Camarillo Sanitary District
AGENDA REPORT
Date: April 8, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, District Manager
Submitted by: Dave Klotzle, Assistant District Manager
Subject: Water Reclamation Plant Upgrades (Project No. SS-5119) – Agreement Award for Owner’s Advisor/Program Manager Services
BACKGROUND
The Camarillo Sanitary District (CSD) collects and treats approximately 3.5 million gallons of wastewater each day, producing high quality reclaimed water that is distributed for agricultural and landscaping irrigation. The original Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) was constructed in 1957 and has undergone several expansions and upgrades over the years.
While the CSD wastewater collection system and WRP continue to adequately convey and process wastewater in compliance with regulatory requirements, many of the structures and process components are nearing the end of their useful lives. Within the next ten years, technology upgrades, structural rehabilitation, and equipment replacement will be needed to ensure reliable operation and regulatory compliance.
On July 27, 2022, the CSD Board adopted the Wastewater Master Plan (WWMP), prepared by Water Systems Consulting. The WWMP evaluated the condition and capacity of the sewage collection system and the WRP and recommended a series of future studies and projects needed to ensure reliability and regulatory compliance.
Specifically, for the WRP, visual inspection was conducted to determine the condition of the equipment and structures, a site planning study using aerial photos and records defined considerations for future site planning and site constraints, and workshops to evaluate alternatives to increase capacity and improve treatment performance were conducted. The CSD Board adopted the WWMP and directed staff to continue to further investigate both a WRP rehabilitation alternative and a new WRP alternative.
On February 14, 2024, the CSD Board authorized the District Manager to execute a professional services agreement with Hazen and Sawyer (Hazen) for preliminary design services and with Rincon Consultants, Inc. for preliminary environmental review services for the WRP Upgrades Project. Hazen evaluated the alternatives in the WWMP, evaluated current and future wastewater flow volumes and concentrations, defined project goals and objectives, incorporated site-specific constraints such as flood risk and
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phasing challenges, and analyzed biosolids management and energy use and sustainability options.
On March 26, 2025, and on November 12, 2025, the City Council and CSD Board approved Agreement No. 2025-14 and Agreement No. 2025-14A with Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates, Inc. (Fieldman) for the preparation of a long-range financial plan for the WRP Upgrades Project, including developing a funding capacity study, providing Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan application support, debt issuance services, and finalizing a financial roadmap to fund the WRP Upgrades Project. Fieldman worked closely with the City and CSD’s water and wastewater rate study consultant, Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. (Raftelis), on the long-range financial plan.
DISCUSSION
The WRP Upgrades Project represents one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the City and CSD’s history. The complexity of the wastewater treatment facility design, construction sequencing requirements to maintain continuous operations, investigating water reuse, and regulatory compliance considerations call for independent expert oversight provided through professional Owner’s Advisor services. A qualified Owner’s Advisor will provide advisory and project management services needed to inform and protect CSD’s interests in all components of the WRP Upgrades Project.
The Owner’s Advisor will serve as CSD’s independent subject matter expert, providing objective technical and affordability analyses and recommendations based on independent analysis and existing information from the WWMP, Hazen’s technical memorandums, and Fieldman’s financial analysis. The Owner’s Advisor will serve as the project manager, overseeing various components of the WRP Upgrades Project, including schedules, costs, procurement method, preparation of compliance documents, permitting, certifications, and all other work efforts needed throughout the duration of the project.
On August 29, 2025, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was advertised to provide Owner’s Advisor services for the WRP Upgrades Project. Proposals were received from the following five firms:
Jacobs Project Management Co. (Los Angeles, CA),
Carollo Engineers, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA),
Parsons Corporation (Pasadena, CA),
MKN & Associates, LLP (Ventura, CA), and
MNS Engineers, Inc. (Santa Barbara, CA).
The consultant selection committee consisting of various department staff and two CSD Board members reviewed all the proposals and conducted interviews with the top-ranking firms. Jacobs Project Management Co. (Jacobs) has been selected to provide the necessary Owner’s Advisor services based on their qualifications, extensive experience and previous work on similar types of projects.
Jacobs’ proposed scope of work provides a holistic evaluation of the WRP Upgrades program with a phased approach broken down into an initial Phase 1a resulting in a final Project No. SS-5119 - Award OA Services Agreement
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recommended WRP Improvement Program for CSD Board consideration, followed by a Phase 1b including detailed design and finalizing procurement documents for the selected improvements. The final Phase 2 scope of work provides project implementation support including technical review and construction management.
The initial proposed Phase 1a scope of work delivers governance, controls, studies, ratepayer affordability, and an integrated recommended WRP Improvement Program for CSD Board consideration.
Phase 1a incorporates a One Water affordability analysis that identifies and evaluates all affordability pathways and implementable improvement options that align with the current Council-authorized rate structure. The scope of work also includes targeted analysis of the existing WRP to investigate and evaluate existing operations for opportunities to improve performance and identify potential lower cost WRP rehabilitation options. Staff recommend implementing only Phase 1a of Jacobs’ proposed scope of work at this time and finalizing and awarding the scope of work for Phases 1b and 2 after completion of Phase 1a.
