REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PAUL AMICO, PE, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: AHMED ALY, PE, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
JOSEPH DE GEORGE, PMP, Project Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the First Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group for the Northwest Fresno Recharge Basin to increase compensation for the second phase of the Agreement, in the amount of $72,200.00, for a total contract amount not to exceed $147,200.00 (Unincorporated County of Fresno).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve the First Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group (Consultant) for the Northwest Fresno Recharge Basin (NWFRB) to increase compensation in the amount of $72,200, for a total contract amount not to exceed $147,200, to provide additional documentation services as outlined within the original scope of work (Phase 2) required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the First Amendment on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City continues to expand groundwater recharge infrastructure to support long-term water supply sustainability and the development of the NWFRB will become a valuable facility in the City’s groundwater recharge portfolio. NWFRB will be used to capture water supplies from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and Fresno Irrigation District (FID). The City recently acquired a 71.65-acre parcel for the recharge facility and subsequently entered into an agreement with Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group to complete the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and recharge evaluation. The Consultant has completed the Phase 1 ESA and the next step is to complete the CEQA documentation. The First Amendment will increase compensation in the amount of $72,200 to prepare environmental documentation required by CEQA.
BACKGROUND
The City’s water supply portfolio includes a combination of groundwater from the North Kings Subbasin, surface water from the Central Valley Project (CVP) via a contract with the USBR, and Kings River water through a contract with FID. The City relied solely on groundwater until 2004, when the first Surface Water Treatment Facility (SWTF) was commissioned. Since then, the City has constructed two additional SWTFs and over half of the potable water demand can be met by surface water when it is available.
To support the groundwater sustainability goals required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, the City coordinates with FID and the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District (FMFCD) to maximize recharge rates across the service area. Surface water from the USBR and FID is diverted into recharge basins across the city through FID’s existing surface water conveyance system. FID also assists in delivering water to either FMFCD’s stormwater retention and recharge basins or the City’s recharge basins, contributing to the replenishment of the groundwater basin. The City manages water resources by maximizing surface water use during wet and normal years while relying on groundwater during dry years. In years of low surface water availability, the City increases pumping of recharged groundwater to meet demand.
On June 12, 2025, City Council approved the Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Real Property and Escrow Instructions to acquire fee title interest of a 71.65-acre (3,121,074 square feet) parcel located at 5245 North Chateau Fresno Avenue, Fresno, California, identified as APN 505-021-01 (Subject Property), owned by J.S.A. Farms, a California general partnership, for an amount of $3,224,250 for the NWFRB.
On June 26, 2025, the City Manager approved a consultant services agreement with the Consultant in an amount not to exceed $75,000 over five years to provide professional services to support assessment and permitting of the NWFRB. The Consultant has completed the Phase 1 ESA and recharge evaluation, and the next phase will prepare environmental documentation to meet compliance with CEQA.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this First Amendment to the Agreement and approved as to form. Upon approval by City Council, the First Amendment to the Agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities, or designee.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378, the amendment of this consultant services agreement is not a “Project” for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference does not apply to this action because this is an amendment to an existing consultant services agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund. The Project is located in unincorporated County of Fresno. Funding for this Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Improvement Budget within the Water Division’s Capacity Fee Fund 4000-4011.
Attachments:
First Amendment to the Agreement
Consultant Services Agreement
Location Map
Vicinity Map