To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Accept Completed Contract for Storm Damage Repair to Bell Springs Road (8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Accept the completed contracts, including all approved change orders, with Van Meter Logging, Inc., regarding the construction of Storm Damage Repair to Bell Springs Road (8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96; and
2. Approve the final claims for payment, to be submitted by the Department of Public Works to the Auditor-Controller’s Office, in the amounts of $100 for Post Mile 2.20 and $100 for Post Mile 4.96, which will bring the total amounts paid to 100% of the contracts; 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 March 7, 2017, the Governor of the State of California declared a disaster for Humboldt County due to severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides. Bell Springs Road (8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96, located in the southeastern portion of Humboldt County, experienced roadway settlement and shoulder failure due to the heavy rainfall. Emergency repairs were performed at the time of the disaster to maintain essential traffic.
On June 9, 2021, the Humboldt County Department of Public Works (“Public Works”) received funding approval from the Federal Highway Administration to proceed with the Bell Springs Road (8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project. Public Works prepared plans and specifications for the project based on topographic surveys of the damaged areas prepared by Public Works and geotechnical studies prepared by Crawford and Associates, Inc. The work consisted of constructing reinforced embankments, installing sub-surface drainage systems, restoring the roadway to original width, and installing erosion and sediment control items.
On March 18, 2025, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors (“Board”) authorized the Clerk of the Board to advertise the Bell Springs Road (8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project for bids. On April 22, 2025, the County of Humboldt received five bids for the project. On May 13, 2025, the Board awarded the project agreement to Van Meter Logging, Inc., the lowest responsive bidder. The award amount was $196,300.
Contract change orders executed during the project increased the authorized amount for Post Mile 2.20 by $9,067.37 and increased the authorized amount for Post Mile 4.96 by $30,273.73. The increase at Post Mile 2.20 is associated with additional quantities of erosion control items. The increase at Post Mile 4.96 is associated with extending the subsurface drainage system to collect groundwater encountered the excavation, additional quantities of erosion control items, and emergency repairs to a nearby storm damage site at Post Mile 2.84.
Accordingly, Public Works recommends that the Board: accept the completed contracts, including all approved change orders, and approve the final claims for payment in the amounts of $100 for Post Mile 2.20 and $100 for Post Mile 4.96.
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 |
$235,641.10 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$235,641.10 |
|
Funding Sources (1200-321) |
FY25-26 |
|
Federal Funds (FHWA) |
$208,613.06 |
|
State Funds (Cal OES) |
$ 20,265.13 |
|
Road Fund (1200-321) |
$ 6,762.91 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$235,641.10 |
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Total construction costs for the Bell Springs Road (8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project are $235,641.10. Progress payments totaling $120,183.12 have been paid for Post Mile 2.20, and the final claim for payment in the amount of $100.00 is outstanding. Progress payments totaling $115,257.98 have been paid for Post Mile 4.96, and the final claim for payment in the amount of $100.00 is outstanding. The Bell Springs Road (8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 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 Bell Springs Road (8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 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.
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 Bell Springs Road (8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project. However, this alternative is not recommended as the project has been completed, and the recommended actions are needed to accept the contracts.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Executed Project Agreement and Change Orders
2. Acceptance Statements
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 3/18/25; 5/13/25
File No.: 25-322; 25-575