Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: October 20, 2026
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: stephen bise, p.e., public works director PREPARED BY: DAVID GRANTHAM, P.E., CITY ENGINEER
Juan Zavala, Principal CIVIL Engineer
SUBJECT: CONTRACT WITH ON-CALL CONTRACTOR FOR 1314 LUANNE AVENUE STORM DRAIN REPAIR
SUMMARY
A request for City Council to direct the City Manager or Public Works Director to award and execute a construction contract with a qualified contractor from the City on-call contractor list for storm drain repairs within a City easement at 1314 Luanne Avenue.
PROPOSED MOTION
Authorize City Manager or Public Works Director to award and execute a construction contract with an approved contractor, in an amount not to exceed the project budget, and waive City purchasing policy for storm drain repair work at 1314 Luanne Avenue.
Approve $350,000 Drainage Capital Outlay Funds (Fund 36) budget transfer and appropriation from Project 52591 Annual Storm Drain Repair to Project 52028 Miscellaneous Storm Drain Repair – Luanne Ave within the Capital Projects Fund (Fund 74).
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
Other options brought by City Council.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Public Safety
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Fiscal Year 2026-27 Adopted Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget has sufficient funding to cover the proposed projects costs in the Drainage Capital Outlay Fund (Fund 36). Staff recommends a $350,000 appropriation of Drainage Capital Outlay Fund from Project 52591 Annual Strom Drain Repair to Project 52028 Miscellaneous Storm Drain Repair – Luanne Ave within the Capital Project Fund (Fund 74).
DISCUSSION
Public Works received a report from the property owner at 1314 Luanne Avenue regarding noticeable landscaping settlement adjacent to their private swimming pool. Field staff investigated and confirmed a sinkhole within the public storm drain pipes area located within a drainage easement on the west side of 1314 Luanne Avenue.
The Maintenance Division conducted a CCTV inspection, however, the camera could not advance more than a short distance due to interior deterioration and blockage. The limited video showed the corrugated metal pipe (CMP) storm drain pipes have significant deterioration, including sections with missing pipe invert. In addition, these facilities were constructed in approximately 1927 with limited system information available.
The combination of inconclusive system information and the inability to fully inspect the pipe leaves the overall extent of damage unknown. As a result (and typical for CMP), staff expects to find the pipes significantly deteriorated and far beyond repairing with point repairs or lining. Staff recommends a full storm drain replacement, which would require traditional open‑cut excavation to expose and replace the system.
Staff explored bidding this project, however, expected construction and project costs exceed the limits permitted under the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA) informal bid process and would require formal bidding. Initiating a formal bid process would delay the project, pushing the earliest possible construction start into late December 2026 or early January 2027. Staff does not recommend delaying this project given site conditions and significant storm events expected starting December 2026.
Delaying system replacement increases potential damage liability to the City as upcoming storm events could create full pipe failure and associated damage to adjacent and downstream private properties including the swimming pool, fencing and landscaping and flooding homes.
City Council approval would authorize expenditures for these urgent repairs and waive bidding requirements to allow timely construction activities to address the deteriorated storm drain system.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Project Location Map
cc: City Manager Eddie Manfro
Storm Drain Repair at 1314 Luanne Avenue
October 20, 2026 - Page 2