For City Council Meeting February 24, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
AUTHOR: Sachin Chawla, Director of Utilities
Title
Request City Council/Rialto Utility Authority to: (1) Adopt Resolution No. 8478 and RUA Resolution No. 26-04 Amending its 2025-2026 Wastewater Fiscal Year Budget for an Amount of $120,000; (2) Authorize Professional Service Agreement Amendment No. 5 With Soto Resources in the Amount of $200,000 to Provide Additional As-Needed Grant Writing Assistance; and (3) Authorize the City Manager/Executive Director or Their Designee to Execute all Related Documents.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council/Rialto Utility Authority:
1) Adopt resolutions amending its 2025-2026 Wastewater fiscal year budget for an amount of $120,000;
2) Authorize Professional Service Agreement Amendment No. 5 with Soto Resources in the amount of $200,000 to provide additional as-needed grant writing assistance; and
3) Authorize the City Manager/Executive Director or their designee to execute all related documents.
BACKGROUND
Soto Resources was awarded a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) on July 13, 2021, in the amount of $50,250 to provide funding research, strategy support, and as-needed grant writing assistance for the Dr. June Hayes and Deborah Robertson Nature Center (Nature Center) project and other RUA needs.
The PSA has since been amended four times: (1) October 26, 2021, $150,250; (2) December 13, 2022, $100,000; (3) May 28, 2024, $100,000; and (4) August 12, 2025, $62,100.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Since July 2021, Soto Resources has brought in $18.2 million in grant funding for the projects listed in Table 1: Soto Resources Grants Awarded and Managed.
Soto Resources supports grant success through weekly coordination meetings with staff to identify upcoming capital improvement projects and pursue new funding opportunities. Grant deliverables, agency coordination meetings, and internal action items are tracked to ensure the City/RUA does not miss deadlines or future opportunities identified in Table 2: Funding Priorities.
Soto Resources will continue on an hourly basis for a total amount not to exceed $200,000 through June 30, 2027, for services provided under Amendment No. 5 (total contract amount, as amended by Amendment No. 5, is $662,600). Invoices will be submitted on a monthly basis.
On January 29, 2026, the Water Subcommittee reviewed this item and provided feedback that the item be moved forward to the City Council/RUA Board for consideration.
On February 17, 2026, the Cable Advisory and Utilities Commission reviewed this item and recommended approval of PSA Amendment No. 5 with Soto Resource.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This 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
Approval of the proposed action also complies with the following City of Rialto Guiding Principles, General Plan Goals and Policies: “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 and approved the Resolutions and Amendment as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Operating Budget Impact
The original Professional Services Agreement (PSA) was $50,250 and has been amended four times. The proposed amendment will increase the contract by $200,000, resulting in a revised total not-to-exceed amount of $662,600.
Sufficient funds are available in the RUA Water Contract Services Account No. 56807960-52011 in the amount of $80,000, and no additional appropriation is required.
A new appropriation of $120,000 is required in the RUA Wastewater Contract Services Account No. 56807860-52011.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
Prior to execution of Amendment No. 5 to the original Professional Service Agreement, the vendor shall submit a business license application and pay a Business License tax, as well as Administration and State fees.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution Authorizing a New Appropriation of $120,000
2. RUA Resolution Authorizing a New Appropriation of $120,000
3. Soto Resources Proposed Amendment No. 5
4. Soto Resources Proposed Amendment No. 4
5. Soto Resources Executed Amendment No. 3
6. Soto Resources Executed Amendment No. 2
7. Soto Resources Executed Amendment No. 1
8. Soto Resources Original PSA
9. Conflict of Interest Disclosure