Questions For City Council At Tuesday's Council Meeting

Article Source: Robert Riechel

FULL Council Agenda Packet WITH Staff Reports can be viewed and downloaded from:

https://sanbruno.ca.gov/gov/elected_officials/city_council_minutes_n_agendas.htm

This document should be available late Friday before the Tuesday Council Meeting

These questions might be asked at Tuesday's November 14th 2017 San Bruno City Council Meeting:

The following wordings is taken from the Council Agenda Packet.

ITEM # 1

Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Construction Contract with Sacramento Builders for the Senior Center Deck Replacement Project in an Amount Not to Exceed $159,800, approving a Construction Contingency and Project Management Cost of $39,950 and appropriating $40,000 from the Senior Citizens Trust Fund and $71,646 from the General Fund Capital Reserve to Cover the Total Project Cost of $199,750

DISCUSSION:

The project was advertised in the San Mateo County Time newspaper on October 2, 2017 and October 9, 2017. Notice to bidders was sent to thirty three (33) contractors listed in the City's contractor directory, posted on the City's website and provided to five (5) construction distribution centers. A total of four (4) bids were received and opened on October 19, 2017 as follows:

Sacramento Builders ---- $159,800

Treaty Construction ----- $182,800

RK & Associates ----------$189,000

Southwest Construction -$191,700

Engineer's Estimate ----- $83,750

QUESTION: With the lowest bid approximately $76,050 higher than the engineer’s estimate, WHY should the contract be awarded without looking at the bids and considering re-bidding the job under different specifications in hopes of reducing the cost?

QUESTION: What can the City learn regarding our engineer’s estimating that may allow future engineer estimates to be closer to the then current ACTUAL costs? The City has rejected all bids in the past and re-worked the bid specifications and re-bid some jobs. SHOULD this action be taken on this project?

ALTERNATIVES:

• Reject all bids and direct staff to re-advertise the project. This action will further delay the completion of the Senior Center Deck Replacement Project, and will result in higher maintenance costs due to age of deck.
• Do not award the construction contract and do not complete the project. The structural integrity of the deck will continue to worsen and will potentially become dangerous.

ITEM # 2

SUBJECT: Receive Report and Provide Direction on Posy Park Water Fountain Rehabilitation Project

BACKGROUND:

Shortly following completion of the Grade Separation Project, several noticeable defects appeared in the water feature. Rust spots from exposed rebar and various cracks in the concrete are easily visible throughout the fountain's painted concrete. In addition, inspection of the fountain water proofing showed signs of bubbling and peeling thus exposing the concrete underneath. As a result of these defects, the water has been shutoff. In an effort to reinstate the water feature, staff consulted with coating contractors to develop appropriate specifications and developed contract documents to solicit bids to mitigate the defects.

The bid opening was held on October 19, 2017, however, no contractors submitted any bids.

Per the Public Contract Code Section 20166, "If no bids are received, the legislative body may have the project done without further complying with this chapter". The Public Code Section allows the city to approach contractors to request for cost proposals and to negotiate the cost for the concrete repair and water fountain recoating work in lieu of publicly bidding the project again. This process allows the City to work with contractors who are qualified, skilled and familiar with this type of coating work. Staff has re-contacted the contractor who previously consulted with staff regarding the appropriate procedure to remove and reapply the coating on the water feature surfaces. The contractor, Coating Specialties, has indicated an interest to complete the project and has proposed a cost of approximately $125,000.

ALTERNATIVE:

• Direct staff to solicit additional proposals from contractors for the concrete repair of walls and recoating of the water fountain.
• Direct staff to evaluate converting the Posy Park water feature into a landscape feature.

RECOMMENDATION:

Receive report and provide direction on Posy Park Water Fountain Rehabilitation Project.

QUESTIONS:

• What did the original contract between the JPB and the City of San Bruno say regarding the warranty time etc. for the water feature?
• How long after the City and the JPB finally agreed to turn over maintenance etc to the City were these defects observed?
• Since there was a number of months after the station was begun being used and the JPB turned the station over to the City, did the warranty for the water feature run out?
• Why should the JPB not be liable for repairing these defects and not the City?

ITEM #3

SUBJECT: Adopt Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase One Portable Stormwater and Wastewater Pump and Trailer from Rockwell Engineering & Equipment Company, Inc. in the Amount of $66,429

As the bids were received towards the end of FY 2016-17, a purchase order was setup in order to carry over the funds into FY 2017-18 so funding would be available pending City Council consideration. However the vendor shipped the pump to the City after the purchase order was created but before City Council approval and before staff authorized shipment. The pump is currently being stored and unused at the Public Works Corporation Yard pending City Council authorization. However, if the City Council approves the purchase, the pump is available and ready for use during this year's rainy season. The manufacturer provides a two year limited service warranty.

QUESTIONS:

• Why was the purchase order set up and apparently provided to the vendor BEFORE the Council approved this purchase?
• Is this the way our City should operate?
• Why was the pump received if there was no approval to purchase?
• What were the return/restocking fees detailed in the bid?

ALTERNATIVES:

Do not approve the purchase of this pump and trailer and rent an additional pump as needed. To guarantee availability, the City would need to rent the pump through the duration of any rain season, a four to six month period, at an estimated cost of $10,800 to $16,200. There will be an estimated cost of $45,000 for re-stocking and shipping charges to return the pump as the vendor shipped the pump to the City after the purchase order was issued but prior to Council authorization.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt resolution authorizing the City Manager to purchase one portable stormwater and wastewater pump and trailer from Rockwell Engineering & Equipment Co., Inc. in the amount of $66,429.

=

Robert Riechel

E=Mail: SanBrunoPatch.Robert@Yahoo.com

WEB: http://SanBrunoPatch.com

My Posts: http://patch.com/users/robert-riechel

Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives

Source Credit: San Bruno Patch Contributor Robert Riechel

CLICK on link below to Subscribe to News Alerts and a Daily Email Newsletter for San Bruno Patch

http://link.patch.com/join/3-0-subscribe?list=US_CA_SANBRUNO_282

#SanBrunoPatch