. SPI has applied for an additional $586,700 in federal funding and has programmed an additional $586,700 in Federal Fiscal Year 2026-27. SPI plans to formally request authorization of the additional programmed funds. If the additional funding is not authorized, the Department will use traditional Road funding sources, including the Highway Users Tax Account (HUTA) and Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (SB 1), to fund the additional contract costs and the required 11.47% local match.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
Specifications and Bid Book for the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation Project
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Resolution adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration and approving the Mitigation and Monitoring Program for the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project