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 Akel Engineering Group, Inc., for On-Call Water Distribution System Hydraulic Modeling Services to increase the contract amount by $60,000.00 for a revised not-to-exceed amount of $180,000.00. (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve the First Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Akel Engineering Group, Inc., (Consultant), to increase the contract amount by $60,000.00 for a revised not-to-exceed amount of $180,000.00, to provide on-call water distribution system hydraulic modeling services; and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the First Amendment to the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On May 7, 2024, the City entered into a Consultant Services Agreement (Agreement) with Akel Engineering Group, Inc. in the amount of $120,000 to provide on-call hydraulic modeling services. The City has been using the hydraulic modeling services to review and analyze the impacts of land development projects, new operational scenarios, and to support water system capital planning.
The First Amendment will increase compensation by $60,000 to continue providing on-call hydraulic modeling services through the end of the term of the agreement. The term of the current agreement extends to June 30, 2027.
BACKGROUND
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) operates and maintains the City’s water production and distribution system that includes approximately 265 groundwater wells, 3 surface water treatment facilities, dedicated storage and booster infrastructure, and over 1,900 miles of transmission and distribution pipelines.
The City’s water system is continuously changing in size and operational complexity, with ongoing development activity, new supply wells, updated demands, and infrastructure modifications requiring regular analysis using a computerized dynamic simulation hydraulic model. These modeling services are essential for DPU’s evaluation of system performance, capital improvement planning, and analysis of development projects across the City's service area. Modeling services have been provided by the Consultant since 2014, and under the current Agreement since May 7, 2024.
Due to the increased number and complexity of hydraulic modeling analyses, particularly related to development reviews, capital planning, and infrastructure assessments, additional compensation is needed to continue providing these services through the end of the contract term. The First Amendment would increase the total contract amount to an amount not to exceed $180,000.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the First Amendment to the Agreement and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 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 impact to the General Fund. Funding for this service is included in the Fiscal Year 2026 capital improvement budget within the Water Division’s Enterprise Fund 4000-4001.
Attachments:
First Amendment to the Agreement
Consultant Services Agreement