City Council Agenda Report
September 16, 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. 25-43, AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 ADOPTED
BUDGET APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR AN AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE ON VARIOUS WATER PROJECTS
Background:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is a component of the Department of the Army and falls under the Department of Defense. The USACE is a distinct part of the U.S. Army with both military and civilian personnel working together to provide engineering services for national security, economic stability, and public works projects, such as military construction and civil works.
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is a comprehensive legislative package that provides for the conservation and development of water and related resources. In 1992, Congress authorized the use of federal funds via WRDA Section 219 and USACE (USACE WRDA S219 Program) to provide assistance to non-federal interests for carrying out water- related environmental infrastructure, and resource protection and development projects. This includes water treatment and related facilities, water supply, storage, and treatment and distribution facilities.
USACE WRDA S219 Program (Program) has been instrumental in assisting public entities, such as cities, communities, public utilities and local governments in providing much needed water infrastructure for the residents of their communities. Examples of project types funded under the Program include wastewater transmission line installation, recycled water system installation, groundwater well design and construction, and water reservoir replacement.
This cost-share program is not classified as a grant program. The local sponsor share is 25% or more of total project costs. The federal government will provide up to 75% of total project costs.
City Council September 16, 2025
Resolution No. 25-43 - Budget Amendment and Commitment Page No. 2 1 5
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Amounts of cost share will be based on each increment of work funded as described in a “Letter Report” prepared by the USACE and the City. While the law provides for an “authorized” amount of dollars that can be spent on a project, funding is only provided to the authorized project through annual appropriation bills.
The agreement between the City and the Department of the Army executed in July of 2025 is included as Attachment 1. It should be noted that the Department of the Army does not require City Council approval for agreement execution. However, City staff are recommending that the City adopt a resolution as a commitment to the terms and conditions of the agreement.
The City’s proposed projects, timelines, and phases for each project under the Program are listed in Attachment 2. The costs, timelines, and number of projects are estimates and may vary based on economics and available funding. Attachment 3 shows visually the proposed projects mentioned above in Attachment 2.
Fiscal Impact:
The City is required to commit a total of $495,000 for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The approved FY 2025/26 Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) Budget included $85,000 for this Program which is insufficient. The FY 2025/26 CIP Budget will need to be amended to allocate additional funds in the amount of $410,000 toward the Program. Water Enterprise funding programed in the approved FY 2025/26 CIP Budget for the City’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition project will be reallocated towards this Program.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-43, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 ADOPTED BUDGET TO REAPPROPRIATE AVAILABLE ENTERPRISE
FUNDS AND AUTHORIZE A COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL AND LEGAL OBLIGATIONS FOR
THE AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE, in the amount of $410,000.
City Council September 16, 2025
Resolution No. 25-43 - Budget Amendment and Commitment Page No. 2 1 5
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Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 25-43
2. Executed Agreement
3. Proposed Projects
4. Map of Proposed Projects