REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 1, 2022
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
County Service Area 70 TV-2 (Morongo) - Tower Replacement Project
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of County Service Area 70 TV-2 Morongo:
1. Find the County Service Area 70 TV-2 Tower Replacement Project, located in Morongo Valley, is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, Section 15302, Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction.
2. Approve the Capital Improvement Program - County Service Area 70 TV-2 Tower Replacement Project in the amount of $319,000.
3. Approve budget adjustments in the amount of $319,000, as detailed in the Financial Impact section, for the County Service Area 70 TV-2 Tower Replacement Project and authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the adjustments (Four votes required).
4. Direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to file and post the Notice of Exemption for the County Service Area 70 TV-2 Tower Replacement Project as required under the California Environmental Quality Act.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the $319,000 cost of the County Service Area (CSA) 70 TV-2 Tower Replacement Project (Project) will be funded entirely by available reserves of CSA 70 TV-2. The following budget adjustments are requested for the Project:
|
Cost Center |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
|
3300001774 |
54304030 |
Structures and Improvements |
$ 319,000 |
|
3300001774 |
37008880 |
Available Reserves |
($ 319,000) |
Although available reserves of CSA 70 TV-2 are being utilized for this project, it may be eligible for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and analysis of the guidelines is ongoing. If determined as being eligible for ARPA funding, there may be a future item presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for use of ARPA funding for this project.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
CSA 70 TV-2 Morongo (District) was established on October 18, 1976 to provide nine channels of Ultra High Frequency (UHF) television and one channel of Very High Frequency (VHF) television. The District serves approximately 38 square miles and 2,000 households in the Morongo Valley.
The District’s tower that provides the television channels was constructed in 1978. This tower needs replacement because of its age and the planned installation of additional new equipment. The new equipment will provide broadband internet access options to the community. Based on a recently completed tower assessment, the existing tower cannot structurally support the additional equipment necessary to provide broadband internet. Accordingly, the Project will replace the existing aging steel tower with a new broadcasting tower that can support the installation of additional equipment. The new tower will be roughly the same height and will utilize the same foundation as the existing tower. Once the tower is constructed, the proposed additional equipment will be installed by a private vendor under a lease agreement. Replacement of the tower and installation of the new equipment will ensure that the community will have reliable television service for future years.
The Department of Public Works - Special Districts (Special Districts) staff has reviewed the Project and determined that a categorical exemption exists in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15302, Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction. The Class 2 exemption allows for replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. When the Board considers the environmental finding, the filing and posting of a Notice of Exemption is recommended.
PROCUREMENT
Upon Board approval of this item, the bid process for replacement of the tower will begin. This includes issuance of an advertisement for bids in the County’s Electronic Procurement (ePro) Network in accordance with Section 22037 of the California Public Contract Code, as well as advertisement in required plan rooms. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be scheduled to allow potential contractors the opportunity to see the jobsite and evaluate the Project. Bids can be submitted up to the Project’s bid opening at the office of Special Districts.
After the bids are received and reviewed, Special Districts will submit to the Board or the County Chief Executive Officer (CEO), as appropriate, a recommendation for award of construction contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. County Code section 14.0114(d) authorizes the CEO, pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22032(b), to award construction contracts if the amount of such contract is $200,000 or less.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Vanessa Doyle, Chief Deputy Controller, 382-3195) on January 24, 2022; County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5289) on February 2, 2022; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on February 4, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on February 11, 2022.