DATE: September 2, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Public Works Department
2026-023
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PROACTIVE ENGINEERING
CONSULTANTS FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES FOR
THE CORONA DOWNTOWN STORM DRAIN PHASE II PROJECT, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. ST-2026-04
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to approve the Professional Services Agreement with Proactive Engineering Consultants, in the amount of $1,451,619 for design and construction support services for the Corona Downtown Storm Drain Phase II. Completion of the project will minimize street flooding and continue to expand and complete sections of the storm drain master plan. Funding for the project has been granted from the Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District (RCFC&WCD).
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Award Request for Proposal No. 26-045AT to Proactive Engineering Consultants, for design and construction support services for the Corona Downtown Storm Drain Phase II, Capital Improvement Project No. ST-2026-04. b. Approve the Professional Services Agreement with Proactive Engineering Consultants, for design and construction support services for the Corona Downtown Storm Drain Phase II, Capital Improvement Project No. ST-2026-04 in the amount of $1,451,619 and waive any minor irregularities in the proposal. c. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Professional Services Agreement with and issue a purchase order to Proactive Engineering Consultants, in the amount of $1,451,619, including any non-substantive extensions, change orders, purchase orders, and amendments up to 10% of the contract amount ($145,161).
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
For years, downtown Corona has contended with localized flooding and inadequate drainage systems, especially on key thoroughfares like 6th Street and Main Street, as well as in local neighborhoods. The City’s stormwater master planning process—most recently updated in 2025—highlighted these areas as priorities for infrastructure improvement, as recurring surface flooding, outdated pipes, and limited capacity have hindered the city’s ability to manage both current and future storm flows.
To address these critical challenges, the City conducted hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, field investigations, and condition assessments as part of the Storm Drain Master Plan update. These studies revealed that several storm drain segments, including those along Merrill Street and Main Street, were not only undersized but also deteriorating. Areas of recurring surface flooding, such as 6th Street, were also identified to tie into the broader system. Recognizing the need for a holistic solution, analysts recommended a systemwide upgrade—replacing and upsizing primary trunk lines, constructing new sections, and integrating these enhancements with regional systems such as the Main Street Channel and Corona Drains Line 1.
Following this groundwork, the City successfully secured funding from RCFC&WCD for the Downtown Storm Drain Phase II Project. On December 3, 2025, the City Council approved a Funding Agreement with RCFC & WCD (Agreement No. 2-0-10057), ensuring full reimbursement of eligible design and construction costs. The Phase II improvements encompass the removal and upsizing of approximately 3,500 feet of deficient drain along Merrill Street; construction of approximately 4,740 feet of new storm drain sections on 6th Street between Vicentia Avenue and Temescal Wash; and removal and upsizing of approximately 2,050 feet of inadequate infrastructure along Main Street. Additional project components include new inlets, catch basins, trash-capture devices, and connector pipes, with the proposed connections detailed in Exhibit 1.
While the District will reimburse all eligible costs, the City remains responsible for delivering the project, maintaining regulatory compliance, and overseeing the long-term operation and maintenance of these updated facilities. Importantly, the Downtown Storm Drain Improvements Phase II Project aligns with the City’s broader vision for public safety, resilient infrastructure, and revitalizing the downtown area. Where possible, the project will also design pedestrian bulb-outs identified in the Downtown Revitalization Plan and 6th Street Beautification and Revitalization Project to minimize rework and reconstruction.
By tackling chronic flooding and replacing aging systems, these improvements directly support sustainability and economic development goals outlined in the General Plan and capital improvement program.
ANALYSIS:
Request for Proposals RFP 26-045AT for design engineering services for the Downtown Storm Drain Phase II —Project was advertised on May 4, 2026, pursuant to CMC Section
3.08.110 Non-Public Projects formal bidding procedure and posted on the City’s bidding portal, PlanetBids. A total of 700 PlanetBids Network vendors and 774 City of Corona vendors were notified. On June 4, 2026, eight (8) qualified proposals were received through the PlanetBids bidding service. The following is a summary of the top three proposal evaluation results:
Firm Location Evaluation
Ranking
Proactive Engineering Consultants Corona, CA 1
CWE Fullerton, CA 2
Michael Baker International Temecula, CA 3
Albert Webb Riverside, CA 4
J. Smith & T. Muli Mission Viejo, CA 5
WestLAND Group Rancho Cucamonga, CA 5
X Engineering & Consulting Santa Ana, CA 6
ERSC Redlands, CA 7
Based on the proposal evaluation analysis, which scores the consultant on categories such as qualifications, competency, and project understanding, Proactive Engineering Consultants’ team has the required skills, experience, and staffing to execute the scope of work for this project.
With the Council’s approval, the design is anticipated to be completed by Winter 2027/2028 and construction to begin in Spring 2028, lasting approximately one year.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for the recommended actions is available in the Corona Downtown Storm Drain Phase II, Capital Improvement Project No. ST-2026-04 within the Public Works Agreements Fund (FD_2243). Funding for the project has been granted from the RCFC&WCD, ensuring full reimbursement of eligible design and construction costs The design and engineering services cost is outlined as follows:
Consultant .....................................................................................................$1,451,619 Contingency ..................................................................................................... $145,161 Total Costs............................................................................................... $1,596,780 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
These actions are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Action (CEQA), as the actions are not a “project” as defined by CEQA (PRC Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378), guidelines which define a “project” as the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or reasonable foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and that is an activity directly undertaking by any public agency including public works construction and related activities. These actions involve the approval of a professional services agreement. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required currently. After approval of the recommended actions herein, staff will proceed with the design and environmental document phase of this project. Any applicable documentation will be prepared and filed at that time.
PREPARED BY: FREDY CASTILLO, SENIOR ENGINEER
REVIEWED BY: JAVIER LUNA, ACTING PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Location Map
2. Exhibit 2 – Professional Services Agreement