PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to present the necessary information to allow the Redevelopment Agency Board to consider adopting a resolution awarding Bid Schedule R-1167 to Fluoresco Lighting & Signs Inc. to perform the work for the Downtown Wayfinding Signage Program.

BACKGROUND:

In July 2000, the City Council directed staff to implement a Village Public Improvement Program, which included a Downtown wayfinding signage component. The intent of the wayfinding signage program is to guide visitors from the freeway exists to major areas of Downtown Burbank, as well as guide motorist to the available parking in Downtown Burbank. As staff proceeded with designs, the City began with the formation of a Property-based Business Improvement District, Burbank Partners. The Management Plan formed by Burbank Partners incorporated the wayfinding signage program as part of their improvement plans for the area, and budgeted $300,000 toward the wayfinding signage program. In March 2003, staff presented preliminary plans to the City Council designed by Hunt Design Associates, including sign types, specifications, community outreach efforts and preliminary cost estimates. As a result, further modifications were made reducing a number of signs and as a result reducing the expected costs for the program. In December 2003, the Burbank Partners Board of Directors approved the proposed design. In February of this year, the City Council approved the signage program, and directed staff to complete a competitive bidding process for the fabrication and installation of the downtown signage program.

The wayfinding signage program consists of 101 signs which include freeway offramp directional signs, primary and secondary directional signs, parking identification and district identification. There are four freeway offramp directional signs, which direct visitors off the freeway and into Downtown Burbank. There are twenty pole mounted, primary, directional signs located along the perimeter of Downtown Burbank that direct visitors to the different districts and to public parking. Within Downtown Burbank, there are twenty-seven pole mounted, secondary, directional signs. In addition, there are parking identification signs. The parking identification signs are made up of thirteen non-illuminated, pole mounted signs and seven blade or wall mounted, internally illuminated signs. Lastly, there are thirty pole mounted non-illuminated, district identification signs. In addition, during the bidding process, an additional five illuminated signs were eliminated from the Media City Center Mall parking structures at the request of the mall owners, who are planning on their own tenant-based sign program. This resulted in additional cost savings.

Over the course of the past several weeks, the City has received questions regarding the bid process. Some of the questions concerned items such as licensing requirements, design elements, permits, trees and whether the City�s own sign shop could perform the work. Staff responded to the written questions applicable to the bid schedule in an addendum that was issued to all the bidding contractors (Exhibit A). These types of questions and answers are typical during the course of the bid process and assist the bidding contractors in submitting a proper bid proposal. While staff attempts to cover all the possible issues that may be raised during the bidding process, it is impossible to anticipate all the questions and inquires that may be raised by a bidding contractor. One particular question concerned the removal of street trees, there are no plans to remove any trees, as a matter of fact, the program calls for additional poles if need in case there is a need due to tree locations or other obstacles. There may be some minimal tree trimming if needed, but no trees will be removed.

Another question that has been raised by the public during recent Council meetings involves the issue of whether City staff can fabricate the signs rather than contracting out the work. Staff has been in contact with the City�s sign shop (since very early in the design process), and they have reiterated that the City�s sign shop is not able to produce these signs due to various issues. First the City�s sign shop currently only produces signs that are 24� in height, while most of the signs that are proposed are greater that 24� in height. Furthermore, they are not rectangular or square, like the typical street signs that the sign shop produces. New equipment would have to be purchased in order to fabricate the signs as specified in the signage program. In addition, the sign shop can not provide illuminated signs. The City�s sign shop is equipped to handle typical street signs, the type of signage specified in the wayfinding program requires a different process. Staff was also informed that the inks that are specified are not available in the sign shop. While they could be purchased, the sign shop does not have the proper equipment for multi-color sign fabrication, therefore, additional equipment for multi-color applications would have to be purchased. Lastly, the sign shop is not equipped to handle a project of this size, even if it had the ability to produce these types of signs. Existing personnel would have to be shifted from other responsibilities and duties, as well as, hiring temporary additional personnel in order to fabricate the specified signs in the program.

ANALYSIS:

Bid Schedule R-1167 was advertised July 28, 2004 and July 31, 2004 in the Burbank Leader. A mandatory pre-bid meeting was held August 9, 2004. Fourteen sets of plans were sold to prospective bidders, eleven of which attended the mandatory walk through. Ultimately, staff received only two bids, which are as follows:

Fluoresco Lighting & Signs Inc.         $134,905.05

Absolute Sign Inc.                                $249,651.05

Staff and Hunt Design Associates have reviewed the competitive bids submitted for the Downtown wayfinding program. Initially, the difference in the cost of the two proposals seemed unusual; however, based on comments received by Hunt Design Associates, the difference in cost can be attributed to a conservative estimate by Absolute Sign Inc. across every individual bid item. Further Absolute Sign Inc. has the added cost of needing to subcontract some of the work out to subcontracts whereas Fluoresco Lighting and Signs Inc. will not have any subcontractors on the project. It is also the opinion of Hunt Design Associates that the bid submitted by Fluoresco Lighting and Sign Inc. is appropriate. Currently Fluoresco Lighting & Sign Inc. is working on two other projects that were designed by Hunt Design Associates, for the Cities of Los Angeles and Long Beach. To date there has not been any problems with Fluoresco Lighting & Signs Inc.

In September 2004, City staff presented the downtown wayfinding signage program and bid proposals to the Burbank Partners Board of Directors. The Burbank Partners approved both the wayfinding signage program and approved the necessary funding unanimously.

It is therefore recommended that Fluoresco Lighting & Signs Inc. the lowest responsible bidder, be selected to perform the work.

Consistent with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this wayfinding signage program is Categorically Exempt by Section 15311 Accessory structures.

FISCAL IMPACT:

In September 2004 the Burbank Partners Board of Directors approved funds from the Property Business Improvement District budget to pay for the implementation of the wayfinding signage program. There is no cost to be borne by the City or Redevelopment Agency Board.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the Redevelopment Agency Board award Bid Schedule R-1167 Downtown Wayfinding Signage Program to Fluoresco Lighting and Signs Inc. and that the City Council approve the Downtown Wayfinding Signage Program.

EXHIBITS:

A         Addendum #2

go to the top