PREPARED BY: JIMMIE ZHOU DATE OF MEETING: 06/16/2025
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO (1) FORMALLY RECOGNIZING THE PREVIOUSLY REFERRED TO “SUTTER AVENUE URBAN GREENING” PROJECT AS “THE SUTTER AVENUE GREEN STREET” PROJECT; (2) ACCEPTING WORK PERFORMED BY KEREX ENGINEERING INC. FOR THE SUTTER AVENUE GREEN STREET PROJECT (CIP NO. 0300) AS COMPLETE; AND (3) DIRECTING THE CITY ENGINEER TO FILE A NOTICE OF COMPLETION WITH THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY RECORDER
CEQA: The Sutter Green Project was assessed and determined to be Categorically Exempt from environmental review under Section 15304(b)&(f), 15301(b)&(c), and 15302(c) of the CEQA Regulations. The CEQA Notice of Exemption (NOE) was originally filed at the Contra Costa County Clerk’s Office on January 31, 2022, and a revised NOE was filed on March 13, 2024.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
FY 2025-2027 Council Priority Workplan Compliance Statements:
Major Policy Goal: Build a Healthy Community - 109 Develop Public Facilities for Active Living is an adopted policy item contained in the FY 2025-27 Adopted City Council Priority Workplan, approved April 7, 2025.
BACKGROUND
The Sutter Avenue Green Street Project (“Project”) was sometimes referred to as the “Sutter Avenue Urban Greening” Project in previous Project documents, staff reports and City Council Resolutions. Staff recommends City Council to formally recognize the Project Name to be “the Sutter Avenue Green Street” Project.
The Sutter Avenue Green Street Project aimed to reduce localized urban flooding, improve water quality of storm runoff to the San Francisco Bay, and calm traffic on the street. The Project is located on Sutter Avenue between Rumrill Boulevard and 17th Street and on 14th Street between Sutter Avenue and Bush Avenue. Other project goals included urban greening, sequestering carbon through tree planting, and improving pedestrian accessibility.
After advertising the notice inviting bids on February 29, 2024, and publicly opening bids on March 21, 2024, the City of San Pablo staff reviewed all the bids received and City Council awarded Kerex Engineering Inc., the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with a contract for the construction of the Sutter Avenue Green Street Project on May 20, 2024, via Resolution 2024-059. The awarded contract amount was $3,856,219 and an additional 15% contingency was authorized for a total contract amount not to exceed $4,434,652. An additional $100,000 was authorized on March 3, 2025, via Resolution 2025-031 for a total contract amount not to exceed $4,534,652.
The construction started on June 10, 2024, and was completed on April 25, 2025. Notable contract change orders include extra work to address various unforeseen site conditions and utility conflicts, to add an engineering bedding for the storm drain facility due to high ground water condition, and to extend pavement service life of Sutter Avenue.
The final construction contract has been determined to be $4,530,622.74, and Kerex Engineering Inc. concurred with this amount on April 30, 2025.
Staff recommends the City Council accept work performed by Kerex Engineering Inc. for the Project and direct the City Engineer to file a Notice of Completion. This action will transfer the title of the Project from the Contractor to the City.
The Design Service contract with Geosyntec Consultants and the Construction Management (CM) Service contract with Consor PMCM (formerly known as Park Engineering Inc.) will both be concluded after Project acceptance by the City Council. The final as-built drawing including changes made during construction was received and approved by the City Engineer.
The City is holding a 5% retention on this Project. After a prescribed period of recordation of the Notice of Completion, the City will release the final retention payment.
The Project is within budget and will not require any additional local or general fund appropriation. However, staff is still working with the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Prop 68 Grant Program to receive additional grant funding for the Project via a grant amendment. Due to the potential additional grant funding, Staff will defer to provide a full accounting of the Project in a future staff report.
Project Results
The Sutter Avenue Green Street project demonstrated a significant reduction in flooding during a storm event observed by staff on February 4, 2025. When compared to a similar storm that occurred on February 13, 2019 (similar in intensity to a typical "2-year" storm), the improvements were evident. During the 2019 event, stormwater overwhelmed the infrastructure and flooded adjacent private properties. In contrast, the 2025 storm resulted in inundation that remained entirely within the public right-of-way. Staff observations and photographic comparisons from both events clearly indicate that the Green Street enhancements effectively managed stormwater runoff and reduced the extent and impact of flooding in the area.
Photo 1 and Photo 2 (Attachment B): Photo of Sutter Avenue Urban Green Street Project show the peak of both storm events and clearly illustrate the reduction in flooding resulting from the Sutter Avenue Green Street improvements. In Photo 1, taken on February 13, 2019, stormwater can be seen overtopping curbs and sidewalk, encroaching into private properties. This indicates an inadequacy of the previous drainage system.
Photo 2 was taken on February 4, 2025, during a storm of similar magnitude. By contrast, it shows stormwater contained within the street and public right-of-way. This visual evidence, along with staff observations, confirms that the infrastructure upgrades have significantly improved the area's resilience to storm events and reduced flooding in private properties.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Project is within budget. Fiscal impact analysis will be deferred to a future staff report in which staff will reconcile Project budget and expenditures, accept additional grant funds, re-allocate any unused local and general funds, and provide final accounting of the Project.
ATTACHMENTS:
ATT A: Resolution
ATT B: Photo of Sutter Avenue Greet Street Project