Milpitas council grants $225,000 engineering contract before Main Street reconstruction

By Ian Bauer, Milpitas Post

A nearly $4-million reconstruction of Main Street scheduled later this year will begin with the help of an outside firm to assist city engineering staff with the project's design.

Milpitas City Council voted unanimously Jan. 6 to approve the work on a capital improvement program project known as the Main Street Pavement Reconstruction and authorize the city manager to execute a not-to-exceed $225,000 consultant agreement with San Jose-based HMH Engineers, for a term from Jan. 6 to Dec. 31, 2015.

City reports state the Main Street Pavement Reconstruction project -- included in the city's five-year capital improvement program and approved by the council last May -- will provide for the partial reconstruction of South Main Street from Carlo Street to Great Mall Parkway.

The work includes removal and replacement of roadway pavement, the installation of new Americans with Disabilities Act sidewalk ramps, curb, gutter, sidewalk and driveway repairs, drainage system improvements, and replacement of missing street trees. An asphalt overlay of Serra Way and Corning Avenue from South Main Street to Abel Street will also be included, city reports state.

The project will be funded from remaining proceeds from the sale of the 1997 and 2003 Milpitas Redevelopment Agency tax allocation bonds -- a total of $3.9 million, reports state.

HMH Engineers will provide field surveying, preparation of plans and specifications for public bidding, and construction administration support for the improvements to reconstruct South Main Street.

Staff negotiated a scope and fee for these services not to exceed $225,000.

Prior to the vote, Mayor Jose Esteves questioned staff whether this contract had undergone a public bidding process.

Milpitas City Attorney Mike Ogaz said because this was deemed a "consultant agreement" no bidding was required.

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Milpitas council grants $225,000 engineering contract before Main Street reconstruction