CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: May 18, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
TITLE: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. __-26 ACCEPTING BID AND AWARDING A
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE SHELLY DRIVE AND RUTH
DRIVE STORM DRAIN REHABILITATION PROJECT NO. 02-25 AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH FJ&I ENGINEERING, INC.
SYNOPSIS
The Shelly Drive and Ruth Drive Storm Drain Rehabilitation Project No. 02-25 will remove approximately 650 linear feet of private corrugated metal pipe (CMP) and replace it with a new, public storm drain pipeline alignment at five different locations within the Gregory Gardens and Poet’s Corner neighborhoods. The purpose of this item is to consider the acceptance of the lowest responsive, responsible bid from FJ&I Engineering, Inc. for the project and to seek authorization to award the construction contract.
DISCUSSION
Background
In November 2016, Pleasant Hill voters approved Measure K, a half-cent transactions and use (sales) tax. The tax took effect on April 1, 2017, for a 20-year period and generates approximately $5.5 million annually in revenue. A portion of these funds is allocated annually to the City’s Storm Drain Improvement Program.
In 2018, the City’s hydraulic consultant, Wreco, completed the 20-Year Storm Drain Master Plan, which was approved by the City Council in 2021. Projects that are funded through the Storm Drain Improvement Program are implemented pursuant to the approved Storm Drain Master Plan.
The Shelly Drive and Ruth Drive Storm Drain Rehabilitation Project 02-25 is an approved project in the City’s FY 2024–2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and is funded by the Storm Drain Improvement Program. The project work, identified as priorities 3, 4, and 5 on the Storm Drain Master Plan priority list, includes the replacement of existing storm drain inlets within the public right-of-way and slip-line and/or replacement of private corroded corrugated metal pipes.
The Pleasant View Homes subdivision (Poet’s Corner) and the Gregory Gardens Nos. 3 and 5 subdivisions created private storm drain systems in the early 1950’s to collect storm water runoff and discharge it into Murderer’s Creek (Poet’s Corner) and the Contra Costa County Flood Control channel (Gregory Gardens). Each segment of these CMP storm drain systems is over 75 years old and has reached the end of its useful life.
The five storm drain systems in this project are a part of the City’s private to public (P2P) Storm Drain Improvement Program, which is an agreement between a private property owner and the City to convert private storm drainpipes to a City-owned-and-maintained facility. Per the P2P agreement, the City will replace the damaged existing private pipe and maintain it moving forward as a public facility. The City implemented the program in 2005 to assist private property owners when upgrading their private drainage facilities, and several P2P projects have been completed since inception, as funding allows.
All the storm drainpipes are located in private drainage reserves located underneath side yards and backyards of residential properties. In all five of the locations, the private CMP has corroded, collapsed, and are clogging, resulting in more pipeline failures, flooding, and damage to property.
This project will provide a new storm drain pipeline alignment at each of the five locations. It is necessary for the new storm drain pipelines to remain beneath these private properties, (514 Shelly Drive, 520 Shelly Drive/522 Shelly Drive, 1612 Ruth Drive/1618 Ruth Drive, 1630 Ruth Drive/1636 Ruth Drive, and 1748 Ruth Drive), and for the private drainage reserves to be converted to public storm drain easements per the City’s P2P program. Staff has successfully obtained the necessary easements from the affected property owners along the new pipe alignment, allowing the City to maintain and manage the pipeline in the future.
In January 2025, per Resolution No. 2-25 the City hired LCC Engineering & Surveying, Inc. (LCC) to finalize rehabilitation options and prepare construction documents for the Shelly Drive and Ruth Drive Storm Drain Rehabilitation Project, in order to replace the existing, failing pipeline.
Environmental Review
The Shelly Drive and Ruth Drive Storm Drain Rehabilitation Project No. 02-25 will remove and replace existing facilities in kind. The new facilities will be located on the same sites as the existing ones and will serve the same purpose and capacity as the current system. Accordingly, the Zoning Administrator has determined that the project is categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, Section 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) and Section 15302 (Class 2 – Replacement or Reconstruction).
Analysis
The Notice Inviting Bids for the project was distributed to construction exchanges on March 31, 2026, and advertised in the Contra Costa Times on April 1, 2026. A total of 13 bids were received and publicly opened and read on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall.
In accordance with the project bid documents, the City will award the contract based on the lowest responsive and responsible total base bid.
CONTRACTOR BID PRICE
1 FJ&I Engineering, Inc $639,355.00
2 Kerex Engineering $644,917.00
3 Devaney Engineering $774,015.00
4 California Trenchless, Inc $821,257.00
5 WestRock Engineering $850,255.00
6 Precision Engineering, Inc $874,230.00
7 A3 Pipeline $927,279.00
8 Apena Engineering, Inc $940,041.00
9 Gravity Construction $957,652.00
10 Carone & Company, Inc $990,000.00
11 W.R. Forde Associates, Inc $1,223,721.00
12 Con-Quest Contractors, Inc $1,279,635.00
13 Frontline General Engineering Construction, Inc $1,627,585.73 Staff received a formal bid protest letter from Kerex Engineering on April 27, 2026, which stated that FJ&I’s bid lacked any subcontractor information, which should render their bid nonresponsive and ineligible for contract award. After reviewing all documentation, the City Attorney’s office submitted a formal written letter to Kerex Engineering, which concluded FJ&I’s bid was responsive and that their bid protest was without merit.
The Engineer’s Estimate (EE) for project construction is $926,757.00 for the base bid. The lowest bidder, FJ&I Engineering, Inc., submitted a bid of $639,355.00, which is 30% below the EE. A detailed analysis of FJ&I Engineering, Inc.’s bid indicates that its bid prices are reasonable for this type of work. Additionally, FJ&I Engineering, Inc. has completed previous storm drain repair and replacement rehabilitation projects within the City, most recently the 2024 Storm Drain Maintenance Project. FJ&I Engineering, Inc., has satisfactorily completed its contracts; therefore, the bid is acceptable. City staff believe that FJ&I Engineering, Inc., has the experience and professional competency that will result in a satisfactory product for the City.
FJ&I Engineering, Inc. bid proposal documentation is complete, and staff has determined the firm to be the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. Bidding rules require that the City Council either award the construction contract to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder or reject all bids. Staff recommends the City Council award the construction contract to FJ&I Engineering, Inc.
The project construction cost (base bid) is $639,355.00. It is reasonable to include a construction contingency of 20 percent, or $127,871.00, which is typical for a construction project of this type.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project construction costs are funded by Storm Drain Improvement Measure K Funds. The Engineering Division has confirmed with the Finance Division that monies will be available for this project at the time of construction.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public Contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department. The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Move to adopt the proposed resolution to accept the bid and award a construction contract for the Shelly Drive and Ruth Drive Storm Drain Rehabilitation Project No. 02-25 and to authorize the City Manager to execute the construction contract with FJ&I Engineering, Inc.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
No alternatives recommended.
Prepared by: Danny Urrutia, Assistant Engineer
Reviewed by: Ann James, Public Works Director
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment: Proposed Resolution
Agreement