How to resolve AdBlock issue? CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake is set to begin a project to make improvements at the civic center.
On Thursday night the Clearlake City Council unanimously approved the award of a construction contract to Granite Construction for the Burns Valley Civic Center Enhancement Project.
Granite Construction, which was the only company to submit a bid in response to the city’s February project advertisement, is estimating the work will cost approximately $549,136, about $1,000 less than the city engineer’s estimate, according to Public Works Superintendent Mike Baker.
As part of approving Granite Construction’s bid, the city council allowed for new City Manager Alan Flora – who was in the city manager’s seat for the first time on Thursday – to approve up to an additional 10 percent in unforeseen contract amendments.
Baker went over the project’s background, explaining that the civic center location has either no facilities or substandard ones for proper pedestrian and bicycle travel.
He said it will provide pedestrian improvements including high visibility crosswalks, retro-reflective signs and striping, rapid-flashing beacons and other pedestrian/bicyclist improvements.
It also will add sidewalks and a bike route along Olympic Drive from Pine Street to Lakeshore Drive and extend around the corner along the east side of Lakeshore Drive from Olympic Drive to the end of the City Hall property.
The SB1 Local Partner Program will provide $200,000 for the project. The staff report said the remaining $349,136 was to come from the city’s Series A bonds. However, on Thursday night, Baker said only $320,000 in bond funding was available, so staff recommended that the remaining $30,000 come from the gas tax fund.
He said it’s an important project to implement the city’s strategic plan goal No. 3, which is improving the quality of life in Clearlake with improved public facilities.
Councilman Dirk Slooten asked if utility undergrounding is to be a part of the project.
Retiring Public Works Director Doug Herren said no. He said he had talked to Pacific Gas and Electric which has projects that are still a year or two out, and the city didn’t want to wait. Herren said the city needs to set an example by installing curb, gutter and sidewalk at its facilities if it’s requiring it of community members.
Slooten asked if the city could force the company to do their projects quicker. Herren said no, but he added that if PG&E were to do an undergrounding project, it’s unlikely to impact the work by the city, which isn’t buying any right of way.
Councilman Phil Harris asked about the location of the high visibility crosswalks. Herren said the location is at Olympic and Pine, not Olympic and Lakeshore.
Harris asked if there are provisions for lighting in the project; Herren said no. Harris then followed up by asking if the city could incorporate conduit and vaults into its work in order to make provisions for future undergrounding projects.
Herren said it’s possible, noting that many construction projects are up to four years behind due to the region’s fires. He said more projects are now using line or directional boring for undergrounding, which is less destructive.
Slooten said the City Hall property probably isn’t now compliant with federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. “It’s important that we set an example.”
Councilman Russell Cremer moved to approve the contract award, which the council approved 5-0.
In other business on Thursday, the council approved an agreement with the Lake County Tourism Improvement District for administrative services related to collection of the newly established 1.5-percent assessment from lodging establishments within the city and held a first reading of an ordinance to make what City Attorney Ryan Jones termed as a “minor amendment” to the city code’s exceptions to competitive bidding requirements.
The council also approved a resolution certifying the appointment of Jill Martin as the city’s finance director. Martin is a recent retiree in the CalPERS system. Flora told the council members that they needed to certify that the position is critically needed in order to waive the requirement that she not work for another CalPERS employer within six months of her retirement.
Martin will be a retired annuitant, which allows her to work up to 960 hours per fiscal year. Flora, who has held the finance director job along with the assistant city manager job, said the city will now work on finding a permanent finance director.
On Thursday the council also gave Herren a sendoff – with a reception before the meeting and honors at the start of the meeting.
The council also honored honor retiring police dispatcher Wendy England, presented a proclamation recognizing March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day and heard a report on the Public, Education and Government Channel’s annual budget.
Departing City Manager Greg Folsom – who hired Flora last year – spoke briefly during public comment, reporting that it was Flora’s birthday and leading everyone in singing “Happy Birthday” to him.
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