Agenda Item No: N.4
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: April 7, 2026
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: David Gassaway, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution 2026 -46 PW Awarding Construction Contract for Midtown Sewer Replacement Project (Phase 1)
Approving the Plans and Specifications and Awarding a Contract to Ghilotti Construction Company for the Midtown Sewer Replacement Project – Phase 1 (Gateway Boulevard, Gateway Court, Lincoln Street, Grant Street, Grant Court)
Funding Source: $1,669,432; Sewer Capital Fund
Contact: Pavan Prasad, (707) 428-7431
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt resolution.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
The City's sewer infrastructure within the area bounded by Gateway Boulevard to the north, West Texas Street to the south, North Texas Street to the east, and Beck Avenue/Interstate 80 to the west (Midtown Area) is approaching the end of its operational lifespan. Maintaining system reliability under these conditions requires the implementation of a robust maintenance program consisting of routine flushing, cleaning, and monitoring of sewer mains and service laterals by Public Works Operations staff . This level of ongoing maintenance is resource intensive and increasingly inefficient given the age and condition of the existing infrastructure. Therefore, replacement of the sewer infrastructure is considered the more cost-effective long-term solution to significantly reduce the risk of sanitary sewer overflows . The proposed resolution authorizes the approval of plans, specifications and awards a construction contract to Ghilotti Construction Company for the Midtown Sewer Replacement Project – Phase 1 (Project; CPW060102).
DISCUSSION
The sanitary sewer system in the Midtown Area was initially constructed to support the residential development of the Fairfield Terrace, Brandan Estates, Fernwood Gardens, and Fairview Addition subdivisions. In 2016, the City completed a Preliminary Design Report (PDR)
and Condition Assessment Analysis to evaluate and plan the rehabilitation of aging sewer collection system infrastructure in the Midtown Area. The existing sanitary sewer main in this area primarily consists of vitrified clay pipe (VCP), 4 -inches to 10 -inches in diameter, that does not meet current City standards. As a result, this area requires constant attention from Public Works Operations staff to maintain operational reliability due to structural defects in the pipeline such as cracks, fractures, offset pipeline, sags, and deformed/ collapsed pipes. Pipeline replacement is recommended as the cost -effective long-term solution for rehabilitation based on the severity of the defects identified and quantity of pipeline requiring frequent maintenance.
Two projects were subsequently constructed in 2017 and 2018 to initiate the rehabilitation of sewer collection system infrastructure in the Midtown Area.
In 2022, the City of Fairfield, in partnership with the Fairfield -Suisun Sewer District (FSSD), completed a Collection System Asset Management Plan (AMP) to comprehensively assess the condition of the sewer collection system and identify cost -effective strategies for maintaining long-term service reliability.
Building on this effort, the City completed a Five -Year Sewer Replacement Plan in 2024, which incorporates updated AMP data and input from Public Works Operations staff. The plan establishes a two -phase implementation strategy over five years to address remaining deficiencies within the Midtown sewer collection system.
Phase 1 includes improvements along Gateway Boulevard, Gateway Court, Lincoln Street, Grant Street, and Grant Court. Phase 2, anticipated for construction in winter 2027, will address remaining areas including Pierce Street, Second Street, Hayes Street, Carpenter Street, Colorado Street, Clay Street, and Arizona Street.
The project includes the replacement of approximately 2,200 linear feet of sewer mainline, associated service laterals, and installation of City-standard cleanouts where none currently exist, improving system access and enhancing the City’s ability to respond to future maintenance needs.
Bids for the Project were received from 16 contractors and were opened on February 17, 2026.
The apparent low bidder was Ghilotti Construction Company (Ghilotti Construction) of Santa Rosa, California in the amount of $1,391,193. Staff have reviewed the bid package submitted by Ghilotti Construction and determined that the bid was responsive and met all bid requirements.
Ghilotti Construction, and their subcontractors, are appropriately licensed to complete the Project. Staff recommend that the City Council adopt the Resolution to award a construction contract to Ghilotti Construction for the project. The total project authorization will be $1,669,431.60 which includes a 20% ($278,238.60) contingency for any unforeseen field conditions encountered during construction such underground utility conflicts from unmarked and unknown private utilities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total authorization will be $1,669,431.60. which is the total bid amount plus a 20% contingency ($1,391,193 total bid + $278,238.60 contingency) . Funding for this Project has been allocated within the Sewer Capital Fund (Fund 255). This fund has received additional support from FSSD through Resolution No. 2022 -135, which amended the funding for sewer collection system rehabilitation and replacement.
PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION
A notice inviting bids for this project was advertised twice in the Daily Republic newspaper on January 28 and February 4, 2026. In addition, staff emailed a notice of the project to all Contractors who previously submitted bids to City for similar projects. Plans and specifications were also sent via Benicia Printing Express (BPX) to a total of 17 builder’s exchanges in the State of California covering the area from Redding to San Jose and Stockton to Santa Rosa. A total of 24 contractors purchased bid documents for this project.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
The council may choose not to award the contract, reject all bids and restart the bid process.
However, this would result in a significant delay in the construction schedule and would postpone this much needed sewer improvement.
COORDINATED WITH
N/A
STAFF CONTACT
Pavan Prasad, Junior Civil Engineer
(707) 428-7431
[email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 2: Proposed Resolution
Attachment 3: Bid Results, dated February 17, 2026
Attachment 4: Project Phasing Exhibit