City Council Agenda Report
September 2, 2025
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, P.E. Senior Civil Engineer
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 25-41 BUDGET AMENDMENT AND APPROVAL FOR
PUBLIC SERVICES UTILITIES DIVISION PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING
STAFF AUGMENTATION SERVICES
Background:
The Public Services Department (Public Services) is responsible for the management, operations and maintenance (O&M) of the City’s water, sewer, and storm drain systems; street lights, traffic signals traffic signage and pavement striping/markings. In addition, Public Services also implements the City’s capital improvement program (CIP), which includes: roadways, traffic signals, underground utilities (water, sewer and storm drains), facilities (city and park) and associated projects. Included with the capital program are the necessary system master plans (water, sewer, storm drain); pavement management plan, facilities and other essential studies. These studies help staff evaluate needs and prioritize improvement projects.
Public Services is currently engaged with water main replacement projects, well rehabilitation projects, water treatment implementation projects, Supervisory Data and Acquisition (SCADA) system implementation, smart water meter projects, storm drain planning and catch basin modifications projects, sewer and manhole repair and replacement projects, and grant management.
Recently, Public Services has been experiencing increased demand for development activity reviews. Input from Public Services helps ensure proposed developments and their recommended improvements are compliant with applicable codes and compatible with current/future service delivery. This increased demand is in addition to the O&M and CIP workload from both current and planned future projects. At the current staffing levels, the quantity and quality of work is not sustainable. Additional contract services and resources are required to supplement project management, design, construction support, and O&M. Contract
City Council September 2, 2025
Resolution No. 25-41 – Budget Amendment for Staff
Augmentation
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services will provide the necessary expertise and knowledge to offer a wide variety of services to help meet the needs of our community.
In October 2022, staff solicited for on-call services from consulting firms and recommended a “qualified” list to City Council in February 2023 and May 2023. This established a “consultant pool” of qualified consultants based on their proposals for their areas of expertise, previous experience, resource availability, project work type; services offered and staff augmentation availability.
In mid July 2023, staff solicited the consultant pool with a request for proposals (RFP) for staff augmentation services. W. G. Zimmerman Engineering, Inc. (WGZE) was awarded a contract in September of 2023 for an initial contract term of three years with the option to extend for two one-year extensions. WGZE continues to be available to support the department’s needs.
Fiscal Impact:
The cost for staff augmentation services is estimated to be $80,000. Funding for these services was not included in the budget for fiscal year 2025/26.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-41, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 ADOPTED BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE AVAILABLE ENTERPRISE AND
GENERAL FUNDS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR ON-CALL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING STAFF AUGMENTATION SERVICES, in the amount of $80,000.
Attachments:
Resolution No. 25-41