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Title:
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Approval of an Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with The Nickerson Company for General Public Works Inspection Services Support for the Public Works Department/Engineering Division Related to the Exposition Light Rail Transit Project.
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 06/04/12 Item Number: C-9
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Approval of an Amendment to the Existing
Professional Services Agreement with The Nickerson Company for General Public
Works Inspection Services Support for the Public Works Department/Engineering
Division Related to the Exposition Light Rail Transit Project.
Contact Person/Dept.: John Rivera /
PWD
Phone Number: 310-253-5616
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas – City Council (05/30/12) and The
Nickerson Company (05/31/12)
Department Approval:
Charles D. Herbertson (05/30/12)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (05/30/12)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (05/30/12)
Executive Director Approval:
John M. Nachbar (05/30/12)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve an amendment to the existing
Professional Services Agreement with The Nickerson Company for a not-to-exceed
additional fee of $40,000 to provide on an as-needed basis, continued support to the
Public Works Department/Engineering Division for general public works inspection
on the Exposition Light Rail Transit Project.
BACKGROUND:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is constructing the 9.6-mile light
rail transit line along the Metro-owned Exposition Right-of-Way from the existing
Metro Light Rail Transit (LRT) station at 7th/Metro Center in downtown Los Angeles
to the Venice/Washington Boulevard area in Culver City. This is known as Phase 1
of the project.
The Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (Authority) was created by the
California State Legislature to oversee the final design and construction of the
Exposition Light Rail Transit Project (Expo LRT). Phase 1 of the Expo LRT consists
of 3 segments (A, B, and C). Segments A and B are open for revenue operation and
Segment C is in the final stages of construction and testing.
Segment “C” includes the Culver City component of the project. The portion of the
project in the City is currently in the final stages of completion. This portion of the
project involves the realignment and reconstruction of Washington and National City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Boulevard and related facilities between Schaefer Street and the City’s western
boundary south of Venice Boulevard. This work is occurring primarily in the City’s
public right-of-way and along the northern side of the Expo right-of-way, between
Washington Boulevard and Ballona Creek. The work in the City’s right-of-way and
on the Expo Bike Path requires continued inspection by a public works inspector to
ensure the work is being done in a manner acceptable to the City and to develop a
project “punch list” as necessary to correct any deficiencies. In addition, the public
works inspector is vital in reviewing and approving the project final “red-line”
drawings of the project improvements to ensure that they accurately identify the
improvements as they have been constructed, including any necessary field
modifications.
The Public Works Department/Engineering Division has one full-time Public Works
Inspector and relies on consultant support for public works inspection on special
projects such as this. The Nickerson Company has been providing the necessary
inspection services for the Expo LRT project since 2008.
DISCUSSION:
The City and the former Culver City Redevelopment Agency (former Agency) have
taken actions to ensure that design and development of the Expo LRT project is
accomplished in a manner that mitigates the impacts to the community and public
facilities.
As part of the City’s strategy regarding the Expo LRT project, the City/former Agency
have retained consultants to provide specialized expertise and services. In order to
determine if the project related improvements affecting the public rights-of-way are
constructed according to approved plans and to adequately ensure that field
conditions are accurately assessed, knowledgeable and reliable ongoing City
representation at the construction site is necessary. Due to City existing and
anticipated public works inspection work load on other projects, we continue to
believe it is necessary to rely on consultant assistance. Our belief is based on the
complexities of the project and the need to meet the project’s design/construction
schedule requiring timely and quick response to inspection requests and response to
unanticipated conditions.
In October, 2004, the City Council approved a contract with The Nickerson Company
for general public works inspection services. Vern Nickerson of The Nickerson
Company is a retired Culver City Senior Public Works Inspector, who has over
twenty-two years of experience inspecting public works projects in the City. The
current agreement with The Nickerson Company was amended for the third time in
January 2012 to increase the contract amount to reflect increased inspection
requirements and provide reimbursement for additional geotechnical analysis. The
2011 Financial Contribution Agreement for the Phase 1 Metro Exposition Light Rail
Transit Project, between the City and Metro, provides that the portion of the Expo City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Bike Path constructed on City and Metro rights-of-way that is located within Culver
City will be maintained by the City. This was not originally anticipated and has
necessitated the need to expand the scope of inspection services.
The project design plans have proven to contain some errors and, as a result, the
City has been required to have full-time inspection on site to respond to unforeseen
situations. The City will also need the Nickerson Company to prepare a project
punch list, review as-built plans and provide general project close-out support. The
increased full-time inspection has necessitated the need for additional funding. The
monies we obtained in January 2012, have been expended due to the required
increased inspection.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
As stated above, The Nickerson Company is currently under contract with the City to
provide general public works inspection support to the Public Works
Department/Engineering Division. Staff recommends amending the City contract
with The Nickerson Company for a fourth time in a not to exceed additional amount
of $40,000, over the remainder of the Expo Phase 1 construction and project close-
out period, in order to pay on an as-needed basis for the additional work to perform
inspection of the construction of Phase 1 Expo Project public rights-of-way and Expo
Bike Path improvements. The Nickerson Company billing rate is $85.00 per hour.
There are sufficient funds through Engineering Division salary savings to fund the
not to exceed $40,000 contract with The Nickerson Company.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
MOTIONS:
That the City Council:
1) Approve an amendment to the existing Professional Services Agreement with
The Nickerson Company to provide continued as-needed general public works
inspection support for the Public Works Department/Engineering Division’s on
the Exposition Light Rail Transit Project at an additional not-to-exceed fee of
$40,000; and,
2) Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
3) Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.