To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Accept Completed Contracts for Storm Damage Repair to Eel Rock Road (7D010) Post Miles 0.50, 0.60, and 1.90
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Accept the completed contracts, including all change orders approved by the Public Works Department, between Mobley Construction, Inc. dba MCI and Humboldt County for construction of Storm Damage Repair to Eel Rock Road (7D010) Post Miles 0.50, 0.60, and 1.90; and
2. Approve the final claims for payment, as submitted by the Public Works Department to the Auditor-Controller, in the amount of $268.08 for Post Mile 0.50, $265.14 for Post Mile 0.60, and $300 for Post Mile 1.90, which will bring the total amounts paid to 100% of the contracts.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Road Fund (1200); Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Recovery Funds; California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
DISCUSSION:
On Feb. 14, 2017, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared a disaster for Humboldt County due to severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides. Eel Rock Road (7D010) Post Miles 0.50, 0.60, and 1.90, located near the community of Eel Rock in the southern portion of Humboldt County, experienced roadway settlement due to saturated embankment slipping beneath the roadway. Emergency temporary repairs were performed at the time of the disaster to maintain essential traffic.
On April 10, 2018, and Sept. 17, 2019, the Humboldt County Department of Public Works (Public Works) received approval from FEMA to proceed with the Eel Rock Road (7D010) Post Miles 0.50, 0.60, and 1.90 Storm Damage Repair Project. Public Works prepared plans and specifications based on topographic surveys of the damaged areas prepared by Points West Surveying Company and the Humboldt County Survey Division and geotechnical studies prepared by Crawford and Associates. The work consisted of reconstructing the roadway embankment with geosynthetic material, constructing a welded wire wall, installing sub-surface drainage systems, replacing a culvert, restoring the road surface to pre-disaster conditions with aggregate base and hot mix asphalt, and installing sediment and erosion control items.
On May 24, 2022, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Clerk of the Board to advertise the Eel Rock Road (7D010) Post Miles 0.50, 0.60, and 1.90 Storm Damage Repair Project for bids. On June 28, 2022, the county received three (3) bids for the project. The contracts were awarded to Mobley Construction, Inc. dba MCI, the lowest responsive bidder, on July 19, 2022. The award amount was $511,993. Contract change orders executed during the project decreased the authorized amount of Contract Number 217368 (Post Mile 0.50) by $55,051.93, increased the authorized amount of Contract Number 217369 (Post Mile 0.60) by $33,953.43, and increased the authorized amount of Contract Number 217372 (Post Mile 1.90) by $15,224. These increases are due to costs associated with changes to the depth of aggregate base and routine reconciliation of differences between bid quantities and installed quantities for various bid items.
The Department of Public Works recommends that the Board of Supervisors accept the completed contracts, including all change orders approved by Public Works for this project, and approve the final claims for payment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Total construction costs for this project are $506,118.50. Progress payments totaling $30,539.99 have been paid for Post Mile 0.50, and the final claim for payment in the amount of $268.08 is outstanding. Progress payments totaling $136,305.29 have been paid for Post Mile 0.60, and the final claim for payment in the amount of $265.14 is outstanding. Progress payments totaling $338,440 have been paid for Post Mile 1.90, and the final claim for payment in the amount of $300.00 is outstanding.
This project was 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%). Expenditure appropriations relating to completion of the Eel Rock Road (7D010) Post Miles 0.50, 0.60, and 1.90 Storm Damage Repair Project are included in the approved fiscal year 2022-23 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 accept the project. However, staff does not recommend this alternative because the project has been completed, and the requested Board actions are needed to accept the contracts.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Executed Project Agreement and Contract Change Orders
2. Acceptance Statements
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D-35 / D-19
Meeting of: May 24, 2022 / July 19, 2025
File No.: 22-609 / 22-867