REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: JESUS A. GONZALEZ, PE, Public Utilities Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the North Avenue sewer trunk main realignment (Council Districts 3 and 5)
1. RESOLUTION - Adopt Resolution authorizing an exception to the formal bidding procedures and award a sole source signal relocation agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company
2. Award a signal relocation agreement in the amount of $379,906 with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company for the relocation of signal equipment that conflicts with the North Avenue sewer trunk main realignment
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that City Council approve the award of a sole source signal relocation agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) in the amount of $379,906 for relocation of signal equipment that conflicts with the North Avenue sewer trunk main realignment (Project); and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign and execute all documents on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A portion of the North Avenue sewer trunk main collapsed and was later determined to be structurally deficient, unable to support point repairs, and requiring replacement with a new alignment. Construction activities are ongoing but have been put on hold due to unforeseen utility conflicts with BNSF signal equipment. Due to utility ownership, BNSF is the only vendor permitted to relocate their signal equipment, the cost of which must be reimbursed by the City. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Wastewater Management Division (WMD), is seeking to approve a sole source signal relocation agreement with BNSF in the amount of $379,906 to relocate the conflicting utilities and proceed with the Project. Approval of the signal relocation agreement and adoption of the resolution are necessary at this time as the Project is currently suspended and must proceed as soon as possible.
BACKGROUND
The existing sewer trunk main in North Avenue conveys an average of 11.5 million gallons of wastewater per day to the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility. This sewer trunk main experienced a localized structural collapse in North Avenue between Maple Avenue and the BNSF and the Union Pacific Railroad. During a routine inspection of a nearby irrigation canal, the Fresno Irrigation District discovered a large sinkhole on their property. Upon further inspection by the DPU-WMD it was discovered that the 57-inch diameter North Avenue sewer trunk main suffered a structural failure due to the complete corrosion of the crown of the sewer pipe from hydrogen sulfide gas emanating from the sewer flows. Due to the severe lack of structural integrity of the sewer main, it was determined that rehabilitation of the pipe was not an option and, instead, the sewer trunk main would be replaced in a new alignment along North Avenue.
A Notice-to-Proceed (NTP) with construction activities was issued for March 24, 2022 to begin work on the Project, with the initial construction activities being a utility location survey. During the survey, four BNSF signal conduits were discovered to conflict with the proposed sewer alignment. As construction activities could not proceed without the signal conduit relocation, a suspension of contract time was issued on May 13, 2022. The suspension will remain in place until the signal conduits can be relocated to a non-conflicting location.
The City Project Team contacted BNSF to notify them of the utility conflict. BNSF has agreed to relocate the four signal conduits contingent on the City reimbursing BNSF for the cost. BNSF provided their standard Signal Relocation Agreement to the City Project Team, which was submitted to the CAO and approved as to form. The cost of the signal relocations encompasses engineering design, material purchase, equipment rental, and labor for construction. Total construction time is estimated to be five (5) weeks upon approval of the signal relocation agreement and receipt of the raw materials.
Upon approval of the signal relocation agreement with BNSF, and the subsequent work entailed in the signal conduit relocation, the City Project Team will reissue the NTP to continue with Project construction.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because this is a sole source agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Project is located in the Council Districts 3 and 5. Funding for this Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2023 capital improvement budget within the Wastewater Management Division’s Sewer Enterprise Fund 40501.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Sole Source Resolution
Attachment 2 - Signal Relocation Agreement