Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: AUGUST 19, 2025
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: STEPHEN BISE. P.E., PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR PREPARED BY: TODD LE, P.E., PRINCIPAL WATER ENGINEER
SUBJECT: $959,752 GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR THE WELL 7A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
SUMMARY
Request to accept $959,752 from the Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 118-42), administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), allocated through the State Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) account to support drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and water quality projects nationwide.
PROPOSED MOTION
Approve $959,752 Grant Award Agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Appropriate receipt and use of $959,752 of grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Project 53005 Water Well Replacement Program (Fund 74).
Authorize Public Works Director to execute any future amendments and / or supplements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Reject agreement
Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the proposed motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
None.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City fully funded the Water Well Replacement project with a combination of Water Funds, a Bureau of Reclamation Grant and a Department of Water Resources Grant. Staff seeks City Council approval to accept and appropriate the EPA Grant Fund within the Capital Projects Fund (Fund 74). The City would use the additional $952,752 EPA Grant funds to offset the budgeted $5,024,860 Water Funds. This grant has no matching requirement.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Staff explored grant opportunities and funding for infrastructure improvements which included an earmark request to Representative Lou Correa to assist with Well 7A project funding. Staff proceeded with the Well 7A project which is under construction through a contract approved by City Council on June 18, 2024, due to the uncertainty of earmark request approval.
Representative Correa championed the project as part of his Fiscal Year 2024 Interior Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request and secured $959,752 in federal funding through the Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 118-42) for the project. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers this funding, allocated through the State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) account to support drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and water quality projects nationwide.
Well 7A is located at the City Water Main Plant water production site located in the City of Anaheim which has multiple water wells and treatment facilities. The Well 7A Project will replace the original Well 7 taken offline in 2014 due to poor performance and water quality issues and destroyed in 2021.
The EPA Grant would help offset costs to equip the new Well 7A with a high-capacity pump, motor, valves, structural foundation, sound enclosure and essential infrastructure to bring it online. Staff expects Well 7A to have a 3,000 gallons per minute flow capacity, providing approximately 10 to 15% percent of the Fullerton daily demand, boosting local water reliability and reducing reliance on more costly imported supplies. The project also advances energy efficiency and drinking water quality standards, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable water system.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - U.S. EPA Grant Agreement
Attachment 2 – Main Plant Vicinity Map
cc: Interim City Manager Eddie Manfro
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant for Well 7A Construction Project August 19, 2025 - Page PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 2