City Council Agenda Report
November 7, 2023
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Glen W.C. Kau, P.E., Director of Public Services/City Engineer Jacqueline Koontz, Senior Civil Engineer
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 23-67 – BUDGET AMENDMENT AND PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES AGREEMENT AMENDMENT FOR BUCKNAM AND ASSOCIATES INC. FOR UTILITIES PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND UTILITIES
ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES
Background:
The City has contracted for professional services with Bucknam and Associates Inc. (Bucknam) for many years to assist with various water and sewer (utilities) related programs and projects.
Bucknam has assisted staff with the development of improvement plans to upgrade the City’s utilities infrastructure, consultation support and applications for federal and state grant opportunities to fund various utility projects; utility programs management and technical engineering support for the improvements to the City’s utilities systems. The City currently has several active and ongoing utility capital improvement projects, funding applications, and pending agreements with other water purveyors utilizing Bucknam’s involvement.
In October of 2021, the City’s Well No. 10 began to exceed the maximum levels Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (State drinking water standards) allows for Benzene. Benzene has been on the State’s Primary Volatile Organic Carbons (VOC) contaminant list for groundwater since 1989 and is both natural and man-made. Examples of man-made Benzene use is as a constituent in motor fuels and in the manufacture of detergents, pharmaceuticals, and dyes. In order to meet State drinking water standards, the City will need to treat groundwater from Well No. 10 to remove Benzene by implementing a treatment system.
In May of 2023, City Council approved an agreement with Civiltec Engineering, Inc. (Civiltec) to provide on-call professional engineering services for the Well No. 10 treatment system. The scope of work for Civiltec includes design, environmental compliance, bidding process support, construction engineering support, project startup and commissioning, and project close out
City Council
Resolution No. 23-67 – Budget Amendment
Professional Services Agreement Amendment
November 7, 2023
Page No. 2
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9 procedures. The term of Civiltec’s agreement was two years, plus the option to extend for two additional one year terms to allow enough time to complete the project.
Treatment implementation for City Well No. 10 will be partially funded by the Water Replenishment District (WRD). The funding agreement with WRD requires the preparation of a condition assessment of existing facilities. In addition to the funding agreement requirements, the project will need specialty design, construction oversight, and quality control and assurance.
Bucknam has the necessary expertise, is responsive to meet deadlines, and provides a thorough and quality work product. The term of Buckam’s agreement will be extended to align with Civiltec’s current agreement and Well No. 10 project closeout.
Fiscal Impact:
Per approved Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24 budget, and additional funding for this contract agreement amendment will be programmed into FY 2024/25 and FY 2025/26 budgets.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council:
a. adopt Resolution No. 23-67, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2023/24
ADOPTED BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE AVAILABLE ENTERPRISE FUNDS FOR
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR UTILITIES PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND UTILITIES ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES, in the amount of $144,325; and b. approve an amendment to the contract agreement with Bucknam and Associates Inc. to extend the agreement term to continue services through Fiscal Year 2025/26 with the option to extend the agreement one additional year, a contract value increase of $144,325, and authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment, provided there is funding in the budget, on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Attachments:
Resolution No. 23-67