1. Contract Award for the Colorado Street Bridge Suicide Mitigation Enhancements Project
City Council
May 20, 2019
Item # 7

2. Project Background
July 19, Due to a recent and alarming trend, City Staff provided the City’s Public Safety Committee a presentation on the Colorado Bridge in regards to suicide
In response, Public Works Director assembled a task force in hopes of developing options that are amenable to all stakeholders and the Community at large
July 2017 – Temporary fencing was installed to block the 20 benched alcove areas along the bridge

3. Project Background (cont’d)
April 18, 2018 – Presented to Public Safety Committee
April 23, Presented to City Council findings and recommendations from Colorado Street Bridge Task Force
City Council:
Approved suicide prevention measures through implementation of a vertical barrier system
Directed staff to further study the recommendations of the Colorado Street Bridge Task Force and return to Council with a recommended project and appropriate environmental review

4. Interim Measure
September 2018 – Additional temporary fencing was installed the entire length of the bridge

5. Environmental & Design Phase
October 17, Department of Public Works issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the following professional services:
Preliminary investigations and engineering survey
Environmental documents and preliminary design
Public outreach/involvement
Final design and construction documentation
Bidding phase support

6. Consultant Selection Process
RFP advertisement generated notices to 3,736 vendors
January 24, Two responsive proposals received
February 21, Two consulting teams were interviewed by the Selection Committee
Selection Committee comprised of four members from Public Works, Planning & Community Development, Fire Department, and Public Health
Proposals evaluated based on qualifications, not competitive bidding
Qualifications & Experience (35 pts)
Project Understanding and Approach (40 pts)
Scope of Services to be Provided (25 pts)

7. Recommended Firm Donald MacDonald Architects (San Francisco)
Specialize in design of new & historic bridges
Expertise in bridge suicide mitigation effort
Cooper River Bridge, Charleston, SC
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, Vancouver, BC
Partnering with:
Biggs Cardosa Associates Structural Engineers – Part of 1993 Colorado Bridge Retrofit project team
GPA Consulting – Environmental evaluation of historic resources. Principal Architectural Historian worked on City’s historic La Loma Bridge Rehabilitation and Holly Street Retrofit projects

8. Public Safety Committee
April 17, Department of Public Works proposed to Public Safety Committee the award of an environmental and design services contract
Public Safety Committee directed staff to streamline the scope of work, and return with a condensed schedule and reduced cost
May 15, Department of Public Works returned to Public Safety Committee with a condensed project scope & schedule (10 months shorter) and reduced environmental/design phase budget ($300k less)
City to pursue Categorical Exemption (CE) in lieu of an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) under CEQA guidelines

9. Project Fiscal Impact Environmental and Design Phase Fiscal Impact
Contract “Not To Exceed” $500,000
Project Management & Administration $ 50,000
Total Fiscal Impact $550,000

10. Anticipated Schedule PROJECT MILESTONES COMPLETION DATE
Environmental Design & Preliminary Engineering (CEQA Cat. Exclusion)
October 2019
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
Design Review Commission Meeting
November 2019
Preferred Alternative Development
December 2019
City Council Meeting for CEQA & Concept Approval
Finalize Design & Construction Documents
April 2020
Advertise, Bid & Award
July 2020
Begin Construction (pending budget appropriation)
August 2020

11. Recommendation
Find the project proposed herein to be categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines in accordance with Title 14, Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 15061(b)(3), the General Rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment;  
Amend the Fiscal Year 2019 Capital Improvement Program Budget by appropriating $550,000 in General Fund dollars to Colorado Street Bridge – Suicide Mitigation Enhancements – Design Phase (73324) project; and
Authorize City Manager to enter into a contract, as the result of a competitive selection process, specified by Section of the Pasadena Municipal Code, with Donald MacDonald Architects for Professional Services for Environmental and Design Services for a total amount not to exceed $500,000.