Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: APPROVAL OF PAYMENT FOR EMERGENCY SEWER
REPAIR WORK IN OLD REDWOOD HIGHWAY TO
ARGONAUT CONTRACTORS AND APPROPRIATIONFROM
SEWER CAPITAL ENTERPRISE FUND
Date: September 24, 2024
Written by: Craig Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Recommendation
It is recommended the City Council by resolution approve payment to Argonaut Contractors in the amount of $44,977 for expenses incurred for the emergency replacement of approximately 60 feet of 6-inch diameter sewer in Old Redwood Highway and appropriation of $49,477, including Construction Management and Inspection costs incurred by GHD, Inc., from the unappropriated funds in the Sewer Operating Fund.
Background
The City owns, operates, and maintains a sewer collection system consisting of four lift stations and approximately 32 miles of pipeline. The City strives to maintain the system and includes condition assessments and repair and replacement projects in its Capital Improvements Program.
However, the system is aging, and some failures do happen, and these failures require emergency repairs that are not budgeted due to their being unanticipated. In these instances, emergency work is authorized at the City Manager level with City authorization to occur later.
Analysis/Discussion
On July 19, 2024, the Public Works Superintendent became aware of debris restricting flow in the 6-inch diameter gravity sewer pipeline in Commerce Boulevard near 7700 Old Redwood Highway. The Superintendent vacuumed pea gravel from the pipeline and had the section of pipeline videotaped. The video tape footage revealed missing sections of pipeline and damaged and offset joints over a 60-foot length extending north from the 7700 Old Redwood Highway property. The City Engineer was notified, and a contractor was contacted with arrangements to replace the 60 feet of sewer on Wednesday July 24, 2024.
Sewer repairs were made, and, on July 25, 2024, the work was determined to be completed in accordance with City standards by the City’s contract Construction Manager, the Superintendent, and the City Engineer. The work consisted of removal and replacement of the existing pipeline, backfilling and paving the trench section. The City has been invoiced for the work and Staff is requesting, after the fact, authorization for the work and appropriation of unappropriated Sewer Enterprise funds to fund the construction and Construction Management costs.
Financial Considerations
The work was performed by Argonaut Constructors for $44,977, and Construction Management was conducted by GHD, Inc. for an amount of $4,500. The total requested appropriation from the Sewer Operating Enterprise fund (404) is $49,477. This leaves a budgetary estimated ending fund balance of approximately $955,000 for the sewer operating fund for fiscal year 2024/25.
Environmental Issues
This action is found to qualify for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption under CEQA Section 15301 in that the project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use.