REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
April 28, 2021
FROM: MICHAEL CARBAJAL, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Assistant Director - UP&E
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
BY: ERIN AUGUSTO, Engineer I
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Leaky Acres Groundwater Facility:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Section 15306 and Statutory Exemption pursuant to Section 15262 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Approve a Consultant Services Agreement with GeoSystems Analysis, Inc., for preparation of the Leaky Acres Groundwater Recharge Facility Master Plan, for an amount not to exceed $150,504, including a $13,700 contingency (Council District 4)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends City Council approve a Consultant Services Agreement with GeoSystems Analysis, Inc., for preparation of the Leaky Acres Groundwater Recharge Facility Master Plan, for an amount not to exceed $150,504, including a $13,700 contingency; and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities’ Water Division maintains and operates the Leaky Acres Recharge Facility (Facility) which is generally located east of Freeway 168, between Ashlan and Dakota Avenues. This facility was largely constructed in the earlier 1970’s and is in need of various repairs and upgrades. Recharge facilities such as this one are needed to attain the balanced use of groundwater, which is highlighted more today than ever before with the enactment of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. To ensure adequacy of the needed improvements the Department seeks to hire a consultant to evaluate the facility and prepare the Leaky Acres Recharge Facility Master Plan (Master Plan) that will outline and program repairs and upgrades over multiple fiscal years. The Department seeks City Council approval to enter into an agreement for consultant services for development of the Master Plan that will enable optimization of facility operations and provide a guide for the City’s groundwater recharge program.
BACKGROUND
Historically, the Fresno area has been dependent on pumping groundwater for the majority of its water supply. This past dependence on groundwater lead to a consistent decline in the water table and overdraft of the Kings Subbasin aquifer under the City.
To help replenish the aquifer, the City built the Facility in the 1970s. The Facility currently spans approximately 200 acres and infiltrates approximately 10,000 acre feet of City contract surface water allocations annually, to supplement recovery of groundwater levels.
On June 23, 2016, the City adopted the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP). The UWMP stipulates an increase in City recharge water operations from a volume of 53,600 acre feet in 2010 to 66,500 acre feet by 2040 to ensure balanced groundwater pumping from the aquifer.
On September 16, 2014, the California Legislature enacted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to address the statewide problem of groundwater overdraft. Within the immediate region, SGMA requires governments and water agencies in the Kings Subbasin to halt overdraft and bring the groundwater basin into balanced levels of pumping and recharge by 2040.
Due to the age of the Facility and need for improvements it is prudent to review existing operations to find ways to improve and automate these operations where cost-effective. The Master Plan will conduct such an evaluation, recommend improvements, provide an implementation plan with annual budgets, and lastly develop standard drawings for typical replacement structures.
The Consultant scope of services will include identification of potential methodologies and technologies to enhance and optimize recharge infiltration rates, hydraulic evaluations associated with the capture and transfer of water throughout the Facility, design changes to maximize operational and maintenance efficiencies, evaluation for the utilization of telemetry and instrumentation related to source water flow management and measurement, and develop a prioritized 5-year list of potential capital improvement projects to support the City in meeting its long-term groundwater recharge program goals.
In accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1, and Administrative Order 6-19 (AO 6-18), the Department of Public Utilities conducted a competitive solicitation process to select a consultant for development of the Master Plan.
A Request for Proposals was published in the Business Journal and posted on Planet Bids on January 18, 2021. The City received one proposal package from GeoSystems Analysis, Inc., (GSA) on February 17, 2021. On February 26, 2021, a selection committee reviewed and evaluated the proposal. As allowed for in AO 6-19, the Request for Proposals was structured for the consultant to provide detailed information regarding experience of the firm and team members. Upon review of the proposal, it was determined that GSA met all requirements and was selected to prepare the Master Plan.
The submitted baseline proposal of $136,804 by GSA was approximately 6% below the engineer’s estimate of $145,000.
A standardized consultant service agreement has been used in accordance with Administrative Order 4-4, and the consultant’s Certificates of Insurance have been approved by the City’s Risk Management Division.
Upon approval by the City Council, the Agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities, or designee.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has determined that a Statutory Exemption is appropriate pursuant to Section 15262 of the CEQA Guidelines because the Project consists of a feasibility study for possible future actions which have not been approved, and a Categorical Exemption is appropriate pursuant to Class 6, Section 15306 of the CEQA Guidelines because the Project involves data collection and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. This Project involves an investigation of the City’s existing recharge facility and evaluation of data resulting in completion of a facility master plan for future improvements. No construction is involved in this study. 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.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference was not applied since there was only a single proposer, however, the Consultant meets this criteria by subcontracting 15% or more of estimated costs of the work to a local consulting firm.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. The project is located in Council District 4. Funds are available in the Water Division’s Capital Improvement Program budget within the Water Enterprise Fund (40101).
Attachment:
Attachment 1 - Consultant Services Agreement