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File #: 2016-2563   
Type: Consent Calendar Item
Body: City Council
On agenda: 3/1/2016
Title: Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Consultant Agreement with SLR International Corporation to Provide Site Investigation and Environmental Report Services for the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park, Including Contingency, for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $363,610 and to Amend Project Revenue and Expenditures Budget by $170,610. (Recreation and Parks 91309)
Attachments: 1. Exhibit 1 - SLR 2nd Amendment, 2. Exhibit 2 - SLR Agreement and 1st Amendment

Title

 

Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Consultant Agreement with SLR International Corporation to Provide Site Investigation and Environmental Report Services for the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park, Including Contingency, for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $363,610 and to Amend Project Revenue and Expenditures Budget by $170,610. (Recreation and Parks 91309)

 

Body

To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

From: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Interim City Manager

Re: Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Consultant Agreement with SLR International Corporation to Provide Site Investigation and Environmental Report Services for the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park, Including Contingency, for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $363,610 and to Amend Project Revenue and Expenditures Budget by $170,610

BACKGROUND

The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (Sweeney Park) is a 22-acre park bounded by Constitution Way, Atlantic Avenue, and Sherman Street. The site is the former Alameda Beltline Railroad property that was secured by the City at its original purchase price due to the advocacy efforts of long-time Alameda resident Jean Sweeney.   On July 15, 2014, the City Council approved the Sweeney Park Master Plan, which was designed pro bono by Kristoffer Köster of KKDesign through an extensive public input process.

There is known soil contamination at Sweeney Park, primarily due to its prior use as a railroad switching yard by the Alameda Beltline Railroad.  In January 2015, the City entered into an agreement with SLR International (SLR), in an amount not to exceed $24,075, with a work scope that included development of a Soil Management Plan, an Operations and Maintenance Plan, and Land Use Covenants (a type of deed restriction), all based on previous environmental site assessment documents.  Staff and SLR subsequently met with the CA Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC), which is the regulatory agency that oversees brownfield development and soil contamination.  The City must receive approval from DTSC on its soil remediation work plan prior to commencing construction of Sweeney Park. 

In spring 2015, DTSC identified data gaps, which required additional investigation.  In July 2015, the City amended the agreement to include this additional site investigation and related soil sampling.  The total compensation for the agreement, including the amendment, was not to exceed $73,075, which is within the City Manager’s authorization per the City’s Purchasing Policy. 

There is currently $6.5 million of funding secured for the design and construction of the first two phases of Sweeney Park.  Also pending Council approval tonight is the agreement for detailed design of Sweeney Park.  The final Remedial Action Workplan (RAW) that will be prepared by SLR is a critical component of the detailed design, as it identifies where contaminated soil is located and outlines a specific plan of where soil should be moved, delineated and capped with hardscape.  This information is necessary for design and construction of the park.

DISCUSSION

SLR is an environmental consulting firm with an office located in Oakland. Their staff have been working diligently with DTSC for over one year and has responded to several rounds of detailed comments from DTSC.  SLR International is very familiar with the environmental challenges of Sweeney Park and, therefore, staff recommends continuing with SLR for efficiency of time and funding. 

The original agreement and first amendment included background investigation of the site, limited soil sampling, and coordination with DTSC.  It did not include preparation of the RAW, the final environmental report, or the field work associated with monitoring contractors during construction.

In fall 2015, SLR submitted a work plan to DTSC and after two rounds, received extensive comments from DTSC, which greatly increased the scope of the soil sampling from 25 soil borings to 72 required borings.  DTSC also identified a significant number of additional data gaps on the maintenance buildings that were burned down, other demolished buildings, unknown dirt stockpiles, a possible underground storage tank, backfilled underground repair pits, creosote coated railroad ties, and previous cleanup efforts by Alameda Beltline that did not meet appropriate standards.

In addition, based on the levels of lead found one foot deep at the EOC/Fire Station 3 site, which is also land previously used by the Alameda Beltline Railroad, staff is requiring more extensive lead testing than is normally done.  This is an additional cost during the testing phase, but is expected to eliminate unexpected soil remediation and removal during the construction phase. 

Due to the expanded scope from DTSC and additional lead testing, SLR increased its total scope of work for soil testing. This amendment also adds work for development of the RAW final environmental report and field services that are required during construction.  The second amendment total, including a 5% contingency, is $290,535.  This is in addition to the previously amended agreement amount of $73,075.  With the approval of the second amendment, the total agreement is set not to exceed $363,610.

The SLR International agreement second amendment scope of work includes:

                     Site investigation (soil sampling) workplan and permits

                     Site investigation and data tabulation

                     Preparation of the RAW and Site Investigation Report

                     During construction: field oversight, interaction with DTSC during construction, confirmation sampling and preparation of the Remedial Action Construction Report

The RAW is expected to be complete by May 2016 in order to be available for development of construction drawings for the park design.

A 5% contingency is included and shall be used only for items of work outside the original scope of work.  Use of the contingency is not assumed and requires prior written authorization by the City.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

The SLR International consultant agreement for site investigation and the associated environmental reports is not to exceed $363,610.

Funding from the Open Space Fund, included in the Capital Improvement Project Budget (91309) for Fiscal Years 2015-17, is available to cover $193,000 of the agreement cost.  An additional $170,610 allocation is needed from the Development Impact Fees (DIF) - Recreation and Parks Fund to cover the remaining balance of the agreement.

Fund / Account

Project

Amount

Capital Improvement Fund (310)

 

 

     Transfer In

91309

$170,610

     Contractual Services

91309

$170,610

DIF - Recreation and Parks Fund (340)

 

 

     Transfer Out

 

$170,610

 

MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE

This action has no effect on the Municipal Code.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

On July 15, 2014, the City of Alameda certified the Jean Sweeney Park Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) evaluating the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project.  The MND found that the park project has minimal environmental impacts, and those that do occur are related to the construction period (e.g. dust, construction traffic, etc.) Those potential impacts were identified and mitigations were adopted to minimize those impacts.in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  No further review is required for this decision to approve the design services contract for the project.

RECOMMENDATION

Recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute a consultant agreement with SLR International Corporation to provide site investigation and environmental report services for the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park, including contingency, for a total amount not to exceed $363,610 and to amend Project Revenue and Expenditures Budget by $170,610.

Respectfully submitted,

Amy Wooldridge, Interim Assistant City Manager

Financial Impact section reviewed,

Elena Adair, Finance Director

 

Exhibits:

1.                     SLR 2nd Amendment

2.                     SLR Agreement and 1st Amendment