REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 31, 2017
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: MICHAEL CARBAJAL, Planning Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
BY: PATRICIA DIEP, Supervising Engineering Technician
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the Third Amendment to the Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers in the amount of $940,280 for the design of the Recycled Water Distribution System, Southwest Quadrant (Council District 3 and Fresno County)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve the Third Amendment to the Professional Consultant Services Agreement in the amount of $940,280 with Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers, a California Corporation, for modifications to the pipeline design of the Recycled Water Distribution System, Southwest Quadrant; and authorize the Director Public Utilities or designee to execute the amendment of behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On July 2, 2013, the City of Fresno and Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers entered into a $3,324,000 Agreement for consulting engineering work associated with the Recycled Water Distribution System (RWDS), Southwest Quadrant. The progression of multiple projects and maturing of the recycled water system have necessitated four scope modifications to the design of the Southwest RWDS to modify pipeline alignments, incorporate a chlorination facility, additional environmental assessments, and design of potable water main to facilitate user site recycled water conversion. The Third Amendment to the Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers is needed to incorporate these scope modifications and complete the design of the Southwest RWDS.
BACKGROUND
In 2009, the State of California adopted a recycled water policy establishing a mandate to increase the use of recycled water in California by 200,000 acre-feet per year by 2020 and an additional 300,000 acre-feet per year by 2030. The Recycled Water Master Plan prepared by the Department of Public Utilities identifies opportunities to assist with compliance of this law by reducing groundwater pumping and replacing groundwater with recycled water for non-potable purposes (i.e. outdoor irrigation, dust control, fountains, etc.). On April 11, 2013, the Council adopted the Recycled Water Master Plan and associated environmental documents.
On July 2, 2013, the City of Fresno and Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers entered into a $3,324,000 Agreement for consulting engineering work associated with the Recycled Water Distribution System, Southwest Quadrant. On June 16, 2016, City Council approved the First Amendment to the Agreement with Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers for the amount of $674,240. On January 12, 2017, City Council approved the Second Amendment to the Agreement with Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers for the amount of $141,540. The progression of multiple projects and maturing of the recycled water system have necessitated four major scope alterations to the design of the Southwest RWDS. The first scope change is to realign Southwest RWDS Segments SW1C3 & SW4 to an alternate pipeline route for the conveyance of recycled water to the downtown area. Extensive recent investigation of potential recycled water users and associated demands along the SW1C3 alignment determined that demands are lower than anticipated when the Recycled Water Master Plan was finalized. As a result, SW1C3 was eliminated and SW4 will be rerouted to continue from the southern end of SW1C2 into the downtown area. This pipeline alignment modification will reduce the overall length by approximately 10,000 linear feet and cost of about $1.5 million of recycled water pipeline needed to extend into the downtown area. The second scope change incorporates a chlorination facility at the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (RWRF) that will store and inject chlorine into the Recycled Water Transmission Main at a point just downstream of the recycled water pump station. The chlorination facility is needed to control algae growth in the large diameter recycled water transmission mains during low demand periods. The third scope change covers additional environmental assessment to complete an addendum to the Tiered Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Fresno RWDS. This addendum evaluates a new future pump station site and refinements to the pipeline routes and provides documentation to support that the proposed refinements would not result in effects that meet the criteria described in CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15164. The final scope change incorporates the design of a potable water main along Franklin Avenue and conformed contract documents for RWDS Segments SW1C2 and SW4 projects. The potable water line supports the conversion of the Mountain View Cemetery to recycled water and future abandonment of groundwater wells.
The original design contract, the First Amendment and the Second Amendment with Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers totals $4,139,780. With the approval of the Third Amendment, the total value of the contract will increase to $5,080,060.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the Third Amendment and approved as to form. Upon approval by the Council, the Agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378, an amendment to a consultant agreement for design services does not qualify as 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 agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project, which is located in Council District 3 and portions of Fresno County, will not impact the General Fund. The Southwest RWDS project is identified in the Wastewater Management Division capital improvement plans and current rate structure. $103,700 of the $940,280 Third Amendment will be funded from the Sewer Enterprise Fund (40501), $13,930 will be funded from the Water Enterprise Fund (40101), and the balance will be funded from the Southwest RWDS, State Revolving Fund Low Interest Loan Fund (40528). No additional appropriations are needed for this amendment.
Attachments:
- Third Amendment
- Original Contract
- First Amendment
- Second Amendment
- Vicinity Map