GHD
718 Third Street,
Eureka, California 95501
Our ref: 12559007
January 6, 2025
Brendan Byrd, City Engineer
City of Fortuna
180 Dinsmore Drive
Fortuna, CA 95540
RE: Scope of Work for L St to Newburg Rd Water & Sewer Upgrades – Conceptual Analysis Dear Brendan,
Thank you for providing GHD with the opportunity to assist the City of Fortuna with this important infrastructure project. GHD understands the City’s desire to perform water and sewer upgrades within the area generally bound by 9th, 12th, I, and L Streets, referred to hereinafter as the “project core area.” Additionally, the City desires to perform sewer capacity upgrades in the following areas:
– Loni Drive west of 12th Street.
– 12th Street between I Street and Rohner Creek.
– A section along Rohner Creek east of 12th Street.
– Randolph Way between Rohner Creek and Newburg Road.
The project core and sewer capacity upgrade areas are shown in the attached figure and outlined in black and green, respectively.
The work required to allow for construction will be completed in multiple phases. The work completed under this scope will constitute the Conceptual Analysis phase of the project and will be limited to the tasks provided herein. The next phase of work will be completed under a separate scope(s) and will include preliminary engineering design, additional environmental permitting and documentation that may be required, final engineering design, bid assistance, construction management, and other tasks that may be identified as a part of this first phase of work.
GHD has provided a scope, schedule, and budget for services related to this first Conceptual Analysis phase of the project in the following sections.
1. Task 1 – Project Management and Topographic Survey
Coordination
1.1 Project Management
Project management tasks will be limited to the following:
– Setting up the project in GHD’s accounting system.
– Preparing, reviewing, and distributing monthly invoices. – Budget and schedule management and coordination.
12559007 | RE: Scope of Work for L St to Newburg Rd Water & Sewer Upgrades – Conceptual Analysis 2 – Team management and coordination.
– Kick-off meeting with the City to review project scope and schedule, discuss City preferences for planned improvements, collect information, and confirm lines of communication. – Virtual meetings with pertinent City staff to discuss work progress, schedule, and budget. GHD has budgeted for two coordination meetings in addition to the kick-off meeting. – Additional communication and coordination with City staff and GHD internal staff that is otherwise unrelated to specific tasks as outlined in the following sections of this document. • This will include regular communication with the City’s project manager to update the City on work performed and coordinate project activities.
1.2 Topographic Survey Coordination
Topographic survey information will be beneficial for informing the conceptual engineering analysis and will be necessary for performing the engineering design that will be completed under a subsequent scope. Given that, it is recommended that the City contract directly with a surveyor to perform surveying services during this first phase of the project. GHD will provide the City with the information that a surveyor will require to develop a proposal, including survey extents and level of detail required. Additionally, GHD will coordinate with the selected surveyor and be available for consultations to facilitate execution of the survey work.
Task 1 Assumptions
– GHD attendees at project coordination calls will be limited to the project manager, project engineer, and staff engineer.
– Additional regular communication to update the City on work performed and coordinate project activities will be limited to an average of one hour per month for the GHD project manager. – The City will contract directly with a surveyor to perform the required surveying work. – Access onto private property may be required for the topographic survey near Rohner Creek. The City and/or their surveyor will coordinate access with landowners, and coordination effort for access will not be required by GHD. The City will concurrently obtain property access for the environmental studies described in Task 3.
Task 1 Deliverables
– Monthly invoices in PDF format.
– Request for information issued to the City prior to the kick-off meeting in PDF format. – Meeting agendas and minutes in PDF format.
– Map showing survey extents in PDF format.
2. Task 2 – Engineering Conceptual Analysis
Task 2 will consist of an engineering conceptual analysis and related work that will be used to determine the scope and extents of the project and recommended construction methods. The following sub-tasks will aid in these determinations and provide additional information to be used for developing a strategy for advancing the project in subsequent phases.
