REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Authorize the Use of City Electric Forces for Public Works at 4220 Network Circle, 560 Lincoln Street, 3065 Democracy Way, 50901 Lick Mill Boulevard, 3007 Democracy Way, 485 Old Ironsides Drive, 4963 Old Ironsides Drive, 2401 Tasman Drive, 3005 Democracy Way, 2400 Condensa Street, 1957 Pruneridge Avenue, and 3025 Raymond Street, With an Estimated Cost of $193,759
Report
BACKGROUND
Section 1310 of the Santa Clara City Charter (Contracts on Public Works) states “that every contract involving an expenditure of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the construction or improvement (excluding maintenance and repair) of public buildings, works, streets, drains, sewers, utilities, parks and playgrounds shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder.” The section further states that “the City Council may declare and determine that, in its opinion, the work in question may be performed better or more economically by the City with its own employees, and after the adoption of a resolution to this effect by at least four affirmative votes, it may proceed to have said work done in the manner stated, without further observance of the provisions of this section.”
DISCUSSION
Staff believes that the work described below is better performed with City forces based upon the following factors: (1) the work is limited in size and scope; (2) City forces have knowledge and training in operating and maintaining the electric system that can be leveraged to more economically perform this work; and (3) bidding out the work and contracting with a private entity would not likely result in a lower overall cost or time savings. Therefore, the staff recommends that the City Council declares and determines that City forces can better perform the installation of the following electric facilities and approve the use of City forces.
Estimate Number: 39646
Location: 4220 Network Circle
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Pulling cable and installing 12kV meter on customer switchgear.
Estimated Cost: $38,240
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: 39683
Location: 560 Lincoln Street
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Replacement of pole and installation of overhead transformer bank for apartment service upgrade.
Estimated Cost: $39,208
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: 40373
Location: 3065 Democracy Way
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Installation of underground cables and connectors to the point of connection for small cell streetlight.
Estimated Cost: $11,844
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: 40420
Location: 50901 Lick Mill Boulevard
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Installation of underground cables and connectors to the point of connection for small cell streetlight.
Estimated Cost: $6,368
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: 40374
Location: 3007 Democracy Way
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Installation of underground cable and underground connectors to point of connection for small cell streetlight.
Estimated Cost: $6,724
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: 40375
Location: 485 Old Ironsides Drive
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Installation of underground cable and underground connectors to point of connection for small cell streetlight.
Estimated Cost: $3,231
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: 40376
Location: 4963 Old Ironsides Drive
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Installation of underground cable and underground connectors to point of connection for small cell streetlight.
Estimated Cost: $9,010
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: 40603
Location: 2401 Tasman Drive
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Installation of underground cable and underground connectors to point of connection for small cell streetlight.
Estimated Cost: $12,353
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: 40607
Location: 3005 Democracy Way
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Installation of underground cable and underground connectors to point of connection for small cell streetlight.
Estimated Cost: $3,740
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: 40463
Location: 2400 Condensa Street
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Install 1500kVA transformer and terminations, ±100' high voltage underground conductor, 3000A service meter.
Estimated Cost: $49,649
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: 40715
Location: 1957 Pruneridge Avenue
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Install new wood pole and air switch in preparation for SVP work under Estimate 39237 (install new padmount transformer and padmount switch for new 22-home project).
Estimated Cost: $6,903
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution, Salvage Plant
Estimate Number: 40794
Location: 3025 Raymond Street
Type of Service: New Business (2005)
Description of Work: Removal of temporary power padmount transformer.
Estimated Cost: $6,489
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work
Source of Revenue: Customer/Developer Contribution
Historically, City staff has performed small project work like this under the use of City Forces exception and justification above. In preparation for the implementation and roll out the new Arcos crew management system scheduled to go live in Fall 2025, SVP staff will be developing a process to review this practice on a routine basis to provide further support for this approach.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Staff recommends that the City Council determine that the action being considered is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to section 15302 (Class 2 -Replacement or Reconstruction) and section 15303 (New Construction) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations as the proposed work involves the replacement of electric facilities and the installation of small electric facilities involving negligible expansion of capacity.
FISCAL IMPACT
The funds to support the staff time for work performed by Silicon Valley Power (SVP) and related construction materials for the work detailed in this report totaling $193,759 are included in the FY 2025/26 Adopted CIP Budget, in Project 2005 - New Business Estimate Work in the Electric Utility Capital Fund. All of the referenced work will be performed by City SVP staff. Some work associated with encroachment permits may be performed by the Department of Public Works (DPW). DPW costs are recovered through payment of permit fees.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Determine that the proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15302 (Class 2 - Replacement or Reconstruction) and Section 15303 (New Construction) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; and
2. Declare and determine in accordance with Section 1310 of the City Charter that the public works located at 4220 Network Circle, 560 Lincoln Street, 3065 Democracy Way, 50901 Lick Mill Boulevard, 3007 Democracy Way, 485 Old Ironsides Drive, 4963 Old Ironsides Drive, 2401 Tasman Drive, 3005 Democracy Way, 2400 Condensa Street, 1957 Pruneridge Avenue, and 3025 Raymond Street with an estimated cost of $193,759 are better performed by the City with its own employees based on the information set forth in this Report to Council and authorize the performance of these public works consistent with this authorization.
Staff
Reviewed by: Nico Procos, Director of Silicon Valley Power
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager