To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Change Order Authorization for Storm Damage Repairs to Panther Gap Road (4D010) Post Mile 0.50 (4/5 vote required)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Director of Public Works to execute, the attached change order to contract number 217387 for the total amount of $205,000 (4/5 Vote Required).
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Road Fund (1200); Federal Emergency Management Agency, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
DISCUSSION:
On June 7, 2022, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors authorized the Clerk of the Board to advertise Storm Damage Repair to Panther Gap Road (4D010) Post Mile 0.50 for bids and authorized the Director of Public Works to award the project agreement to the lowest responsive bidder following completion of the bidding process and to execute the project agreement with the lowest responsive bidder upon submittal of the appropriate bonds and insurance. On July 12, 2022, the County of Humboldt received six (6) bids for the project, and the Director of Public Works awarded the contract to Wahlund Construction, Inc., the lowest responsive bidder, on July 14, 2022. The work consists of excavation for new roadway, disposal of excess excavation materials, construction of gravel roadway, and installation of drainage systems, geosynthetic reinforcement, and erosion and sediment control items. The project will restore local traffic on Panther Gap Road.
The attached change order to contract number 217387 compensates Wahlund Construction, Inc., for additional roadway excavation required to provide sufficient width for the planned roadway. Soon after excavation operations began, the contractor and onsite inspector discovered that staking data for the planned excavation did not match the existing ground on the south end of the project. The excavation limit was adjusted to provide the required roadway width, resulting in an estimated increase of 10,000 cubic yards of roadway excavation. Completing the excavation under the existing contract is the most cost-effective method for restoring the roadway. A topographic survey will be performed upon completion of the work to verify the increase in quantity of roadway excavation.
Accordingly, the Department of Public Works recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve, and authorize the Director of Public Works to execute, the attached change order to contract number 217387 for the total amount of $205,000.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Panther Gap Road (4D010) Post Mile 0.50 Storm Damage Repair Project is being funded by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Funds (75%), the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (18.75%), and the Humboldt County Road Fund (6.25%). The attached change order to contract number 217387 will increase the total contract amount by $205,000, bringing the total contract amount to $2,463,945.90.
Expenditure appropriations relating to completion of the Panther Gap Road (4D010) Post Mile 0.50 Storm Damage Repair Project are included in the approved fiscal year (FY) 2022-2023 Road Fund Budget (1200321-2118).
Projects are paid in arrears with anticipated funding coming from FEMA as mentioned above. The FY 2020-21 Annual Road Report, completed by the State of California, reflected an estimated negative fund balance of $5.9 million in the county’s Road Fund. Even after allocating nearly $6.8 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds to the Road Fund in order to reduce the negative fund balance, the current estimated fund balance remains negative by approximately $4 million.
This negative balance is partially due to the timing of FEMA reimbursements to the county, which can take years for the county to receive repayment. The department 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.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing for and maintaining infrastructure .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Federal Emergency Management Agency, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to approve the attached change order to contract number 217387. However, this alternative is not recommended because the additional excavation is required to complete the project and restore public access and eliminate the need for the temporary detour using funds that would not otherwise be available to the County of Humboldt.
ATTACHMENTS:
Change Order to Contract Number 217387
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-12 / D-22 / D-18 / D-20
Meeting of: March 5, 2019 / Jan. 4, 2022 / June 7, 2022 / June 7, 2022
File No.: 19-157 / 21-1792 / 22-678 / 22-687