REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 3, 2017
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: MICHAEL CARBAJAL, Planning Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
BY: MATTHEW BULLIS, PE, Professional Engineer
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the repair of the effluent storage basin at the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Bid File No. 3537) (Council District 6)
1. ***RESOLUTION - 3rd amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2017-165 appropriating $171,300 for the Repair of the Effluent Storage Basin at the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
2. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Sections 15301(d) (Existing facilities) and 15302(c) (replacement or reconstruction) of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines
3. Award a construction contract in the amount of $188,800 to Bush Engineering Inc., of Hanford, California
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council adopt the 3rd Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2017-165 appropriating $171,300 for the Repair of the Effluent Storage Basin at the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility, adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Sections 15301(d) (Existing facilities) and 15302(c) (replacement or reconstruction) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, and award a construction contract in the amount of $188,800 to Bush Engineering Inc., of Hanford, California, for the repair of the lined effluent storage basin at the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities, Wastewater Management Division is seeking to award a construction contract to repair the effluent storage basin at the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility. The repair of the effluent storage basin is essential for the proper operation of the wastewater reclamation facility.
BACKGROUND
The North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility (NFWRF), located at 1660 East Copper Avenue and west of North Maple Avenue, is a municipal wastewater reclamation facility used to treat raw wastewater, and produce disinfected recycled water that meets State of California Title 22 regulatory water recycling standards. The NFWRF operates under California Regional Water Quality Control Board Waste Discharge Requirement R5-2014-0163, is permitted at 0.43 million gallons per day, and uses a sequencing batch reactor process to treat the wastewater to produce a recycled water. After complete treatment, the recycled water is discharged to a 12 acre-foot, on-site storage basin, which is lined with a single layer of 60 mil high density polyethylene (HDPE) to prevent infiltration of the recycled water into local groundwater resources. From the lined storage pond, recycled water is pumped to Lake F at the Copper River Golf Course, where it is distributed during nighttime hours to the golf course for landscaping irrigation.
Staff has discovered that the soil beneath the HDPE liner has failed, creating large soil voids in the underlying soil. The underlying soil serves as the foundation upon which the HDPE liner is placed, and the presence of soil voids has the potential to result in damage to the pond liner. Without a uniform soil surface, the liner must bridge across the soil voids, which creates undue stress conditions in the liner making it susceptible punctures, tears, and other similar damage. The failed soil conditions limit staff’s ability to use the basin for water storage, which hinders plant operations. The work will include the removal of the HDPE liner over the impacted area; soil re-grading and re-compaction; liner re-seaming, liner replacement and quality control testing.
Plans and specifications were prepared for the project. A Notice Inviting Bid was published on May 8, 2017, and posted on the City’s website. The specifications were distributed to 14 prospective bidders, and faxed to 13 Builder’s Exchanges. The public bid opening was June 6, 2017. One bid proposal was received. Bush Engineering, Inc. of Hanford, California is the lowest responsive bidder with a submitted bid of $188,800. The bid price is 24% below the original Engineer’s Estimate of $249,900.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the construction contract as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment for the basin liner rehabilitation and has determined that this work falls within Class 1 and 2 Categorical Exemption set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Sections 15301 (d) (Existing Facilities) and 15302 (c) (replacement or reconstruction) because this contract involves restoration or rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment. Furthermore, none of the exemptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because no local bidders submitted bids for this project.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project has no impact on the General Fund. This project is identified in the five-year Capital Improvement Plan. Funds in the amount of $904,000 for the construction project were budgeted in the FY17 Sewer Enterprise Fund 40501. The annual operations and maintenance for this asset is funded in the Wastewater Management Division Operations and Maintenance budget. Due to the fact this project was bid late in the FY17 budget year, an AAR is necessary to increase the funding included in the FY18 budget for the construction contract. Total fiscal impact for FY18 for this project would be $221,300.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation and Fiscal Impact Statement
Annual Appropriations Resolution
Sample Contract