Council approves 3 works contracts exceeding $850K

Public Works Director Jeff Kiser kept the Anderson City Council busy at the Aug. 18 meeting last week approving bids on major construction projects.

In three separate actions, the council approved $851,684.55 in total spending - most of it in federal or state grants - to:

1.) construct curbs, gutters and sidewalks, stencil bicycle paths with white paint and make minor storm drain improvements to enhance pedestrian and bicycle access along Pinon Avenue, Bruce Street and Emily Drive, primarily for students going to and coming from local area schools.

United Building Contractors of Chico submitted the apparent low bid of $381,319.85 and was unanimously awarded the contract.

Anderson received a federal Safe Routes to School grant for up to $692,050 as payment for engineering, environmental studies, construction and management of various similar projects around town, Acting City Manager Dana Shigley explained to the council by way of background.

"Although a long time in coming, this project - with its meandering sidewalk features, improved driveways and parking at Volonte Park and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) crosswalk improvements - will be well worth the wait after its construction," Shigley noted in a written report to Anderson's five council members.

2.) use Federal Stimulus Project funds to repair three streets designated as "Federal Aid Urban" routes, including Deschutes Road from the Union Pacific railroad crossing to the Interstate 5 southbound off ramp, South Street from the city limits to Emily Drive and, finally, most of Rupert Road.

Construction work, unanimously awarded to Tullis, Inc., of Redding for the apparent low bid of $377,310.40, will include asphalt and concrete repairs, asphalt overlays, utility adjustments and traffic lane painting.

Three alternatives, each added separately onto the base bid, could bring the project total up to $605,075.90, Kiser noted.

3.) join with the Anderson Fire Protection District to improve the parking area behind the District's office and City Hall. An apparent low bid of $93,054.30 was awarded to John C. Franklin Construction, Inc., of Redding.

The fire district will contribute $30,000 towards the project's costs, Shigley noted.

The city's share of the project, to be paid with Anderson Redevelopment Agency Tax Increment Bonds authorized and sold in 2008, will improve storm runoff and prevent standing water, improve lighting in the parking lot on the south side of City Hall, replace paving behind the fire district offices, and seal and repaint parking spaces in the City Hall parking lot, Kiser said.

Although too early in the process to request bids, city officials received confirmation from California's Department of Transportation (Cal-Trans) that Anderson will receive $242,650 in state-legislated Safe Route to School Program funds towards a $319,600 project to construct curbs, sidewalks, curb ramps and install traffic signal modifications at the intersection of State Highway 273 and North Street.

Finally, the East Center Street demonstration block received a notice of completion.