PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is for the Redevelopment Agency to consider the approval of Change Order No. 2 for the contract to fabricate and install the Downtown Wayfinding Signage Program.

BACKGROUND

In October of 2004, the City Council and Redevelopment Agency approved the Downtown Wayfinding Signage Program.  The intent of the wayfinding program is to guide visitors to major areas of Downtown Burbank as well as guide motorists to available parking in Downtown. The Downtown property-based business improvement district (P-BID) known as Downtown Burbank Partners approved the funding of the program in the amount of $300,000 as part of their Management Plan.

The Redevelopment Agency was asked to implement the program.  The Agency received two bids for the program from Absolute Sign Company in the amount of $249,651 and Fluoresco Lighting and Signs in the amount of $134,905.  The contract was ultimately awarded to Fluoresco Lighting and Signs, which prepared the shop drawings, fabricated and installed the 101 signs.

The Downtown Burbank Partnership approved Change Order No. 1 to add anti-graffiti protection to the signs and relocate six installed signs that were partially blocked by existing street trees in the amount of $9,306.  The Partnership also approved Change Order No. 2 to add nine new sign poles and perform unforeseen electrical work on the illuminated parking structure signs as well as eliminate five sign installations at a total cost of $15,100 (Exhibit �A�).  The total contract has therefore increased from $134,905 to $159,311 representing a $24,406 increase, an 18 percent increase in percentage terms. 

The funding for the change orders will come from the Downtown Burbank Partners original $300,000 budget. (The Downtown Burbank Partners intends to use the remaining savings to help fund the landscape and hardscape improvements outlined in their Management Plan). Since the Agency is administering the contract, the Agency Board is required to approve any change orders that are over 10 percent of the original contract as part of its purchasing procedures.

ANALYSIS & CONCLUSIONS

Change Order No. 1 was primarily to add an anti-graffiti coating on all of the signs.  There was a concern that these specialized signs might be attractive to taggers and that it would be easier to maintain these signs if the coating was placed on the signs.

For both Change Order No. 1 and Change Order No. 2, while every effort was made to locate signs in visible and appropriate locations, several signs had to be moved once the signage program was implemented in order to increase visibility and effectiveness of the wayfinding program.  The main challenge was that there were relatively few existing light poles to install the signs, which in many cases were only one per block, while at the same time there were street trees that at times reduced the visibility of the signs. For Change Order No. 2, this has required that nine new sign poles be ordered and installed at the cost of $13,275.  In addition, unforeseen electrical work has been necessary to serve the illuminated parking signs on various parking structures in order to make the electrical load of  the signs compatible with the power source. With approval of the change order, Fluoresco Lighting will order and install the final nine poles.   

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact to the City or Agency as this work is being funded by the Downtown Burbank Partnership.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Agency adopt the Resolution approving Change Order No. 2 for Bid Schedule R-1167.

EXHIBITS

A         Change Order