For Water Subcommittee Meeting September 11, 2024
TO: Honorable Water Subcommittee Members
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
...Title
Staff requests that the Water Subcommittee provide feedback regarding the El Rancho Verde Lift Station and Sewer Deficiency Mitigation. (ACTION)
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Water Subcommittee provide feedback on the El Rancho Verde Lift Station.
...Body
BACKGROUND
On September 10, 2019, the City approved Tract Map No. 20092 for the El Rancho Verde by Lytle Development Project (Project). The Project included various public improvements, including streets and sewer improvements.
On July 14, 2020, the City Council held a public hearing and approved Resolution Nos. 7644, 7645, 7646, and 7647 whereby an election was held, and the City Clerk received four ballots from the property owner who voted in favor of CFD 2020-1 (El Rancho Verde), a facilities special tax, a services special tax, and the issuance of special tax bonds for $20 million for each of the two Improvement Areas. A Funding, Construction, and Acquisition Agreement (Funding Agreement) between the City and Owner outlining the parameters of the fees that were eligible to be financed by CFD 2020-1 was also approved. The Funding Agreement also identified the process for the developer to receive reimbursement from the proceeds of the bonds and other matters relating to the disbursement of bond proceeds for eligible costs. A Joint Community Facilities Agreement (JCFA) between the City, the Owner, and West Valley Water District was also approved that identified the eligible water-related public facilities and fees to be funded and acquired by CFD 2020-1, as well as the method for reimbursement to the Owner.
On September 22, 2020, the City approved Resolution No. 7676 approving the Purchase and Sale Agreement and License and Maintenance Agreement concerning the property to be used for entry into the El Rancho Verde development. The Maintenance Agreement provided El Rancho Verde with access to the subject property so that it could construct the entrance, and also required that El Rancho Verde maintain and be responsible for all liability associated with the subject property until the project was completed and all roads and other public improvements associated with the project were ready to be dedicated to and accepted by the city.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The El Rancho Verde Lift Station was completed and placed into operation to serve the Lennar River Ranch Residential Development. Sewer from the development flows to the El Rancho Verde Lift Station which includes two pumps capable of discharging up to 660 gallons per minute. Discharge from the El Rancho Verde Lift Station is conveyed through a force main and connects to an existing manhole along Oakdale Avenue. Sewer downstream of the manhole along Oakdale Avenue is then drained to a gravity sewer system. Since the lift station was placed into service, the city has experienced Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs), and nearby residential customers along Oakdale Avenue have complained due to sewer blockages.
Upon further investigation, the City of Rialto (City), Rialto Utility Authority (RUA), and Rialto Water Services (RWS) identified that the manhole receiving discharge from the El Rancho Verde Lift Station was surcharged. When an existing gravity sewer manhole/main becomes surcharged, the sewer main floods the manhole, and the downstream sewer main becomes pressurized. This explained the reason for SSOs and adjacent residential customers experiencing sewer lateral blockages.
After discovering the issue, the City/RUA performed a hydraulic assessment to confirm and identify possible solutions for mitigating the sewer deficiencies caused by the El Rancho Verde Lift Station. The results of the analysis indicated that the discharge from the El Rancho Verde Lift Station is greater than originally indicated and needs to be relocated to a manhole approximately 650 feet downstream on Highland Avenue.
Lennar prepared engineering plans (ATTACHED) and the following construction cost estimate for the proposed work.
The anticipated cost for the force main relocation is $408,490 and Lennar has not yet committed to fund this work. Lennar’s opinion is that this work was approved by the city’s inspectors, and they are not responsible for relocating the force main.
According to city policy, approval of plans by the City or its Agents does not relieve the Owner/Contractor from the responsibilities for the correction of errors or omissions discovered. It’s the City's opinion that discharge from the El Rancho Verde Lift Station needs to be relocated as the current discharge location does not have the required capacity to support the current and anticipated sewer flows. Allowing continued sewer connections to the upstream system further increases the chance of sanitary sewer overflows.
Staff seeks feedback from the Water Subcommittee on how best to proceed with resolving the issues from the El Rancho Verde Lift Station.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This request 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
Operating Budget Impact: No impact.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact: No impact.