2.1 Review of Available Documentation and CCTV Footage
GHD will review available documentation, including GIS data, record drawings (if available), the recent Sewer System Master Plan Updates document, available geotechnical information, and other available data to gain a 12559007 | RE: Scope of Work for L St to Newburg Rd Water & Sewer Upgrades – Conceptual Analysis 3 better understanding of the systems in place and potential deficiencies of the current systems. GHD will then compile a data request to the City for additional useful information.
GHD understands the City has recently performed closed-circuit television (CCTV) video inspection of the sewer mains within the project core area. GHD will review the CCTV data to determine the current condition of the sewer mains and assess the feasibility of rehabilitating the sewer mains using cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) lining methods.
2.2 Conceptual Analysis
After reviewing available information related to the project, GHD will perform an analysis to more precisely define the project and devise a strategy for implementation. The analysis will include several components that are identified below.
2.2.1 Determination of Project Extents
While the extents of the project have already been defined at a general level, a more detailed assessment is required to refine the limits of the project. With input from City staff, GHD will characterize the extents of the project in the context of overall capital improvement plan implementation to include all items of work that would be practical to include as a part of this project from both budgeting and efficiency standpoints.
2.2.2 Water Model Updates
Several of the water mains in the project core area are two inches in diameter. Because these water mains are being replaced, it is prudent to upsize them to provide sufficient fire flow throughout the project core area. GHD will perform an analysis using the City’s existing EPANET water model to determine sufficient water main sizes within the project core area for meeting fire flow requirements.
2.2.3 Determination of Appropriate Construction Methods There are several construction methods that could be viable for the various portions of the project. GHD staff will perform one construction feasibility site walk with City staff to orient with the site and determine the feasibility of various construction methods. Construction methods that will be considered are limited to the following:
• Water in the project core area
– Abandoning existing water mains in place and installing new parallel mains via open cut trenching.
– Removal and direct replacement of existing water mains via open cut trenching and installation of a temporary high line.
– Pipe bursting and installation of a temporary high line. • Sewer in the project core area
– CIPP lining
– Dig and replace
– Pipe bursting
• Sewer capacity upgrades outside the project core area – Dig and replace
– Pipe bursting
GHD will analyze construction methods sufficient for determining feasibility and applicability. Relative costs of each method will be considered at a high level, but a detailed opinion of probable construction cost will only be developed for the approach that is deemed to be most applicable based on engineering judgment and input 12559007 | RE: Scope of Work for L St to Newburg Rd Water & Sewer Upgrades – Conceptual Analysis 4 from City staff. Factors that will be considered in determining the most applicable approach will be limited to cost, constructability, maintenance, regulatory implications (and associated cost), and the potential requirement for additional studies and/or analyses (e.g., whether a given approach requires the preparation of a geotechnical report).
2.2.4 Opinion of Probable Construction Cost
GHD will prepare a Class 4 opinion of probable construction cost based on the project extents and construction methods that are selected.
2.2.5 Conceptual Analysis Technical Memorandum
A draft technical memorandum (TM) will be prepared that summarizes the analyses completed as described in Section 2.2. The TM will also contain an environmental section as described in more detail in Task 3. GHD will lead a one-hour review meeting to discuss the results and resolve questions/comments on the draft TM. A final TM will be prepared that addresses City review comments following the review meeting.
Task 2 Deliverables
– Draft and final TM in electronic format (draft TM in Microsoft Word format and final TM in PDF format). – Agenda and notes from the review meeting in PDF format. – Class 4 opinion of probable construction cost to be included within the TM.
Task 2 Assumptions
– GHD will not provide sewer or water capacity analyses under this scope outside of confirming that fire flow requirements are met in the project core area. Results from other analyses outside this scope will be relied upon for sewer capacity upsizing requirements.
– The City’s EPANET water model is assumed to be accurate for purposes of the analysis required for this project. GHD will not be responsible for verifying, calibrating, or otherwise updating the City’s existing model as a part of this project except for updating water main sizes and materials in the project core area. – GHD will not be responsible for verifying, calibrating, or otherwise updating the City’s existing ArcGIS water and sewer layers as a part of this project.
– Site visit requirements will be limited to one constructability site walk that will be attended by GHD’s project manager, project engineer, and staff engineer.
