REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: CASSIE L. SCHOLZ, PE, Licensed Engineer Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SARAH AGUILA, Project Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the North Avenue Sewer Trunk Main Realignment from west of State Route 99 to west of Golden State Boulevard (Bid File 12502031) (Council District 3):
1. Adopt a finding of Exemption pursuant to Sections 15302(c) and 15269(b) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award a construction contract to Floyd Johnston Construction Co., Inc., of Clovis, California, in the amount of $10,829,000.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council adopt a finding of Categorical and Emergency Project Exemption pursuant to Sections 15302(c) and 15269(b) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for the North Avenue Sewer Trunk Main Realignment from west of State Route 99 to west of Golden State Boulevard (Project); award a construction contract to Floyd Johnston Construction Co., Inc., in the amount of $10,829,000; 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
On February 24, 2019, the North Avenue sewer trunk main experienced a localized structural failure west of Golden State Boulevard to Maple Avenue due to the complete corrosion of the crown of the sewer main from hydrogen sulfide gas. Since this initial failure, multiple temporary repairs have been performed to stabilize the existing sewer trunk main, and the permanent realignment has been awarded for construction.
This Project includes permanent realignment of the 66-inch diameter sewer main immediately downstream of the previously collapsed segment as part of an ongoing renewal and replacement program. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is seeking to award the Project to Floyd Johnston Construction Co., Inc., in the amount of $10,829,000.
BACKGROUND
The existing 57-inch diameter 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 main experienced a localized structural collapse in North Avenue from west of Golden State Boulevard to Maple Avenue. The sinkhole associated with this collapse was discovered on February 24, 2019 by the Fresno Irrigation District during a routine inspection of a nearby irrigation canal. DPU Wastewater Management Division inspected the trunk sewer segment and discovered that the sewer main suffered a structural failure due to the complete corrosion of the crown of the sewer trunk main from hydrogen sulfide gas.
The extent of sewer main from Golden State to Maple Avenue has been temporarily stabilized and is being realigned as a separate project, but its prior collapse prompted the immediate CCTV inspection of the downstream 57-inch section of sewer trunk main to the west. The inspection discovered failed sections of pipe, exposed rebar, and severe structural instability. This project includes the construction of the 66-inch diameter, permanent realignment of the sewer main from west of State Route 99 to west of Golden State Boulevard
A Notice Inviting Bids was published on March 18, 2025, and posted on the City’s Planet Bids website. The plans and specifications were distributed to fifty-one prospective bidders and posted at eight Building Exchanges. Four sealed bid proposals were received and publicly opened on April 8, 2025. The bid proposals ranged from $10,829,000 to $12,549,000. Floyd Johnston Construction Co., Inc., was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with a bid amount of $10,829,000.
Staff recommends that the City Council award a construction contract to Floyd Johnston Construction Co., Inc., in the amount of $10,829,000, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Their bid price is 14 percent below the Engineer’s Estimate of $12,600,000.00.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the attached Sample Contract as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this Project and has determined it falls within the Categorical Exemption for existing facilities set forth in Section 15302(c)/Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction). CEQA Guidelines exempts from the provisions of CEQA, projects consisting of the replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity. This approval will involve construction of 3,230 linear feet of sewer pipeline to bypass the existing 57-inch pipeline. The replacement sewer trunk will be constructed in the same local site on an alignment offset and parallel to the existing trunk. This replacement will result in negligible expansion of capacity. Therefore, it is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15302(c).
Section 15269 (b) of the CEQA Guidelines exempts from the provisions of CEQA, emergency repairs to publicly or privately owned service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety, or welfare. Emergency repairs include those that require a reasonable amount of planning to address an anticipated emergency. Furthermore, staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this Project. Therefore, the necessary environmental review required by the CEQA has been completed for the sewer trunk main replacement as contemplated by the award of this contract.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
The lowest responsive and responsible bidder is a local business pursuant to the Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-108(a). Floyd Johnston Construction Co., Inc., is located within a 25-mile radius of Fresno City Hall.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Project is located in Council District 3. Funds are budgeted and available in the Fiscal Year 2025 Wastewater Enterprise Fund.
Attachments:
Notice of Exemption
Environmental Assessment
Bid Evaluation and Fiscal Impact Statement
Sample Contract
Vicinity Map