To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: TED SEMAAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
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APPROVE AN OFFSITE CHANGE ORDER TO THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT WITH HARDY & HARPER, INC. FOR AN AMOUNT OF $110,000 TO REPAIR A RECENTLY FORMED SINK HOLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF HAWTHORNE BLVD. AND ARTESIA BLVD
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A significant sinkhole recently developed in the center median of Hawthorne Blvd. immediately north of the intersection at Artesia Blvd. The sinkhole was caused by the partial failure of City owned storm drains that serve the intersection following heavy rains. Staff has stabilized the area and fenced it off to protect passing pedestrians, but an urgent repair is needed to remove the risk associated with the sinkhole. Repair of the storm drain and sinkhole is beyond the capability of City crews, leading staff to solicit three quotes from appropriately licensed contractors already doing work for the City. This method of contracting will provide the most immediate repair and eliminate risk attributed to the sinkhole
Hardy & Harper, Inc. provided the lowest quote of the three firms, in an amount of $110,000. Hardy & Harper, Inc. is already under contract to the City for the Torrance Blvd. paving project and the signal modification project at Francisca Avenue, Job Nos. 41230 and 41070, respectively. The City’s Administrative Policy/Procedure for construction change orders (APP 14.1), limits the City Engineer’s authority to issue an offsite change order to $25,000. Therefore, staff is recommending the City Council approve the offsite change order to Hardy & Harper, Inc., in the amount of $110,000 to allow for the expedient repair of the sinkhole. Because the repair is offsite and unrelated to the projects for which the Public Works contract was awarded, staff also recommends the change order, if approved, not count against the 10% change order authority of the City Engineer for the contracted projects provided per APP 14.1.
BACKGROUND
The City’s storm drain system consists of street gutters, catch basins, manholes, and gravity flow pipes that collect both wet and dry weather runoff and direct it to outfalls along the coast or into the Dominguez Channel. Most of this infrastructure was installed decades ago and, in some cases, nearly a century ago. Since FY 2017-18 the City’s CIP model has included an ongoing program, Drainage Improvement Project - Construction, Job No. 60150, to address the deteriorating condition of this infrastructure. The City currently has a contract with Sancon to repair and maintain the system as directed by staff, with a special emphasis on lining corrugated metal pipes, which reach the end of their useful life more quickly than concrete pipes.
There is fund balance in this project, beyond the encumbrance of the current contract with Sancon. Staff intends to use that fund balance to repair this sinkhole, as it has done with other smaller sinkholes that have occurred with winter storms. Sancon was asked to provide a quote for the needed work, but given its potentially significant cost, staff also solicited quotes from Hardy & Harper, Inc., and Toro Enterprises, Inc. Both of these firms are licensed to perform underground utility work and have contracts with the City for major street repair work (Torrance Blvd. and Manhattan Beach Blvd., respectively.) Of the three firms, Hardy & Harper, Inc. provided the lowest quote.
In order to contract with Hardy & Harper for this work, the City has prepared a construction change order that has been signed by Hardy & Harper. Because the change order is for offsite work that exceeds $25,000, the City Engineer is not authorized to sign the change order, as per APP 14.1, without approval of the City Council. Therefore, staff is seeking approval of the change order and authorization for the City Engineer to execute it on behalf of the City.
Staff is also requesting that this work not count against the 10% change order authority provided by APP 14.1 for the projects Hardy & Harper are constructing along Torrance Blvd. Preservation of the full 10% authority with allow staff to quickly respond to needed scope adjustments that may occur during Hardy & Harper’s construction of the signal improvement and paving work along the Blvd.
COORDINATION
Work to secure, stabilize, and solicit quotes for the repair of the sinkhole at the intersection of Hawthorne Blvd. and Artesia Blvd. was coordinated by the Public Works Department. Staff also coordinated with Caltrans, who has jurisdiction of the Hawthorne Blvd. right of way, for permitting requirements related to the repair activities.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the repair in the amount of $110,000 will come from available funds in the Drainage Improvement Construction Project, Job No. 60150.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Change Order # 4 - Torrance Blvd. at Francisca Avenue, Job Nos. 41230 and 41070, Change Order for Sinkhole Repair