For City Council Meeting March 25, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
AUTHOR: John Rossi, Interim Utilities Director
Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
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Request City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board: (1) Approve the Sixth Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Dopudja and Wells Consulting for $993,125 and (2) Authorize the Executive Director to Execute all Related Documents in a Form Approved by General Counsel.
(ACTION)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board:
1. Approve the Sixth Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Dopudja and Wells Consulting for $993,125 and
2. Authorize the Executive Director to Execute all Related Documents in a Form Approved by General Counsel.
BACKGROUND
The City of Rialto/Rialto Utility Authority (RUA) seeks to award a contract to Dopudja & Wells Consulting, Inc. due to their unique qualifications, extensive institutional knowledge, and critical role in ongoing utility operations and concession agreement oversight. Since April 2021, Dopudja & Wells has provided professional consulting services to the City/RUA, developing a deep understanding of the City’s utility operations, regulatory requirements, and the Concession Agreement. Given the complexity of these issues, a change in consultants would require significant time and resources to transfer institutional knowledge, leading to potential operational disruptions and increased costs. Their specialized expertise ensures seamless service continuity, which is essential for maintaining compliance, optimizing efficiency, and mitigating risks associated with transitioning to a new consultant.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Staff requested of Dopudja & Wells to provide a proposal for ongoing projects, including interim staffing support for the Utility Department, oversight of IEUA Effluent Assistance - Phase 2, development of the Wildfire Preparedness and Water Quality Addendum to the Water Master Plan, and project management and administration. The City/RUA's procurement policies permit agreements when a consultant’s unique qualifications and the project's specific requirements justify such an approach. Dopudja & Wells specialized expertise align with these criteria.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action 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 Guiding Principle 3 in the General Plan:
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 staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Proposed Fee:
Below outlines the proposed fees. Due to the negotiation nature of the proposal, the fee is based on a time and materials approach. The breakdown by task is an estimate of the anticipated distribution of cost. To ensure the time and materials estimate per task protects the City, budget between tasks may be utilized.
Operating Budget Impact
Total overall funding of $993,125 will affect Concession Agreement Fund 680. Staff has confirmed and verified there is sufficient funds available in the RUA Contract Services account budgeted for FY 2024/2025.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget through this action.