For City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Meeting [December 14, 2021]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Marcus Fuller, City Manager
FROM: Thomas J. Crowley, P.E., Utilities Manager
Title
Request City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board to Approve a Final Construction Work Authorization in the Amount of $1,056,875 to Rialto Water Services for the Sycamore Lift Station Project; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Documents.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND
The Sycamore Lift Station is located south of the I-210 freeway at Sycamore Street. The lift station was constructed in 2007 and boosts the sewer effluent from the area north of the 210 freeway, down to the Sycamore line, which eventually conveys the effluent to the Rialto Wastewater Treatment Plant. This lift station is at the end of its life and in need of upgrades in order to continue functioning at optimum levels.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
In 2019, the City of Rialto (City) /Rialto Utility Authority (RUA) retained the services of West Yost Associates to prepare the drawings and specifications for the work to upgrade the lift station. The drawings and specifications were completed in April of 2021. The Sycamore Lift Station Upgrade project includes removal and replacement of existing submersible pumps, removal and replacement of existing pump discharge piping and valving including replacement of existing pipe supports inside the wet well, minor concrete repairs to above grade portions of the wet well, recoating existing vent cover, install new electrical equipment and demolish old electrical equipment, installation of an emergency power generator, remove and replace chain link fence and gate, install flow meter and concrete vault, and other appurtenances.
Based upon direction from the City/RUA, on August 12, 2021, the Veolia Capital Program Management team issued the Request for Bids (RFB) documents to nine (9) local contractors who were registered in Veolia’s database and had previous experience performing similar work. Those contractors were:
1. Control Air Corporation
2. Cora Construction
3. CP Construction
4. Ferreira Construction
5. Layne and Company
6. Pacific Hydrotech
7. RC Construction
8. TK Construction
9. WM Lyles
Two of those contractors, Ferreira Construction and W.M. Lyles Co., participated in the onsite mandatory pre-bid meeting that was conducted on August 20, 2021. Veolia staff contacted some of the firms who didn’t participate in the pre-bid meeting and were told that they didn’t attend as they were having manpower and staffing issues.
Based on questions from the bidders, Veolia issued Bid Addendum #1 on September 16, 2021, and Bid Addendum #2 on October 13, 2021. Bids were opened on October 21, 2021. The bids submitted are attached and the preliminary bid results are as follows:
• Ferreira Construction submitted a bid in the amount of $845,500
• W.M. Lyles Co. submitted a bid in the amount of $1,175,000
Veolia prepared a detailed bid analysis and submitted the results to the City/RUA.
This item was initially presented to the Water Subcommittee on October 27, 2021. The item was scheduled for the Utilities Commission meeting on November 16, 2021, which was cancelled for lack of a quorum. 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 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.
Goal 3-6: Require that all developed areas within Rialto are adequately served with essential public services and infrastructure.
Goal 3-9: Upgrade and maintain an improved wastewater system with adequate plant efficiency and capacity to protect the health and safety of all Rialto residents, businesses, and institutions.
Policy 3-9.2: Evaluate the wastewater disposal system routinely to ensure its adequacy to meet changes in demand and changes in types of waste.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports the staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
Costs to operate the lift station will be absorbed by the Rialto Utility Authority through the Concession Agreement.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
Total FCWA Project Costs have been calculated at $1,056,875, as shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Staff has confirmed sufficient Development Impact Fees (DIF) revenues in the amount of $1,056,875 are available for the Sycamore Sewer Lift Station Upgrade Project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board:
1. Approve a Final Construction Work Authorization in the amount of $1,056,875 to Rialto Water Services for the Sycamore Lift Station Project; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all documents.