DATE: August 7, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Amendment to Authorization regarding the Utility Agreement with PG&E for the Auberry Road at Copper Avenue Traffic Signal Installation Project, Federal Project No. HSIPL-5942(241)
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Amend authorization allowing the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning, subject to the review and approval of County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, to execute a Utility Agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric and any amendments that the Director deems necessary for the construction of the Auberry Road at Copper Avenue Traffic Signal Installation Project, increasing the maximum authorization by $56,688 to $180,000.
REPORT
On June 12, 2018, your Board authorized the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning (Director) to sign a Utility Agreement up to $123,312. However, Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) preliminary estimate was revised and the amount is no longer sufficient to cover the agreement. Approval of the recommended action will amend the existing authorization to allow the Director to sign a Utility Agreement with PG&E as required by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in order to receive funding for the project to underground overhead transmission lines that conflict with the installation of a new traffic signal, not to exceed $180,000. This item pertains to a location in District 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may elect not to approve the recommended action; however, it could result in delay of Caltrans’ authorization of the project’s construction, which will make the Department of Public Works and Planning ineligible to apply for the current cycle of Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended action would authorize the County to pay PG&E up to $180,000 for the undergrounding work. PG&E’s most recent estimate for the work is $137,174. However, unforeseen contingencies could increase the amount. The Federal HSIP, the Senate Bill 1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account, and Transportation Mitigation Fees fund the project costs. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues have been included in the Department’s - Road Org 4510 FY 2018-19 Recommended Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed project will install a new four-phase traffic signal with protected left-turn phasing at the intersection of Auberry Road and Copper Avenue. Caltrans requires that the County enter into a utility agreement, using the Caltrans standard template, with any affected utility prior to authorizing construction funds. As of the preparation date of this agenda item, the agreement was still being finalized. It is requested that your Board authorize the Director, subject to the review and approval of County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, to sign the final utility agreement, which will be substantially similar to Attachment A. The requested increase in the amount authorized also would allow the Director to execute any amendments to the final utility agreement the Director deems necessary for the project, up to the maximum authorization of $180,000.
It is anticipated that project construction may begin as early as January 2019 and be completed by May 2019; however, the advertisement of the project is contingent upon the availability of the Federal funds and authorization to proceed by Caltrans. The Department will return to your Board at a later date with a request to award the construction contract. The four-phase traffic signal was designed by the Department’s consultant, Willdan Engineering.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The draft utility agreement was developed with Caltrans staff based on the standard Utility Agreement Clauses in the Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures Manual. As of the preparation date of this agenda item, County Counsel’s review of the draft utility agreement was pending.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #50, June 12, 2018
BAI #3, February 7, 2017
BAI #56, June 7, 2014
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Location Map
Attachment A
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa