Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 5.B
Meeting Date: April 8, 2026
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Award Construction Contract for the Cypress Road and Santoro Drive Retention Basin Project (C02609)
RECOMMENDATION:
To:
Award a construction contract to Wright Construction Engineering Corporation, in the amount of $82,980, for the Cypress Road and Santoro Drive Retention Basin Project (C02609); and,
Approve a twenty percent (20%) contingency in the amount of $16,596 for unforeseen construction costs and potential project changes; and, Approve a proposal from LandMark Consultants, Inc., in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,500 to provide material testing services during construction, thereby bringing the total construction budget to the amount of $101,076; and, Authorize the City Manager to execute the contract documents; and, Authorize the City Engineer to execute the task order proposal with LandMark Consultants, Inc., request bonds and insurance for the project and issue the Notice to Proceed.
BACKGROUND:
The northwest intersection of Cypress Road and Santoro Drive has historically experienced localized flooding during rain events due to inadequately sized inlets and drainage pipe capacity limiting the ability to properly collect and convey stormwater to the existing adjacent retention basin. As a result, this location has been identified as a recurring flood-prone area within the city.
To address this deficiency, a drainage improvement project was included in the FY 2025– 2026 Public Works Maintenance Division roadway maintenance budget. The past few months the Engineering Division staff designed the project in-house, including preparation of the plans, specifications, and cost estimates (PS&E) for construction.
The project includes removal of the existing drainage pipe and installation of new drainage infrastructure consisting of three components: a street catch basin, storm drain piping, and an outlet structure within the existing retention basin. These improvements will improve stormwater conveyance and reduce roadway flooding.
This project was previously bid out and bids were received. Due to the bids being determined to be non-responsive bids and did not represent the city’s best financial interest, on February 25, 2026, the City Council rejected all bids received. At the direction of the City Council, staff subsequently re-advertised the project for construction bids.
DISCUSSION:
City staff advertised the invitation to bid on Sunday, March 1, 2026, requesting qualified contractors to perform the scope of work described in Bid Number B26-113E-I, which includes the project PS&E. The solicitation period remained open for seventeen (17) days and was advertised in the following locations:
Desert Sun – Published on March 1, 2026
PlanIt Print Works – From March 1, through March 18, 2026 City’s Website - From March 1, through March 18, 2026
On March 18, 2026, at the time of the bid opening, the city received two (2) bid proposals for this project.
The following table ranks each bidder by total price.
Rank Contractor Bid Price
1 Wright Construction Engineering Corporation $82,980.00 2 Narrow Path Engineering, Inc. (1) $146,899.10
(1) Bid total corrected for arithmetic discrepancy; unit prices govern.
The bid tabulation prepared by the Engineering Division is included in this report as an attachment.
Based on the bids received, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder yielding the lowest contract price, is Wright Construction Engineering Corporation from San Marcos, CA.
City staff recommend that the City Council:
Award a construction contract to Wright Construction Engineering Corporation, in the amount of $82,980, for the Cypress Road and Santoro Drive Retention Basin Project (C02609); and,
Approve a twenty percent (20%) contingency in the amount of $16,596 for unforeseen construction costs and potential project changes; and, Approve a proposal from LandMark Consultants, Inc., in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,500 to provide material testing services during construction, thereby bringing the total construction budget to the amount of $101,076; and, Authorize the City Manager to execute the contract documents; and, Authorize the City Engineer to execute the task order proposal with LandMark Consultants, Inc., request bonds and insurance for the project and issue the Notice to Proceed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
FY 2025-2026 CIP Biennial Budget
The Cypress Road and Santoro Drive Retention Basin Project is included in the FY 2025– 2026 Biennial Budget as an Extraordinary (One-Time) item, with a total programmed Special Revenue budget of $125,000. Funding is provided from Gas Tax and Measure A sources, as summarized below:
Funding Sources Amount
Gas Tax $ 62,500
Measure A $ 62,500
Total Programmed Budget $125,000
Construction Budget
The total construction budget is $101,076, which includes the low bid of $82,980 submitted by Wright Construction Engineering Corporation (Wright), a 20% contingency of $16,596, and $1,500 for material testing services by LandMark Consultants, Inc. (LandMark). The construction budget is summarized below:
Description Amount
Construction Contract (Low Bid Cost by Wright) $ 82,980.00 20% Contingency $ 16,596.00
Material Testing Services (LandMark) $ 1,500.00
Total Construction Budget $101,076.00
Proposed Funding Sources
Staff propose to fund the total construction budget of $101,076 using a combination of Gas Tax and Measure A funds. Gas Tax funds in the amount of $65,000 will be used toward the construction contract, with the remaining $17,980 of the contract funded by Measure A.
Measure A funds will also fully fund the project contingency and material testing services.
The following table summarizes the budget allocations for this project.
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2025-2026 Gas Tax 241-400-460-
461-8300-8302 C02609 $ 51,538 ONE TIME
2025-2026 Measure A 243-400-460-
461-8300-8302 C02609 $ 51,538 ONE TIME
2025-2026 Total $101,076
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL B: COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS
Objective: Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other city infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed, and maintained.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Cypress Road and Santoro Drive Retention Basin Project - Vicinity Map
2. Cypress Road and Santoro Drive Retention Basin Project - Bid Tabulation
3. Contract – Wright Construction Engineering Corporation
4. Task Order Proposal – LandMark Consultants, Inc.