– The City will provide CCTV video inspection footage of the sewer mains for GHD review. – The opinion of probable construction cost that is developed will reflect GHD’s opinion (based on Class 4 standards) of what the construction cost potentially could be based on the design and bid approach presented in the TM. Actual bid results may vary significantly from GHD’s opinion of potential cost depending on conditions at the time of bidding.
– The City will verify existing pipe sizes, materials, and layout. GHD understands that the City has internally replaced pipe in the past, and that pipe replacements may not all be reflected in record drawings or in the City’s GIS data.
– The City will provide potholing data as required for verifying water main depths. GHD will not be onsite for potholing. Sewer main depths will be determined from survey data. – The City will provide one consolidated set of comments for each submittal reviewed by the City. 12559007 | RE: Scope of Work for L St to Newburg Rd Water & Sewer Upgrades – Conceptual Analysis 5
3. Task 3 – Environmental Conceptual Analysis and Studies The purpose of this task is to conduct environmental special studies throughout the entire project area (as shown in the attached figure and defined above) to determine the type and quantity of environmental resources that may be adversely affected by the project and develop an approach to completing environmental compliance documentation. It is assumed that the majority of environmental resources (and thus associated effort) will occur along Rohner Creek; however, the entire project area will be surveyed and inventoried.
3.1 Wetland Delineation and Report
GHD will review available National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) data and conduct a field delineation within the project area (shown in the attached figure). All three-parameter wetlands will be delineated utilizing the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wetlands Delineation Manual (USACE 1987), and Regional Supplement to the USACE Wetland Delineation Manual: Western Mountains, Valleys and Coast Region (USACE 2010).
Vegetation and soil data will be collected at transects across the presumed wetland boundaries with two plots (upland/wetland) per transect (intermediate plots may be placed without collection of data as appropriate). Soil pits will be dug to approximately 14-18 inches. Data on soil color, texture and redoximorphic features will be collected. Data on hydrologic conditions will be collected if observed.
Vegetation data collection will consist of listing the five dominant species at each plot. The species will then be classified as to whether they are wetlands indicators, using the most current standard reference for plant wetlands indicators: National Wetland Plant List: Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast 2012 Final Regional Wetland Plant List (Lichvar 2012). The list classifies plants based on the probability that they would be found in wetlands, ranging from Obligate (almost always in wetlands), Facultative/wet (67% to 99% in wetlands), Facultative (34% to 66% in wetlands), Facultative/up (1% to 33% in wetlands) to non-indicator (less than 1% in wetlands). Plants not listed are included in the uplands category. If 50% or greater of the dominant plant species at each plot are classified as either Obligate (OBL), Facultative/wet (FACW), or Facultative (FAC), the vegetative mix is determined to be hydrophytic (wetland plants).
A determination of the wetland boundary will be made based on soil, hydrology (if present), and vegetative parameters (three-parameter approach) and mapped with GPS and Arc software on an iPad. Wetland and upland characteristics will be determined for each transect, and data points will be collected along the wetland boundary.
The findings of the delineation (including anticipated jurisdictional status of all identified wetlands) will be compiled into a draft and final wetland delineation report, which will be submitted to the City. GHD will submit the final wetland delineation report to the USACE and North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board on behalf of, and in coordination with the City.
3.2 Biological Resources Report
GHD will provide a Biological Resources Report (BRR) that will include a summary of biological resources within the project area and immediate vicinity (within 50 feet). Biological resources include state- and federallyregulated special status plants, sensitive natural communities (SNCs) wildlife, insects, and habitats. These investigations will compile data found during a record search of the California Natural Diversity Database/Biogeographic Information and Observation System (CNDDB/BIOS), a list of federal endangered and threatened species obtained from the USFWS and NMFS, and a California Native Plant Society (CNPS) inventory for the project area. Additionally, any available maps, databases, and literature specific to local 12559007 | RE: Scope of Work for L St to Newburg Rd Water & Sewer Upgrades – Conceptual Analysis 6 ecology will be queried for biological resource data about the site. Finally, available project information and any additional information from the City pertaining to the site will be reviewed.
