DATE:
April 3, 2023
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Public Works
TITLE: Recycled Water System Expansion,
Phase I, Project 23-40—Authorize
Professional Design Services Agreement
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a professional services agreement with Wood Rodgers, Inc., to provide a recycled water reservoir engineering siting study for Recycled Water System Expansion, Phase I, Project 23-40, in a not-to-exceed amount of $557,000.
BACKGROUND
Wastewater from the City of Mountain View (City) is treated at the City of Palo Alto’s Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) under an agreement (“Partners Agreement”). The treated wastewater is then discharged to the San Francisco Bay or further treated and used as recycled water under a separate agreement. In accordance with the se agreements, the City owns the rights to its wastewater flow entering the plant and leaving the plant as recycled water . The agreements also provide for the City to receive a maximum peak-flow rate of three million gallons of recycled water per day (MGD) through 2060. The City’s historical recycled water use is typically under 0.5 MGD, which serves 4% of the City’s water needs. With the curre nt climate change, constraints from imported supplies through the City’s water wholesalers (i.e., San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Santa Clara Valley Water District), and potential continuation of the State’s drought condition, recycled water remains a droughtproof water source, and the use and expansion of it remain a significant resource to serve the needs of the City’s residents and businesses.
In an effort to meet the further demands and improve the resilience of the City’s water supplies, the City completed the 2022 Recycled Water Feasibility Study Update (“Update”) report, which was approved by the City Council on March 22, 2022. The Update concluded that the maximum three MGD recycled water contractually guaranteed to the City is only sufficient to meet existing maximum day and peak-hour demand. The Update also provided system expansion alternatives to serve additional customers within North Bayshore and to future customers in the East Whisman Precise Plan Area. Based on the findings of the Update and staff recommendations, Council directed staff to proceed with build-out of the recycled system in North Bayshore and
Recycled Water System Expansion, Phase I, Project 23-40— Authorize Professional Design Services Agreement
April 3, 2023
supported a future expansion to East Whisman. Figure 1 highlights these expansion alternatives from the Update.
Figure 1: Recycled Water System Expansion Alternatives and Potential Recycled Water Reservoir Locations
As the City currently does not have a recycled water reservoir, the Update identified that the City is in need of a reservoir to serve customers during future maximum day and peak-hour demands.
A recycled water system consisting of a reservoir and pump station will allow the City to provide
Recycled Water System Expansion, Phase I, Project 23-40— Authorize Professional Design Services Agreement
April 3, 2023
storage to improve reliability, operational flexibility, and the ability to regulate system pressure.
As part of approving the Update, the City Council also approved staff’s recommendation to conduct a recycled water storage reservoir siting study to consider various locations in the North Bayshore Area. The three potential reservoir locations identified (see Figure 1) include an area in north Ch arleston Park, Terminal Boulevard, and a future neighborhood park proposed to be dedicated as part of Google’s North Bayshore Master Plan. The siting study will consider alternatives of locating the reservoir at-grade, underground, and semiburied.
ANALYSIS
In November 2022, a Request for Proposals (RFP) for engineering services to prepare a recycled water reservoir siting study and final design for the recycled water reservoir and pump station was issued to seven firms and posted on the City’s website. Seven firms attended a preproposal meeting, and four firms responded to the RFP. A review panel of Public Works staff deemed Wood Rodgers to be the best -qualified firm based on the merits of their written proposal, experience in completing the design of similar recycled water infrastructure and pump station projects, demonstrated competence, and understanding of the project goals.
The first step in the project will be the reservoir siting study, which will assess the three potential reservoir locations and configurations based on the following criteria:
• System hydraulics;
• Subsurface and soil conditions;
• Environmental impact/regulations and energy use;
• Site constraints and constructability;
• Site adjacencies and aesthetics;
• Stakeholder input; and
• Construction costs.
Staff recommends Council approve a professional services agreement with Wood Rodgers for the reservoir siting study for a not-to-exceed amount of $557,000, which includes $483,730 for basic services, and as-needed additional services and/or other contingencies in the amount of $73,270.
The recommended fees are within the range typically charged for such services, and staff considers the fees to be fair and reasonable.
If the recommendation is approved, Wood Rodgers can begin the siting study in summer 2023 with an estimated completion by summer 2024. Staff will bring the results of the siting study and recommend a si te and configuration for Council’s consideration in fall 2024 . Upon Council approval of a site and configuration, staff will seek Council approval to amend the agreement with Wood Rodgers to complete the reservoir and pump station final design and provide construction support as specified in the RFP scope of work.
Recycled Water System Expansion, Phase I, Project 23-40— Authorize Professional Design Services Agreement
April 3, 2023
FISCAL IMPACT
Recycled Water System Expansion , Phase I, Project 23 -40, is funded with $4,190,000 from the Water Fund, which is sufficient for the recommended agreement of $557,000. No additional appropriation is being requested at this time.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not approve the recommended professiona l services agreement and direct staff to reissue the RFP.
2. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING—Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Salman Husaini
Assistant Engineer
Reviewed by:
Tina Tseng
Principal Civil Engineer/
Engineering and Environmental
Compliance
Lisa Au
Assistant Public Works Director
Approved by:
Dawn S. Cameron
Public Works Director
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
SH/LL/1/CAM
955-04-03-23CR
202874