Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: February 3, 2026
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: stephen bise, p.e., public works director PREPARED BY: DAVID GRANTHAM, P.E., CITY ENGINEER
todd le, p.e., principal water engineer
gar huang, associate engineer
SUBJECT: $358,400 contract with US Builders & Consultants, inc. FOR christlieb well 15a sand separator and miscellaneous improvements
SUMMARY
Award $358,400 construction contract to US Builders & Consultants, Inc. for the Christlieb Well 15A Sand Separator and Miscellaneous Improvement Project.
PROPOSED MOTION
Approve Project 53034 Christlieb Well 15A Sand Separator and Miscellaneous Improvement Project plans and specifications.
Award $358,400 construction contract for Christlieb Well 15A Sand Separator and Miscellaneous Improvement Project to US Builders & Consultants, Inc. and authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute and administer the contract, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Authorize Public Works Director, or designee, to approve change orders for construction and professional engineering construction support services within the approved project budget.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Reject all bids
Replace lost water well production with import water from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California 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 Statements:
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget has sufficient funding for the project provided from Water Funds in Project 53034 Christlieb Well 15A Rehabilitation Project with the Water Fund (Fund 44).
Staff attached a Budget Data Sheet / Summary of Bids and the Contractor Bid Schedule for reference (Attachments 1 and 2).
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
City Council awarded a construction contract for the Christlieb Well 15A Rehabilitation to Best Drilling and Pump, Inc. on May 3, 2022. Unforeseen issues arose during the rehabilitation and the City’s consultant hydrogeologist, ENGEO, provided a professional opinion that the well is nearing the end of its life and recommended staff begin the process to establish a new well. Establishing a new well takes at least five years before any new well would could start producing water.
Sand is intruding into the Christlieb Well 15A. Water wells are frequently placed near underground sand layers for optimal water bearing. However, pumping sand with the water can damage the pump impeller and accumulate in the pipes. Wells are designed with screens to keep the sand back for that reason, Christlieb Well 15A has issues with sand penetrating the screens but attempts to locate the intrusion point(s) for patching have been unsuccessful.
The City remains obliged to provide water for drinking, washing, irrigation, fire protection and the other resident and business water needs. City Council approved appropriating additional water funds May 7, 2024 to provide Christlieb Well 15A with a temporary solution for producing potable water until the new well comes online. Staff cannot hold the sand back and proposes installing a sand separator to remove sand after pumping water out of the ground, allowing clean water production for the residents. This is not a long-term solution as the sand will damage the impellers over time and staff will continue establishing a new replacement well.
Staff requests awarding a contract to construct a temporary sand separator solution. The City received five bids on January 19, 2026. US Builders & Consultants, Inc. of Irvine, CA submitted the lowest responsible base bid totaling $358,400. The low bid submitted is approximately 3.14% lower than the $370,000 engineers estimate. Staff reviewed the bid and found it acceptable.
Construction would tentatively start April 2026 with anticipated project completion in July 2026. Staff would notify impacted residents and businesses about upcoming project construction and potential impacts.
The City could purchase import water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) as an alternative to the sand separator installing. However, MWD water costs are substantially higher than well water. Staff believes installing the sand separator, even as a temporary solution, would provide a more cost-effective option over purchasing MWD water, estimating the City could spend an additional $10 million over five years by replacing groundwater loss at the well with import water.
Staff prepared an environmental assessment in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines and determined that the project is categorically exempt.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Budget Data / Summary of Bids
Attachment 2 – Bid Schedule
Attachment 3 – Project Location Map
Attachment 4 – Draft Agreement
cc: Interim City Manager Eddie Manfro
Christlieb Well 15A Sand Separator and Miscellaneous Improvements February 3, 2026 - Page 2