REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 13, 2019
FROM: MICHAEL CARBAJAL, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: DEJAN PAVIC, PE, Public Utilities Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
BY: MATTHEW L. BULLIS, Professional Engineer
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to removal of Perchloroethylene from Groundwater at Pump Station 117 and Pump Station 284 (Fresno County and Council District 2):
1. Adopt findings of Class 1, Class 3, and Class 32 Categorical Exemptions pursuant to Sections 15301, 15303, and 15332 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines
2. Approve a Fourth Amendment to Agreement for supplemental engineering services with Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc., in the amount of not to exceed $156,000
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that City Council adopt findings of Class 1, Class 3, and Class 32 Categorical Exemptions pursuant to Sections 15301, 15303, and 15332 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for removal of Perchloroethylene (PCE) from groundwater at water wells Pump Station (PS) 117 and PS 284 (Project); approve a Fourth Amendment to the Agreement with Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc. (Provost & Pritchard), in the amount of not to exceed $156,000 for supplemental engineering services related to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Prop 1 Groundwater Sustainability Grant (Grant) assistance and additional design services of Well Head Treatment Improvements at PS 117 and PS 284; and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to execute the amendment on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City has been awarded a Groundwater Sustainability Grant in the amount of $2,254,040 by the SWRCB to fund a PCE Groundwater Feasibility Study (to provide engineering design) and construction of groundwater treatment system for PS 117 and PS 284 and associated interconnecting pipeline. The Project is needed to assess the feasibility of remediation of PCE impacted groundwater, to provide engineering plans for the removal of PCE from groundwater, and to provide for construction funding. The proposed Fourth Amendment to the Agreement with Provost & Pritchard will provide additional design services to upgrade the electrical infrastructure at PS 284, revise the PS 117 drawings to include a third air stripper unit, and provide Grant assistance for preparation of additional Project reports as required by the Grant. The remaining Grant funds will subsequently be used to construct the well head treatment facility with a completion date of March 2021.
BACKGROUND
The Water Division maintains a network of approximately 260 municipal water supply wells that provide potable water to the community. Two City wells, PS 117 and PS 284 have elevated levels of PCE that exceed the State’s drinking water standard. PCE is a colorless liquid solvent widely used for dry cleaning operations in the 1950’s and 1960’s and due to poor disposal practices has migrated to groundwater. This Project will procure feasibility studies from Provost & Pritchard, and then construct a common well head treatment facility at PS 117 to treat water from both PS 117 and PS 284 by constructing a connection pipeline between well sites.
On June 7, 2016, the City hired Provost & Pritchard to provide design of plans and general construction documents for PS 117 and PS 284 Wellhead Treatment Improvements for a total fee of $262,473. Project plans are complete and ready for construction. On July 21, 2017, the City and Provost & Pritchard entered into a First Amendment to Agreement to increase various engineering design activities for an additional fee of $65,946. On December 8, 2017, the City and Provost & Pritchard entered into a Second Amendment to Agreement to extend the Agreement to October 31, 2018, to complete the Project. On January 17, 2019, the City entered into a Third Amendment to Agreement with Provost & Pritchard to increase the scope of various engineering design activities for the additional fee of $28,500 and to extend the Project deadline to December 31, 2020.
On May 18, 2017, the City submitted an application to the SWRCB for a Groundwater Sustainability Grant which provides funding for programs associated with groundwater treatment. This program makes $86 million available to develop and implement sustainable groundwater planning projects of which groundwater impacted with PCE qualifies for Grant funds.
On May 31, 2018, the City was approved by the SWRCB to receive a Groundwater Sustainability Grant in the amount of $2,254,040. The SWRCB also determined that the City maintains a Disadvantaged Community status, which qualifies the City for the minimum 10% match obligation of $250,450, and which may be credited for funds previously spent on this Project. Grant funding has been structured to offset selected costs the City incurred in development of the initial engineering design, to fund a PCE groundwater feasibility study, and to fund construction activities. A resolution approving the Funding Agreement for this Project was adopted by City Council on January 17, 2019.
Provost & Pritchard was selected as the most qualified firm to provide the design engineering services for this Project. The proposed Fourth Amendment will utilize up to $156,000 of the Grant funding to provide for additional engineering services and the groundwater Feasibility Study, including additional Project reporting requirements, as established by the Grant, for a total Provost & Pritchard contract value of $512,919. All work related to the Fourth Amendment to Agreement will be completed within the work schedule established in the Grant.
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 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, because this Project will result in adding a wellhead treatment facility and pipeline between existing wells, which entails a negligible expansion of existing uses. It also falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in Section 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines for new construction or conversion of small structures, because the footprint of the wellhead treatment facility is approximately 2400 square feet. Finally, the Project falls within the Categorical Exemption for infill development set forth in Section 15332 of the CEQA Guidelines because this Project will result in a small structure within an existing urban setting in conformance with the adopted General Plan. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this Project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference does not apply to this action because this is an amendment to an existing Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. This Project is located in Fresno County and Council District 2. On January 17, 2019, the City accepted the Grant in the amount of $2,254,040 for this Project. A new fund will be established next fiscal year when the construction contact is awarded to properly account for these grant funds. This will be done through an amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution. The 10% matching funds required by the State Grant are included in Water Division’s FY 2019 budget within the DBCP Recovery Fund 40110.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Fourth Amendment to the Agreement
Attachment 2 - Original Consultant Agreement and First, Second, and Third Amendment to the Agreement