CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND ESTIMATE (PS&E) AND
AUTHORIZATION TO BID THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
ODOR CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS, CITY PROJECT NO. 23-16
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Engineering Services Department
SUMMARY:
The construction documents (Plans, Specifications, and Estimate) for this project have been prepared, and in accordance with Section 7.03.04 of the Procurement and Contracting Code, the City Council shall approve and adopt the plans, specifications, and work details and authorize the bid request for all public projects exceeding $200,000.
Approval of this item will allow the Staff to proceed with bidding of this capital project, which has an estimated cost of $5,900,000.
RECOMMENDATION:
1) Approve the plans, specifications and estimate and authorize Staff to advertise and solicit bids for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Odor Control Improvements 23-16, (“the Project”).
2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Palm Springs operates a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) at 4375 E.
Mesquite Avenue, with an average daily flow of 4.1 million gallons per day. Wastewater treatment works by biological processes that naturally produce foul odors, creating a frequent nuisance for nearby residents. The WWTP is adjacent to Demuth Park, and the odors originating from the WWTP have resulted in complaints from park visitors, residents, and pickleball players.
On September 26, 2023, the City Council approved a purchase order in the amount of $412,214 to Carollo Engineers, Inc. (“Carollo”) for professional engineering services related to odor control improvements at the WWTP, including preliminary engineering, evaluation of design alternatives, and preparation of construction documents.
City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 2
Approve PS&E and Authorize RFB for CP 23-16
On April 11, 2024, the City Council approved a task order to Carollo in the amount of $73,907 to perform specialized air sampling, analysis, and emissions inventory at the WWTP to establish the technical baseline for design. Completed in August 2024, the study revealed that the primary clarifiers which intake raw wastewater to separate liquids from solids were responsible for roughly 56% of objectionable odors originating from the plant. Based on these findings, aluminum flat covers were selected as the preferred mitigation measure. Figure 1 below shows the primary clarifiers relative to the overall facility and surrounding site.
On October 10, 2024, the City Council approved a task order in the amount of $151,520 to Carollo for additional professional services related to electrical modifications and design for the clarifier covers. The work was needed because the construction of the covers requires the removal of existing and necessary electrical systems, which will need to be redesigned and relocated to work with the new covers.
Figure 1 – Project Site & Vicinity Map
STAFF ANALYSIS:
With City Council approval, Staff will advertise the Project in The Desert Sun, and utilize the procurement site PlanetBids™ to allow the submission of bids electronically. The contract documents will be provided free of charge to prospective bidders through the PlanetBids™ system. A copy of the Project construction plans is included as Attachment A. The anticipated dates of the Project bidding and Award are shown below:
Notice Inviting Bids to be Posted: October 01, 2026
Deadline for Receipt of Bids: October 29, 2026
Contract Awarded by City Council: November 23, 2026
City Council Staff Report
September 30, 2026 -- Page 3
Approve PS&E and Authorize RFB for CP 23-16
Staff recommends that City Council approve the contract documents and grant authority to formally bid the subject Project for construction. The estimated duration for this project is 12 months from the Notice To Proceed date.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines Section 15301 “Existing Facilities”, Class 1 projects consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public structures, facilities, mechanical equipment or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The Project includes no expansion of use. Therefore, Staff has determined that the WWTP Odor Control Improvements, City Project No. 23-16, is considered categorically exempt from CEQA.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:
This item aligns with the following City Council Strategic Plan Broad Goal: Infrastructure and Facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Project is estimated to cost $5,900,000. The Project will be funded using Wastewater funds that have been allocated for this purpose. Following the bidding process, the Project will be submitted to the City Council for approval. At that time, a detailed breakdown of the project costs, including construction, consultant services, and staff costs, will be presented for review and approval.
REVIEWED BY:
City Engineer: Joel Montalvo
Deputy City Manager: Flinn Fagg
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Odor Control Improvements Project Plans
[Link: https://publicportal.palmspringsca.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx? id=1468600&dbid=0&repo=CityHall-Primary]