The BRR will include a summary of one SNC survey, and two seasonally appropriate special status plant surveys within the project area. SNCs on-site will be documented in the field and classified at the alliance level according to the Manual of California Vegetation using the Rapid Assessment method. Documented vegetation communities will be evaluated to determine whether they qualify as SNCs, which contain a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) State Rarity ranking of 1-3. Sensitive Natural Communities will be mapped using GPS and aerial imagery. GHD will complete seasonally appropriate floristic surveys according to CDFW 2018 protocol to identify any special status plants that may occur within the project area. Potential sensitive wildlife habitat will also be assessed within the project footprint and immediately adjacent habitat (within 50 feet) to evaluate potential for species dispersal through the project area. No protocol-level surveys for wildlife are proposed at this time. Conditions on-site will be described in the BRR.
Recommendations for further actions or conservation measures to protect potential special status biological resources during project implementation will conclude the BRR. A single draft will be provided to the client for review and comment prior to finalizing the BRR.
The BRR will be used to inform the level of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance documentation, and to determine what permits may be needed for project implementation.
3.3 Environmental Compliance Recommendation
Based upon the findings of the wetland delineation and biological special studies and project conceptual design, the recommended pathway for environmental compliance will be compiled into an Environmental Technical Memorandum (ETM). The project will need to comply with CEQA either through a Categorical Exemption or an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, and the project may need to comply with other environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act, Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, federal and state Endangered Species Act, and California Fish and Game code. It should be noted that the findings of the special studies described in Subtasks 3.1 and 3.2 and project conceptual design will determine which CEQA pathway is appropriate, and which laws and associated permits would be triggered.
Task 3 Deliverables
– Wetland Delineation Report
– Biological Resources Report
– Environmental Technical Memorandum
Task 3 Assumptions
– The entire project area will be surveyed for wetlands, rare plants, SNCs and habitat. However, the majority (if not all) of potential sensitive environmental resources will be located along Rohner Creek. – The City will coordinate access approvals to the project area, including private property along Rohner Creek.
– If portions of the project area are not accessible, GHD will assess conditions within these areas visually and/or with binoculars and will make note of this in the associated reports. 12559007 | RE: Scope of Work for L St to Newburg Rd Water & Sewer Upgrades – Conceptual Analysis 7
4. Schedule
GHD is ready to begin work on this project upon receiving a signed contract from the City. The proposed schedule for key project milestones is as follows:
Table 1 Project Schedule
Event Completion Date
City Council approval of contract January 20, 2025
Execute contract January 21, 2025
City provides sewer main inspection video to GHD January 21, 2025 GHD completes review of available documentation February 4, 2025 Kick-off meeting February 6, 2025
Water model updates complete February 20, 2025
Wetland Delineation and Report April 1, 2025
Draft Conceptual Analysis TM April 3, 2025
City comments on Draft Conceptual Analysis TM April 17, 2025 Final Conceptual Analysis TM May 1, 2025
Biological Resources Report August 15, 2025
Environmental TM September 1, 2025
5. Professional Service Fee
GHD will provide the scope of services described above on a time and materials, not to exceed basis at on-call contract labor rates in place at the time of execution of the work as follows:
Table 2 Professional Service Fee
Task Fee
Task 1 – Project Management and Topographic Survey Coordination $ 8,500 Task 2 – Engineering Conceptual Analysis $ 37,600
Task 3 – Environmental Conceptual Analysis and Studies $ 27,900 Total Fee $ 74,000
The budget provided for each task is an estimate, and GHD reserves the right to reallocate budget between tasks if required.
12559007 | RE: Scope of Work for L St to Newburg Rd Water & Sewer Upgrades – Conceptual Analysis 8 We appreciate the opportunity to assist you on this project. Please do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions.
Regards,
Nathan Stevens, PE
Project Manager
(707) 267-2204
[email protected]
Copy to: Brett Vivyan, GHD
Enclosed: Figure showing project extents
12th
Main
12th Loni I St
L St
9th
PROJECT
CORE AREA Randolph Rohner Creek Newburg
SEWER CAPACITY
UPGRADES