Council awards $274,895 contract for ADA curb ramp upgrades in city center

The City Council on Wednesday awarded a construction contract to Cali Denny Construction for ADA curb ramp and pedestrian improvements at seven intersections in the city center and authorized a related $66,000 fund transfer.

Engineering staff opened bids July 31; the low responsive bid from Cali Denny Construction (Carbonado) totaled $249,905. With a construction contingency of $24,990.50, the authorized contract maximum is $274,895.50. Staff told council the project covers 13 ramp improvements at seven high-priority downtown locations selected for poor cross slopes and high pedestrian traffic.

Project engineer Chesky (Charsky) Kinloch summarized the bid results and recommended awarding to the lowest responsive bidder. “Our lowest bid came in at $249,905 with a 10% contingency in construction management and inspection,” Kinloch said, describing the funding plan and the transfer of $66,000 from the Transportation Capital Improvement Fund (Fund 306) to match the anticipated $316,000 total expenditure.

Council voted unanimously to award the contract, approve the contingency, and authorize the $66,000 transfer to cover remaining project costs. The mayor was authorized to execute the contract documents.

Discussion versus decision: Council discussion reviewed bid variation on traffic-control and traffic-signal related items; engineering staff said variance was expected because unit items and traffic control on Pacific Highway can vary by contractor approach. The formal decision was to award the contract to Cali Denny Construction with the contingency and fund transfer authorized.

Quotation from the meeting • Chesky Kinloch (Project engineer): “Our lowest bid came in at $249,905 with a 10% contingency in construction management and inspection.”