Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: April 23, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Dave Klotzle, Public Works Director
Subject: Sodium Hypochlorite –Pricing Agreement No. 2025-20
BACKGROUND
Sodium hypochlorite is used at the City of Camarillo (City) groundwater wells to disinfect the water pumped into the distribution system prior to use by potable water customers.
Sodium hypochlorite is also used for disinfection at City water reservoirs on an as needed basis. The City uses approximately 20,000 gallons of sodium hypochlorite each year which are delivered in batches of gallons at a time.
DISCUSSION
On February 10, 2025, staff advertised a Notice Inviting Bids (NIB) in the Ventura County Star and posted on the City of Camarillo PlanetBids portal Specification CP-2025-1 to provide a price per gallon for sodium hypochlorite. The agreement is for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2025, with an option to extend the agreement up to two (2) additional one-year periods. In addition, the agreement allows for a price increase adjustment for each year of the agreement, based on the cost-of-living increase measured by the February Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Los Angeles.
On February 28, 2025, staff received five responsive bids uploaded to the City of Camarillo PlanetBids portal as shown in the table below:
Name of Bidder
Cost per Gallon
(Includes mill
assessment)
Olin Corporation Declined to Bid
Univar Solutions USA LLC Declined to Bid
Jones Chemical Inc. (JCI) $2.24
NorthStar Chemical dba of Pacific Star Chemical, LLC
(NorthStar)
$3.52
Blue Angel International LLC (Blue Angel) $4.53
Sodium Hypochlorite - Pricing Agreement No. 2025-20
April 23, 2025
1 9
1 3
Staff has evaluated all bids and recommends the approval of a three-year Pricing Agreement with JCI for the supply and delivery of sodium hypochlorite, at a cost of $2.18 plus $0.05886 mill assessment per gallon for FY 2025/26, exclusive of any applicable taxes, and including CPI increases for FY 2026/27 and FY2027/28 based on the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics February Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Los Angeles. Additionally, staff recommends approval to authorize the City Manager to execute subsequent amendments for FY 2028/29 and FY 2029/30 for a rate based on the cost-of-living increase measured by the February CPI for All Urban Consumers in the Los Angeles Region. Staff estimates that the annual purchase of sodium hypochlorite will average $44,800, exclusive of any applicable taxes.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for Pricing Agreement No. 2025-20 for sodium hypochlorite are included in the FY 2025/26 Proposed Budget in the Water Utility Fund, Chemicals Account No. 860-3630- 436.61-61.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
Staff has determined, in accordance with Section 15061 (b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, that the JCI Jones Chemicals Inc. Pricing Agreement for sodium hypochlorite is not subject to CEQA review because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the Pricing Agreement for sodium hypochlorite may have a significant effect on the environment. The activity of services is limited to the purchase of sodium hypochlorite.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Find the Pricing Agreement with JCI Jones Chemicals Inc. exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute CC Agreement No. 2025-20 with JCI Jones Chemical Inc. for the purchase of sodium hypochlorite at the cost of $2.18 per gallon plus mill assessment, exclusive of any applicable taxes, for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, including CPI increases for Fiscal Years 2026/27 and 2027/28; and
3.Authorize the City Manager to execute subsequent agreement amendments for two (2) additional one-year terms for the purchase of sodium hypochlorite at a rate not- to- exceed the cost-of-living increase as measured by the February Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Los Angeles.
ATTACHMENTS
1. CC Agreement No. 2025-20
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None