Jacobs’ proposal for the Phase 1a scope of work implements the One Water affordability approach to explore the feasibility of potential opportunities for reusing the highly treated WRP effluent to offset the ever-increasing cost of imported potable water for decades to come. Other agencies facing similar infrastructure and cost of service challenges as the City and CSD have successfully created One Water opportunities to implement affordable infrastructure upgrade alternatives that minimize impacts to water and wastewater rate payers. The One Water approach will potentially allow the City and CSD to maximize the use of local water supplies while addressing water reliability and climate change resilience issues.
Technical Studies (Task 6. Targeted Technical Studies) include:
Task 6.1 – Operational Optimization and Cost-Saving Assessment - Provides targeted evaluation of facility operations to identify practical improvements and cost-saving opportunities aimed at maximizing efficiency and reducing long-term operating expenses.
Task 6.2 Influence Flow Equalization Assessment - Identifies flow equalization strategies to stabilize plant hydraulics, streamline downstream process design, improve process reliability, and enhance operational flexibility. Task 6.3 Preliminary Treatment Evaluation - Recommends upgrades to screening and grit removal systems, to protect downstream processes and extend asset life to reduce maintenance costs and improve overall plant performance. Task 6.4 Disinfection Alternatives Analysis - Evaluates disinfection options to maintain regulatory compliance, minimize chemical costs, and enhance water quality, proactively preparing for future discharge permit requirements.
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Task 6.5 Odor Control Alternatives Analysis - Assesses odor sources and mitigation strategies to improve community relations and workplace conditions, by supporting a healthier environment and reducing nuisance complaints. Task 6.6 SCADA / Automation Assessment - Reviews and recommends enhancements to the plant’s automation and control systems to increase operational resilience, data integrity, and readiness for future technology upgrades. Task 6.7 Flood Impacts Evaluation - Analyzes the effects of new infrastructure on flood risk to proactively address vulnerabilities and safeguard critical assets against extreme weather events.
Task 6.8 Energy Assessment - Explores energy-saving and microgrid solutions to lower utility costs, boost sustainability, and support reliable operations during grid outages, providing a recommendation for long-term financial and environmental benefits
To refine and finalize a consultant’s proposed scope of work, during review of Jacobs’ proposed Phase 1a scope of work, staff requested the following additional items be included to expand the One Water approach and perform the necessary services:
Task 6.9 Percolation Pond Field Testing - Conducts field investigations to evaluate the feasibility of percolation in more detail, with a goal of estimating the percolation capacity at each of the target properties.
Task 6.10 Climate Resilience and Potable-Reuse Benefits - Provides objective information on climate hazard exposure, vulnerability, and risk for the WRP alternatives and will also quantify resilience and sustainability benefits to strengthen the case for potable reuse.
Task 6.11 Dry- and Wet-Weather Diversion Strategy (Influent) - Evaluates planning-level opportunities to increase influent conveyed to the WRP during both dry- and wet-weather conditions to expand the volume of water available for treatment reuse.
The cost for the total recommended Phase 1a scope of work is $3,959,553 with an anticipated schedule of 20 months to complete the work. The City is not obligated to use the full not-to-exceed budgeted amount and will only use funding as needed, continuously reassessing the need for the optional studies as progress is made in this phase. Staff have reviewed the final scope of services and fees with Jacobs and recommend approving a standard professional services agreement with Jacobs in an amount not to exceed $3,959,553 for Owner’s Advisor services (Attachment 1).
Jacobs, Fieldman, and Raftelis will each serve distinct but complementary roles in advancing the WRP upgrade program. Jacobs, as the Owner’s Advisor, is responsible for the technical and engineering components of the project, including evaluation of treatment alternatives, development of facility plans, and identification of cost for capital improvements and Project No. SS-5119 - Award OA Services Agreement
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operational strategies. Fieldman serves as the municipal financial advisor, leading the development of the long-range financial plan and affordability capacity, evaluating financing options, and coordinating debt issuance processes such as WIFIA loans, bonds, and other funding mechanisms, while working closely with staff and financing partners to structure and execute funding strategies. Raftelis, as the wastewater rate advisor, focuses on rate-setting and financial sustainability by developing rate models, evaluating revenue requirements, and ensuring that proposed capital and financing strategies are supported by equitable and defensible user rates. Together, these firms provide an integrated approach to implementing the WRP upgrades program, with Jacobs defining the cost, Fieldman structuring project financing and affordability capacity, and Raftelis ensuring ratepayer impacts are appropriately evaluated.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approximately $700,000 is expected to be spent in FY 2025/26 with the remaining $3,259,553 spent in FY 2026/27 and 2027/28. Funds for the professional services agreement are included in the CSD Capital Projects Fund, Account No. 873-8810-488.92- 21 and Project SS-5119 for FY 2025/26. The remaining $3,259,553 will be budgeted for the Project in FY 2026/27 and 2027/28.
CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN FY 2025/26
This item supports the City Council’s Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives 6.3 and 6.4 – Natural Resource Infrastructure Management
6.3) Develop major project work plans to prioritize, plan, fund, and execute infrastructure projects.
6.4) Continue implementation of the Wastewater Master Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize the District Manager to execute Professional Services Agreement No. 2026-3 with Jacobs Project Management Co. in an amount not to exceed $3,959,553 for owner’s advisor/program manager services.
ATTACHMENTS
1. CSD Agreement No. 2026-3
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None