CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: JANUARY 14, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: APPROVE A TASK ORDER FOR ENGINEERING RESOURCES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (AGREEMENT 24P381) IN THE AMOUNT OF $278,554 FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE
EVALUATION AND DESIGN OF THE TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY SEWER
IMPROVEMENTS, CITY PROJECT CP 25-13
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Engineering Services Department
SUMMARY:
Approve a task order for Engineering Resources of Southern California, a California corporation, for professional engineering services for the Tahquitz Canyon Way Sewer Improvements, City Project 25-13 (“The Project”). The Project is necessary to address an existing 8-inch sewer main between N. Cerritos Drive and N. Civic Drive that has structural deficiencies and operates at 90% capacity in certain sections.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve a task order in the amount of $278,554 to Engineering Resources of Southern California, Inc., an ‘on-call’ firm, for professional engineering services for the Tahquitz Canyon Way Sewer Improvements;
2. Appropriate $278,554 from the Wastewater Capital Improvement Fund balance; and
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documents.
BUSINESS PRINCIPAL DISCLOSURE:
The Public Integrity Disclosure Form from Engineering Resources of Southern California, Inc. (ERSC) is included as Attachment A.
BACKGROUND:
In May 2022, the Engineering Services Department received a letter from Veolia Water West Operating Services, Inc. (Veolia), regarding the operational status of the sewer main located on E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, specifically the segment stretching from Sunset Way
City Council Staff Report
January 14, 2026 -- Page 2
Approve Task Order for CP 25-13
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9 to Farrell Drive.
According to the report submitted, current monitoring indicates that this sewer main is flowing at up to 90% capacity in certain sections. In addition, video inspection shows the pipeline presents structural deficiencies. Sewer pipelines are assessed utilizing the NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) PACP (Pipeline Assessment Certification Program) which is the North American standard for documenting sewer pipe conditions. Pipes are graded on a 1-5 scale as shown in Table 1 below. The sections of pipe referenced by Veolia vary in rating from 1-4 with 3 and 4 being most prevalent rating in the section between Sunset Way and Farrell Drive.
Grade Description Implications
5 Immediate Attention Pipe has failed or collapse is imminent. Requires immediate action. 4 Poor Severe defects. Failure is likely soon.
3 Fair Moderate defects. Rehabilitation may be needed in the medium term. 2 Good Minor defects. Unlikely to fail soon; monitor during routine inspections. 1 Excellent Minor cosmetic defects only. No action required.
Table 1
Based on this evaluation, Veolia requested that the City initiate a Capital Improvements Project (CIP). This request is being made in accordance with Section 5.3 of the Wastewater Services Agreement dated November 4, 2015. Under the terms of the Agreement, the “Needed Capital Project" is defined as an improvement resulting from actual or anticipated changes in influent volumes and demands on managed assets.
Veolia has provided supporting documentation and CCTV reports to justify the necessity of this infrastructure upgrade. The letter and supporting documentation are included in Attachment B.
Staff released an RFP to on-call engineering firms on November 3, 2025, to investigate the sewer pipeline alignment between N. Cerritos Drive and Civic Center Drive. The expanded scope includes evaluating a potential realignment for the entire main line reach, shifting it from its current location in a public utility easement behind the curb to the City’s right-of-way. Placing the new alignment within the right-of-way is intended to provide better maintenance access and better facilitate construction activities when installing the upsized pipe. In addition, Staff included scope for the improvement of a storm drain inlet at the corner of Tahquitz and Farrell to address ongoing problems with water accumulation at that location. The location of the sewer pipeline is shown in Figure 1 below. The On-Call Services agreement with ERCS is included in Attachment C.
City Council Staff Report
January 14, 2026 -- Page 3
Approve Task Order for CP 25-13
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9 Figure 1
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The services are needed for the Tahquitz Canyon Way Sewer Improvements (City Project 25-13) due to critical issues with the existing pipeline. Inspections conducted by Veolia have revealed significant problems. Specifically, the existing 8-inch sewer main has been identified as having structural issues and sections operating at 90 percent of capacity.
This combination of structural problems and operating flows requires the proposed upgrade, which involves the potential realignment and replacement of the sewer between N. Cerritos Drive and N. Civic Drive. The proposed services include a feasibility study that will advise the City of the best actions to address the concerns, while considering overall goals and efficient use of resources.
After a committee evaluation of the responses to the aforementioned RFP, Engineering Resources of Southern California (ERSC) was selected as they provided the most complete proposal. Unlike the other proposals, ERSC included a detailed approach to the drainage work and proactively identified potentially necessary Project actions that were not originally specified in the RFP. Although they were not the lowest proponent, their comprehensive understanding of the scope represents the best value for the Project. The results are shown in Table 2 below and ERSC’s proposal is included in Attachment D.
Rank Consultant Cost
1 Engineering Resources of Southern California, Inc. $278,554 2 TKE Engineering, Inc. $202,000
3 Albert A. Webb Associates $296,666
Table 2
City Council Staff Report
January 14, 2026 -- Page 4
Approve Task Order for CP 25-13
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9 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines Section 15306 “Information Collection”, Class 6 projects consist of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. These may be strictly for information gathering purposes, or as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded. Therefore, Staff has determined that the issuance of the task order for the Tahquitz Canyon Way Sewer Improvements, City Project No. CP 25-13, is considered categorically exempt from CEQA.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:
Infrastructure and Facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
An amount of $278,554 needs to be appropriated from the Wastewater Fund. Sufficient Wastewater Capital Improvement Funds are available for this task order with Engineering Resources of Southern California for on-call wastewater services.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Joel Montalvo
Assistant City Manager: Flinn Fagg
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. ERSC - Principal Business Disclosure
B. Veolia’s request and inspection documentation
C. Engineering Resources On-Call Agreement
D. RFP and Engineering Resources Proposal-Link