Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Nicholas J. Calderon, Parks Director
Subject: Agreement with Romtec Incorporated for the design and construction of a restroom building and interpretive pavilion at San Bruno Mountain State and County Park
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an agreement with Romtec Incorporated for the design and construction of a restroom building and interpretive pavilion at San Bruno Mountain State and County Park for an amount not to exceed $1,041,055.
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BACKGROUND:
San Bruno Mountain State and County Park (“San Bruno Mountain”) stands as a protected open space island in northern San Mateo County that provides habitat for a diverse array of plants and wildlife. The park, comprised of 2,416 acres of rugged terrain, offers exciting hiking opportunities with a nearly 10-mile-long trail network, a youth-group campground, day use picnicking facilities, and panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay Area. San Bruno Mountain’s unique natural resources, expansive trail system, and proximity to the cities of Brisbane, Daly City, South San Francisco, and Colma draws nearly a quarter of a million visitors every year, and the centrally located day use area serves as a gathering location for visitors having a picnic or preparing for a scenic hike.
To enhance the services provided at the park, the Parks Department (“Department”) conceptualized the San Bruno Mountain Day Use Improvement Project which will be completed in two phases. The first phase, scheduled for completion in 2024, will improve accessibility, pedestrian circulation, and picnic facilities by installing larger and more functional picnic sites with paved access paths. The second phase, scheduled for completion in 2025, will replace the antiquated day use restroom building with a new, gender-neutral, fully accessible, four-stall facility with an attached open-air interpretive pavilion. The existing restroom building was constructed in the mid-1980’s and has exceeded its useful life.
To identify a facility suitable for San Bruno Mountain, the Department developed a project design standard, which included energy and water efficient fixtures; use of material that can best withstand the natural environment at San Bruno Mountain; high quality and reliable finishes; ease of maintenance to extend the useful life of the structure; and compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
Using these requirements as a basis, and in accordance with California law governing the procurement of design-build services by counties, in March 2024, the Department released a Request for Qualifications seeking to prequalify Design Build Entities that could design and construct the restroom building and interpretive pavilion pursuant to a subsequently issued Request for Proposals (“RFP”).
Through this process, three firms were prequalified and two responded to the RFP: Romtec Incorporated (“Romtec”) and GCJ, Inc. The Department and its consultant, Capital Program Management, Inc. (“CPM”), conducted an extensive review of the proposals and recommend that the County enter into an agreement with Romtec for the requested services.
DISCUSSION:
Pursuant to the proposed agreement, Romtec will design and deliver a turnkey facility at project completion. The scope of work includes: demolition and disposal of the existing restroom building; completion of all necessary site preparation and utility connections; installation of drainage and stormwater improvements; and design and construction of the new restroom building and open-air interpretive pavilion, including toilets, sinks, and ancillary improvements.
To extend the useful life of the new facility to the greatest extent possible, the Department selected a facility model that utilizes: a strategically designed ventilation system to resist mold, concrete masonry to eliminate rot, interior antimicrobial latex epoxy paint, high quality epoxy concrete floor finishing, sanitary tile cove base on interior walls, and solar tubes in addition to high efficiency lighting.
Should the Board authorize the proposed agreement, Romtec will proceed with the development of detailed, engineered designs for the restroom building and open-air interpretive pavilion. The design includes preliminary plan views and elevation submittals as well as schematic civil designs including existing conditions, grading and drainage, and utilities. Final designs are anticipated to be completed in February 2025. Upon approval of the final designs, construction will commence. Construction of the new restroom building and open-air interpretive pavilion is anticipated to be complete in September 2025.
Because this project consists of the replacement and reconstruction of existing facilities involving negligible or no expansion in capacity, it qualifies for a Categorical Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act under Section 15301(c) of the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14).
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the proposed agreement and resolution as to form.
EQUITY IMPACT:
The new restroom facility will be gender-neutral, allowing for a higher quality of service to be provided to all visitors. Moreover, while code requires that two of the restroom stalls meet accessibility standards, the Department has elected to make all four stalls accessible further advancing our commitment to the disabled community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The agreement is for an amount not to exceed $1,041,055. This amount includes the design and construction of the restroom building, as well as a $50,000 construction contingency.
Non-Departmental Services will contribute $1,000,000 to the Project. The remaining amount (i.e., $41,055), if needed, will be funded by the Parks Department’s Capital Projects Fund. Sufficient appropriations will be included in the County’s FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget and FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget for this Project.
There is no Net County Cost associated with this recommendation.