DATE: September 2, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
2026-019
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
TERMINATE THE EMERGENCY ACTION FOR CONTRACTED EMERGENCY WATER
LINE AND REMEDIATION REPAIRS AT POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
AND RATIFY MAINTENANCE/GENERAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH BELFOR USA
GROUP INC
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to terminate the emergency action for contracted emergency water line and remediation repairs at the Corona Police Department Headquarters and ratify the Maintenance/General Service Agreement with Belfor USA Group Inc.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Terminate the emergency action for contracted water line and remediation repairs at the Corona Police Department Headquarters.
b. Ratify the Maintenance/General Service Agreement with Belford USA Group Inc. in the amount not to exceed $700,000 for performing emergency water line and remediation repairs at Police Department Headquarters.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
On April 28, 2026, a failed steel-braided water supply line serving the upstairs kitchenette caused significant flooding at the Corona Police Department Headquarters. The incident resulted in water damage to multiple areas of the facility and required immediate emergency response to protect City assets and maintain operations within the City's primary public safety facility.
Emergency mitigation efforts included water extraction, deployment of drying equipment, environmental testing, mold remediation, demolition of damaged materials, and development of a comprehensive restoration plan. On July 1, 2026, the City Council declared a public emergency to address the full extent of the damage and prevent further deterioration of the facility. Belfor Property Restoration was retained to perform the remediation and reconstruction work necessary and has now returned the facility to its pre-loss condition.
ANALYSIS:
Emergency remediation and restoration work at the Corona Police Department Headquarters has been completed, and the facility has been restored to its pre-loss condition. The estimated cost of the work is $570,000. In accordance with previously approved City Council direction, a contract with Belfor USA Group, Inc. has been executed in an amount not to exceed $700,000.
Belfor has submitted all associated invoices to the City’s insurance provider for review and audit. Upon completion of the audit and review process, the insurance provider will determine the appropriate and eligible costs for the completed work and exclude any charges determined to be ineligible, unsupported, or otherwise not qualified for reimbursement. The final approved amount will not exceed Belfor’s requested amount of $570,000. Upon final settlement of the insurance claim, the City expects reimbursement from its insurance carrier for all eligible expenses, minus the applicable $50,000 deductible.
BASIS FOR EXCEPTION TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING :
An exception to competitive bidding was warranted for this action pursuant to Corona Municipal Code (CMC) Section 3.08.130(A) which states as follows:
(A) Emergencies. In situations determined by the City Manager to constitute an emergency for a public project pursuant to § 22035 of the Act and Cal. Public Contract Code § 22050. The City Council hereby delegates to the City Manager the power to declare a public emergency and take any directly related and immediate action required by the emergency, up to a total of $500,000, pursuant to § 22035 of the Act and Cal. Public Contract Code § 22050. Emergency expenditures of more than $500,000 shall first be approved by the City Council.
Work shall be performed without the benefit of competitive bidding, either formal or informal, only so long as necessary under those sections.
For projects of more than the amount provided for in § 22032(a) of the Act (currently $75,000), a report on the emergency and work performed shall be provided at the next regular meeting of the City Council, and then at every meeting thereafter required by § 22050. At such meetings, the City Council shall determine, by a four-fifths vote, that there is a need to continue the action without the benefit of informal or formal competitive bidding in accordance with § 22035 of the Act and Cal. Public Contract Code § 22050. The City Council shall terminate the emergency action at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant, so that the remainder of the emergency action may be completed pursuant to a formal bidding procedure.
Staff determined that this situation met the requirements of Section 3.08.130(A), as the immediate repair of the damaged water main line and the associated remediation and restoration work at the Corona Police Department Headquarters were necessary to address potential health and safety concerns, prevent further damage, and minimize disruption to critical Police Department operations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for the recommended action in an amount not to exceed $700,000 is available in the Emergency Water Line and Remediation Repairs at Police Department Headquarters, Operating and Maintenance Project (PJ_00000531) within the General Fund (FD_1110).
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action terminates an emergency action at Police Department Headquarters, and there is no possibility that approving this project will have a significant effect on the environment.
Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: PAUL LICHTENBERGER, FACILITIES MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: DONNA FINCH, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENT:
1. Exhibit 1 – Belfor USA Group Inc. MGSA