To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Accept Completed Contract for Storm Damage Repair to Central Avenue (A4L800) Post Mile 4.30
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Accept the completed contract, including all approved change orders, with GR Sundberg, Inc., regarding the construction of Storm Damage Repair to Central Avenue (A4L800) Post Mile 4.30; and
2. Approve the final claim for payment, to be submitted by the Department of Public Works to the Auditor-Controller’s Office, in the amount of $280, which will bring the total amount paid to 100% of the contract; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to provide the Engineering Division of the Department of Public Works with one fully executed certified copy of the Board order related to this item.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
On Feb. 21, 2019, the Governor of the State of California declared a disaster for Humboldt County due to severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides. Central Avenue (A4L800) Post Mile 4.30, located adjacent to the California Redwood Coast - Humboldt County Airport in the McKinleyville community, experienced significant erosion due to heavy rainfall and resulting runoff. County of Humboldt road maintenance crews removed hazardous trees and placed rock slope protection in the damaged area at the time of the disaster to minimize further damage and maintain essential traffic.
On July 5, 2024, the Humboldt County Department of Public Works (“Public Works”) received Federal Highway Administration funding approval to construct the Central Avenue (A4L800) Post Mile 4.30 Storm Damage Repair Project. GHD, Inc., prepared plans and specifications for the project based on a topographic survey of the damaged area prepared by Points West Surveying Company. The work consisted of constructing a storm drain system with 30-inch pipe and drainage inlets, armoring the outlet channel with rock slope protection, placing hot mix asphalt surfacing and dike, and installing erosion and sediment control items.
On April 22, 2025, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors (“Board”) authorized the Clerk of the Board to advertise the Central Avenue (A4L800) Post Mile 4.30 Storm Damage Repair Project for bids. On May 20, 2025, the County of Humboldt received five bids for the project. On June 10, 2025, the Board awarded the project agreement to GR Sundberg, Inc., the lowest responsive bidder. The award amount was $529,504. Contract change orders executed during the project increased the authorized amount by $15,740.64. This increase is associated with paving the full width of the southbound travel lane to eliminate the seam in the wheel path.
Accordingly, Public Works recommends that the Board accept the completed contract, including all approved change orders, and approve the final claim for payment in the amount of $280.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Humboldt County Road Fund (1200-321), Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1200-321) |
FY25-26 |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$545,244.64 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$545,244.64 |
|
Funding Sources (1200-321) |
FY25-26 |
|
Federal Funds (FHWA) |
$482,705.08 |
|
State Funds (Cal OES) |
$ 46,891.04 |
|
Road Fund (1200-321) |
$ 15,648.52 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$545,244.64 |
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Total construction costs for the Central Avenue (A4L800) Post Mile 4.30 Storm Damage Repair Project are $545,244.64. Progress payments totaling $544,964.64 have been paid, and the final claim for payment in the amount of $280 is outstanding. The Central Avenue (A4L800) Post Mile 4.30 Storm Damage Repair Project is funded by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief funds (88.53%), the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (8.60%), and the Humboldt County Road Fund (2.87%). Expenditure appropriations relating to completion of the Central Avenue (A4L800) Post Mile 4.30 Storm Damage Repair Project are included in the approved fiscal year 2025-2026 Road Fund budget unit 1200-321.
Projects are paid in arrears with anticipated funding coming from the FHWA as mentioned above. The fiscal year 2023-2024 Annual Road Report, completed by the State of California, reflected an estimated negative fund balance of $7,814,805 in the Humboldt County Road Fund. Even after allocating nearly $6,800,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Road Fund in order to reduce the negative fund balance, the current estimated fund balance remains negative by approximately $15,800,000.
This negative balance is partially due to the timing of Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements, which can take years for the County of Humboldt to receive. The current total of outstanding repayments is approximately $7,500,000. Public Works utilizes other state and local funding, such as Regional Surface Transportation Program funds, for the Humboldt County Road Fund match for reimbursable projects. Despite those additional funding sources, Road Fund projects are underfunded and will very likely have a negative impact on the General Fund if additional revenue sources are not secured.
Humboldt County adopted a county-wide local transactions and use tax (sales tax) through an affirmative vote on a local measure known as Measure O. Public Works will use a portion of Measure O funds for the grant match portion of the project and contribute a portion to the negative fund balance.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
The recommended actions will not impact current staffing levels.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Federal Highway Administration, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to accept the Central Avenue (A4L800) Post Mile 4.30 Storm Damage Repair Project. However, this alternative is not recommended because the project has been completed, and the recommended actions are needed to accept the contract.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Executed Project Agreement and Change Orders
2. Acceptance Statement
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 4/22/25; 6/10/25
File No.: 25-488; 25-716