For City Council Meeting and Rialto Utility Authority [January 22, 2019]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Sean Grayson, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Thomas J. Crowley, P.E., Utilities Manager
Title
Request City Council/Rialto Utility Authority to Approve a Final Construction Work Authorization in the Amount of $319,800 to Rialto Water Services for the Water Facility Improvement Project W13 - Willow Booster Station Valve Replacement.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND:
The Willow Booster Station consists of four booster pumps that lift water from the Baseline Feeder into Pressure Zone 2 which provides water to a portion of the residences of the City. The Baseline Feeder is a cooperative project between the City of Rialto, West Valley Water District, Riverside Highland Water Company and San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, that delivers water from the San Bernardino Basin Area (SBBA) to the cooperative partners.
There are four twenty-four (24) inch valves that isolate the four booster pumps from the Baseline Feeder that are leaking in the closed position and need to be replaced. These valves are critical components to the maintenance, operation and management of the water system.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The City/RUA and RWS/Veolia are coordinating this work with Valley District and WVWD staff since the Baseline Feeder will not be delivering water to the participating agencies during the valve replacement project. It is critical that this work be completed during the low demand season.
Replacement of the valves was originally intended to be done as an Operating, Repair and Replacement (OR&R) project; however once the scope of work was fully defined, it was clear the cost was going to exceed the OR&R cost limits and would need to be done as a Facility Improvement Project (FIP). As required with an FIP, the Substantially Complete Design (SCD) was submitted to RUA on October 4, 2018 and approved by RUA.
RWS/Veolia conducted a competitive bid process and received two qualified and responsive bids. CP Construction was deemed to be the lowest responsible bidder with a bid amount of $246,000. The total Final Construction Work Authorization (FCWA) is a not to exceed amount of $319,800 which includes negotiated percentages as allowed in the Concession Agreement and a contingency for change orders if needed.
The Utility Commission reviewed this item at the December 18, 2018, meeting and recommends approval by the City Council. The project was then presented to the Water Subcommittee on January 16, 2019, who directed staff to proceed. A copy of the proposed FCWA documents are included as Attachment 1.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Section 21084 of the California Public Resources Code requires Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Guidelines are required to include a list of classes of projects which have been determined not to have a significant effect on the environment and which are exempt from the provisions of CEQA. In response to that mandate, the Secretary for Resources identified classes of projects that do not have a significant effect on the environment, and are declared categorically exempt from the requirement for the preparation of environmental documents. In accordance with Section 15301 “Existing Facilities”, of the CEQA Guidelines, a Class 1 project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination. The replacement of existing water valves is considered a Class 1 project, and is categorically exempt from CEQA. A Notice of Exemption will be filed with the San Bernardino County Clerk of the Board. A copy is included as Attachment 2.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
Approval of this action complies with the City of Rialto General Plan Goal and Policies:
Goal 3-6: Require that all developed areas within Rialto are adequately served with essential public services and infrastructure.
Goal 3-8: Promote affordable and quality water service capable of adequately meeting normal and emergency water demands to all areas in Rialto.
Policy 3-8.4: Advocate regular evaluation of the entire water supply and distribution system to ensure its continued adequacy, reliability, and safety.
Policy 3-8.5: Upgrade outdated and undersized water service facilities to prevent unnecessary system failures in the City’s water system.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the staff report
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
Operating costs are not expected to change; however replacement of the valves will ensure water flowing through the Baseline Feeder will be adequately controlled, including shut off, as needed thereby protecting the supply. Operating costs will continue to be absorbed by the Rialto Utility Authority through the Concession Agreement.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
Sufficient budget is available in Water Fund Account No. 670-500-7960-3001 for the W13 - Willow Booster Station Valve Replacement Project. No additional appropriation is required.
The following table summarizes the W13 Project costs:
Employment Impact
For this project, RWS/Veolia anticipates between four and six employees will be utilized for one month of work through subcontractors being used to complete various components of the project and although the project will not create any new jobs, it will keep the current workforce employed.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council/Rialto Utility Authority:
• Approve a Final Construction Work Authorization in the amount of $319,800 to Rialto Water Services for the Water Facility Improvement Project W13 - Willow Booster Station Valve Replacement.
• Delegate authority to the City Administrator, or his designee, to approve and execute construction contract change orders up to a cumulative amount of $24,600 for the Water Facility Improvement Project W13 - Willow Booster Station Valve Replacement.