Subject: PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PERMANENT
CLOSURE OF SHERMAN STREET AND AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO HRB, INC., FOR Construction OF BRENDA LOPEZ MEMORIAL
PARK
Following a public hearing by the City Council, it
is recommended that:
(a) The City Council adopt a resolution to
permanently close the northerly 150 linear feet of Sherman Street; and,
(b) The Redevelopment Agency Board award a
contract to HRB, Inc., the low bidder, for the construction of the Brenda Lopez
Memorial Park in the amount of $462,992 and establish a construction
contingency in the amount of $46,299 for a total funding authorization of
$509,291.
On December 14, 1999, the City Council and Redevelopment Agency Board approved a series of proposed improvements, including a new public park and plaza in the area to the west of the Biblioteca Latinoamericana and Washington United Youth Center. Approximately one year later, the Redevelopment Agency Board made findings and determinations that the proposed Sherman Street Park is of primary benefit to the adjacent Monterey Corridor Redevelopment Project Area. Staff was directed to analyze the possible closure of Sherman Street at the intersection of Oak Street, based on the approved schematic design and cost estimate for the park.
The Brenda Lopez Memorial Park will be the northern
most 150 feet of Sherman Street at Oak Street.
This location was identified in the Washington Neighborhood
Revitalization Plan adopted by the City Council in December 1998. In October 2001, a Traffic Impact Analysis
Report was completed by Hexagon Transportation Consultants, Inc., to determine
the traffic impact of closing the northerly 150 feet of Sherman Street. The report noted the closure to through
traffic on Sherman Street has a traffic calming effect by reducing the average
daily traffic volume on Oak Street by 623 trips, and 1,130 trips on Edward
Street. As required by City Ordinance
No. 21120, public notices were posted two weeks prior to today's public hearing
along the portion of the street to be closed.
On April 5, 2001, the Redevelopment Agency entered
into an agreement with Carducci and Associates to complete the construction
documents for the Brenda Lopez Memorial Park.
The Park is designed to be a family oriented, multi-purpose open space,
linking the Washington United Youth Center and the Washington Elementary
School. The design includes concrete
paving, benches, picnic tables, a grass play area, pedestrian lighting and tree
planting. The plans were reviewed and
approved by the staff of the Redevelopment Agency, the Department of Parks,
Recreation and Neighborhood Services, General Services Administration, and the
Department of Public Works.
On August 21, 2001, advertisements for construction bids were placed in the San Jose Mercury News and the Daily Pacific Builder. On August 23, 2001, an advertisement was also placed in El Observador newspaper. The project was advertised on the City website and the Invitation for Bids was sent to 45 prospective bidders. Two pre-bid meetings were held in the Redevelopment Agency offices on August 28 and 30, 2001, to acquaint prospective bidders with the project. The engineers’ estimate for the construction was $497,993. Two bids were received on October 4, 2001:
HRB, Inc., is
the low bidder at $462,992. The project
is expected to be completed by April 2002.
Staff has met monthly with the Washington
Neighborhood Coalition since August 2000 to solicit input regarding the scope,
budget, program, and the design of the proposed plaza. Representatives from the Council District 3
Office; Washington Elementary School; Parks Recreation and Neighborhood
Services; the Planning Department; Police Department; Washington United Youth
Center; and Biblioteca Americana have all participated in monthly meetings
concerning this project.
This project has been coordinated with the Agency's
General Counsel; Council District 3; Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood
Services; Planning; Department of Transportation; Public Works; Office of
Public Art; the Fire Department; and General Services Administration.
Funding for the proposed project in the amount of $509,291 is provided for in the Adopted FY 2001-02 Capital Budget (Neighborhood Investment Program, Monterey Corridor, Washington Area Improvements).
Resolution No. 65459
____________________________ ________________________
DEL BORGSDORF SUSAN F. SHICK
City Manager Executive Director