ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: March 12, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Kristina Budak, Water Director
DATE: February 28, 2025
SUBJECT: Kern River Canal Backup Weir Reconstruction Project (Ward 3)
1. Contract Change Order No. 1 to Agreement No. 2024-297 with Nicholas Construction, Inc. ($190,000; revised not to exceed $5,499,010).
2. Appropriate $450,000 from the Agricultural Water Fund Balance to the Water Department’s Capital Improvement Program budget for the project.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the contract change order.
BACKGROUND:
The scope of work for this project in general consists of replacing the existing Kern River Canal Backup Weir just east of the Coffee Road bridge. The work includes demolition and removal of existing weir and adjacent retaining wall; removal of existing ru bble; and construction of a new reinforced concrete weir with wingwalls and abutment, and adjacent retaining wall.
Item 1:
Previous to construction activities beginning, the environmental team alerted City staff that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) would not allow City to proceed with construction without an authorized Swallow Exclusion Plan in place. The authorized plan by CDFW required the contractor to place 24" wide plywood sections , anchored in onto 2x4s along the 90-degree angle made between several locations: between the exterior girder and overhang; between the bent caps and the soffit; and between the abutment and the soffit. Additionally, it was required that a curtain-like material be placed on the ends and anchored to the top of the 24" plywood sections, in order to discourage swallow nesting. This exclusion plan was applied to both the northbound and southbound sections of the Coffee Road bridge .
The work shall be performed as extra work at force account not to exceed $190,000.
Original Contract Amount = $5,309,010
Total of Previous Change Orders = $0
Current Contract Change Order = $190,000
Amended Contract Amount After Change Orders = $5,499,010 Net Increase to Date = $190,000
Item 2:
An appropriation of $450,000 from the Agricultural Water Fund is requested in order to fund the contract change order, as well as provide for additional engineering services and construction management for the duration of the construction phase.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The funding source for this project is the Agricultural Water Fund; with approval of the requested appropriation, s ufficient funds will be available in the Water Resources Capital Improvement Budget, therefore this contract change order has no impact to the City’s General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Contract Change Order No. 1