For City Council Meeting November 25, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
Title
Request City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board to: (1) Adopt Resolution No. 8435 and RUA Resolution No. 08-48 to Amend the Utility Services Water and Wastewater Budgets; (2) Approve the Seventh Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Dopudja & Wells Consulting for Additional Interim and Technical Support Services in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $647,365; (3) Approve a Sole Source Professional Services Agreement with Scheevel Engineering for the Rialto Habitat and Nature Center Project in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $136,150; and (4) Authorize the City Manager or Their Designee to Execute all Related Documents.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends that the City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board:
1) Adopt Resolution and RUA Resolution to amend the Utility Services Water and Wastewater budgets;
2) Approve the Seventh Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Dopudja & Wells Consulting for additional interim and technical support services in an amount not-to-exceed $647,365;
3) Approve a sole source Professional Services Agreement with Scheevel Engineering for the Rialto Habitat and Nature Center Project in an amount not-to-exceed $136,150; and
4) Authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute all related documents.
BACKGROUND
Since 2021, Dopudja & Wells Consulting has provided professional consulting services to the City/Rialto Utility Authority, developing a comprehensive understanding of the City’s utility systems, regulatory obligations, and the complexities of the Concession Agreement. Given the complexity and historical context of the work performed, maintaining their services ensures seamless continuity, preserves valuable institutional expertise, and supports the City’s ongoing efforts to optimize utility performance and compliance.
In March 2025, the City Council/Rialto Utility Authority approved the Sixth Amendment to the Dopudja & Wells contract, authorizing support for as-needed services and interim Utilities Director support.
The City continues to utilize Dopudja & Wells to bridge staffing gaps and support technical projects, including the Rialto Habitat and Nature Center (RHNC) and Cactus Basin recharge coordination. On October 30, 2025, the Water Subcommittee reviewed the Seventh Amendment proposal and provided feedback to move the item forward to the City Council/Rialto Utility Authority for consideration.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Dopudja & Wells Consulting, Inc.
The Seventh Amendment to the Dopudja & Wells Professional Services Agreement extends consulting support through February 2026.
The Dopudja & Wells Consulting - Seventh Amendment proposal dated October 1, 2025, includes four key tasks at a total cost of 647,365:
The proposed Dopudja & Wells Consulting Seventh Amendment, prior agreements, and disclosures are included as Attachments 3 through 12.
Scheevel Engineering
The Scheevel Engineering proposal dated October 30, 2025, is a contract to advance the RHNC Operations and Maintenance Manual to a preliminary draft and to perform additional hydraulic and water-quality modeling in support of the long-term maintenance agreement.
Scheevel’s proposal establishes a not-to-exceed fee of $136,150 for the following tasks:
The Scheevel Engineering Professional Services Agreement and disclosures are included as Attachments 13 through 16.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
This action is consistent with the City of Rialto’s General Plan Guiding Principle 3, Rialto’s Economic Environment is Healthy and Diverse. “Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.”
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the agreements and approved them as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Operating Budget Impact
The proposed Dopudja and Wells amendment will increase the contract amount by $647,365, bringing the total not-to-exceed amount to $5,006,928. The proposed contract with Scheevel Engineering is for a not-to-exceed amount of $136,150.
Total overall funding of $783,515 will require a new appropriation in:
1) Wastewater Contract Services, Account No. 56807860-52011, for $510,151; and
2) Water Contract Services, Account No. 56807960-52011, for $273,364
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
Both Dopudja & Wells Consulting and Scheevel Engineering maintain current City of Rialto business licenses.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. RUA Resolution
3. Dopudja & Wells Consulting - Professional Services Agreement
4. Dopudja & Wells Consulting - First Amendment
5. Dopudja & Wells Consulting - Second Amendment
6. Dopudja & Wells Consulting - Third Amendment
7. Dopudja & Wells Consulting - Fourth Amendment
8. Dopudja & Wells Consulting - Fifth Amendment
9. Dopudja & Wells Consulting - Sixth Amendment
10. Dopudja & Wells Consulting - Proposed Seventh Amendment to PSA
11. Dopudja & Wells Consulting - Conflict of Interest Disclosure
12. Dopudja & Wells Consulting - Business License
13. Scheevel Engineering - Proposed Professional Services Agreement
14. Scheevel Engineering - Standardization Form
15. Scheevel Engineering - Conflict of Interest Disclosure
16. Scheevel Engineering - Business License