Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: October 7, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Mitchell Cameron, Director of Administrative Services/Chief Innovation Officer
Subject: Award of Contracts for the Installation of Standby Generator at City Hall – CH-5067
BACKGROUND
Recent years have seen an increase in the frequency of utility power interruptions due to extreme weather, regional grid instability, and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. City Hall functions as the center of daily municipal operations and serves as a primary coordination site during emergencies. Without standby power, even brief outages can cause disruptions, which in turn can delay service delivery to residents and businesses.
In August 2017, the City Council authorized issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for professional engineering design services for Standby Power Generators at City Hall and Corporation Yard (Project CH-5067). Following the RFQ process, the City entered into a Professional Services Agreement with JMPE Electrical Engineering in January 2018 to design diesel generator standby power systems at City Hall and the Corporation Yard.
In June 2019, during adoption of the Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP), the City Council directed staff to evaluate cleaner alternatives to traditional diesel generators.
In February 2020, the City engaged Clean Coalition to conduct a Solar and Battery Standby Power Assessment Study for five sites: City Hall, Corporation Yard, Police Station, Library, and Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The resulting October 2020 study recommended a hybrid microgrid solution combining solar, battery storage, and diesel generation to provide resilient, cost-effective backup power. Council directed staff to proceed with hybrid microgrid design at City Hall, Library, Police Station, and Wastewater Treatment Plant, while completing the diesel generator designs at City Hall and Corporation Yard.
Award of Contracts - CH-5067
October 7, 2025
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Council approved design refinements, FEMA grant applications, and cooperative procurement of generators. The City purchased two Caterpillar C9 generators from Quinn Power Systems in December 2023 for future installation at City Hall and the Corporation Yard.
DISCUSSION
Staff solicited proposals from Sourcewell for concrete flatwork and electrical engineering services for installation of the standby generator at City Hall and recommend awarding to J&H Engineering General Contractors, Inc. and ABM Electrical & Lighting Solutions, Inc utilizing Sourcewell Contracts as administered by Gordian. As Sourcewell’s contract administrator, Gordian supports procurement coordination, cost validation, and compliance with cooperative purchasing requirements.
The City has an existing agreement with Willdan Engineering for construction management services for City facility capital improvement projects under CC Agreement No. 2024-20.
Staff recommends Council award the following contracts:
City
Contract
No.
Sourcewell
Contract
No.
Contractor Amount 20%
Contingency
Total
Authorization
2025-182 R7-PAV-
101723-
JHE
J&H
Engineering
$449,467.69 $89,893.54 $539,361.23
2025-177 CA-R8-E-
101723-
AEL
ABM
Electrical
$364,377.67 $72,875.53 $437,253.20
Total Requested
Authorization
$976,614.43
2024-20 Willdan
Engineering Construction Management $125,409.00
Total Project Cost $1,102,023.43
There is urgency to install the standby generator at City Hall to maintain continuity of municipal operations and emergency coordination during power interruptions. Early procurement of long-lead electrical equipment will also help mitigate future delays in completing the Corporation Yard project.
Award of Contracts - CH-5067
October 7, 2025
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In alignment with the City’s resiliency and sustainability goals, the generator at City Hall has been specified and retrofitted to accommodate future integration with solar and battery storage systems. This design approach ensures compatibility with the City’s planned Solar Power Project (CH-5169), allowing the generators to operate in concert with renewable energy resources once installed. By preparing now for future solar connectivity, the City avoids costly retrofits and strengthens its ability to transition toward cleaner, more resilient energy solutions.
The City also plans to initiate a future project to install the second standby generator at the Corporation Yard. To mitigate supply chain challenges, the ABM Electrical proposal includes advance procurement of the Corporation Yard generator switch gear and associated equipment, which currently have a lead time of approximately 52 weeks for fabrication. Procuring this equipment now will help ensure that future construction is not delayed.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for installation of the standby generator are included in the Capital Improvement Projects Fund budget, Account No. 410-8610-486.92-41 and Project CH-5067 in the amount of $704,559. However, an additional appropriation of $397,465 in Account No. 410-8610-486.92-41 and Project CH-5067 from available Capital Improvement Projects Fund Balance is required.
CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN FY 2025/26
This item supports the City Council’s Strategic Plan Goal and Objective 5.5 Technology and City Facilities – Ensure emergency operations and critical city services have reliable technology and facility infrastructure to maintain continuity during emergencies.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
City staff has determined, in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, that installation of the standby generator is not subject to CEQA review because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the installation of the standby generator may have a significant effect on the environment. The project involves the installation of small new equipment in small structures, specifically a 200-kilowatt generator at City Hall.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Find installation of the standby generator exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15061(b)(3).
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute Public Works Contract No. 2025-182 with J&H Engineering in the amount of $449,467.69 for concrete flatwork and authorize Award of Contracts - CH-5067
October 7, 2025
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a contingency in the amount of $89,893.54 for a total not to exceed amount of $539,361.23; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute Public Works Contract No. 2025-177 with ABM Electrical in the amount of $364,377.67 for electrical installation and authorize a contingency in the amount of $72,875.53 for a total not to exceed amount of $437,253.20; and
4. Authorize an appropriation of $397,465 in Account No. 410-8610-486.92-41 and Project CH-5067 from available Capital Improvement Projects Fund Balance; and
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute future amendments to the contracts for unforeseen additional services up to the authorized contingency amount.
ATTACHMENTS
1. CC Agreement 2025-182 with J & H Engineering General Contractors, Inc.
2. CC Agreement 2025-177 with ABM Electrical & Lighting Solutions, Inc.
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None