CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
August 4, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Chris Diggs, Water Resources Director
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY GRANT AND AMENDING THE DESIGN/BUILD WELL 34 GROUNDWATER TREATMENT PLANT CIP PROJECT BUDGET; AND, AWARD OF A DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACT TO RC FOSTER RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-100 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, ACCEPTING A FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) GRANT AND AMENDING FY 2025-26 CIP BUDGET BY INCREASING REVENUE ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS BY A TOTAL OF $1,600,000 OF U.S. EPA GRANT FUNDING AND APPROPRIATIONS BY $500,000 FROM WATER FUND BALANCE TO THE “WATER TREATMENT – VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND TREATMENT PLANT”, PROJECT NO. 528-2590-XXXXX-95087 Approve entering into an agreement with RC Foster Corp. for design-build services for the “Water Treatment – Volatile Organic Compound Treatment Plant”, Project No. 528-2590-XXXXX-95087 in the amount of $4,091,377; and, Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with RC Foster Corp. on behalf of the City and any subsequent documents or amendments.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Approval of these actions will amend subject project budget by adding $1,600,000 of U.S. EPA grant funding and $500,000 of Water Fund Balance; and, award a design-build contract agreement to RC Foster Corp. in the amount of $4,091,377. This project involves the construction of a granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment facility designed to remove 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which once completed will allow Well 34 to be returned to service.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☐ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $500 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $500 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The “Water Treatment – Volatile Organic Compound Treatment Plant”, Project No. 528-2590-XXXX-95087 is included in the adopted FY 2025-26 CIP program. Resolution 2025-100 (Attachment 1) facilitates the appropriation of $1,600,000 from the U.S. EPA grant funding, on a reimbursable basis, and $500,000 from Water Fund balance to fully fund this project. Table 1 provides fiscal impact details:
Table 1
Category
“Water Treatment – Volatile Organic Compound Treatment Plant” Project No. 528-2590-XXXXX-95087
Initial Budget
$2,500,000
Water Fund Appropriation
$500,000
U.S. EPA Grant Appropriation
$1,600,000
New Budget
$4,600,000
Expenditures/Encumbrances
(as of July 23, 2025)
($76)
Award Contract to RC Foster Corp.
($4,091,377)
Balance remaining for construction, contingencies, internal costs, and other miscellaneous project costs. $508,547
PUBLIC NOTICING REQUIREMENTS:
Section 2-993.1(4) (a) of the City’s Purchasing Ordinance states that “the notice inviting bids shall be publicly advertised in the manner directed by the Procurement Officer pursuant to the procurement policies and procedures manual. The notice shall state where bid or proposal documents may be secured and the date, time, and place of submittal and for opening bids. The City may utilize electronic methods for all noticing requirements of the procurement process whenever feasible. As described below, on December 05, 2024, a Request for Proposal (RFP) RFP# 2024-1019 was issued on the City’s electronic bidding platform.
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
On March 18, 2024, City Council approved the Well 34 treatment plant as being categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Categorical Exemption, Section 15303.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
On December 6, 2024, the City received approval from U.S. EPA approving the Well 34 treatment plant as being categorically exempt from further environmental review.
DISCUSSION:
On June 30, 2022, the U.S. EPA issued a memorandum outlining planning guidance for the “FY 2022 Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS)/Community Project Funding (CPF) Grants Program for Water Projects”. In accordance with this memorandum, the U.S. EPA later published the “Community Grants Program FY 2023 Final Implementation Guidance” (Attachment 3), which identified this project as a recipient of federal funding for projects designated for the planning, design, and construction of drinking water infrastructure for water quality protection. The period of performance for the U.S. EPA grant is August 2025 through August 2030.
With the support of this grant, the proposed project will restore the operation of Well 34 which historically has been one of the City’s higher-producing groundwater wells. Production at Well 34 ceased in October 2021 following the detection of 1,2,3-TCP at levels that exceeded the State’s maximum contaminant level (MCL). This design-build project will construct a GAC well head treatment system equipped to remove 1,2,3-TCP and PFAS. The project includes the installation of GAC treatment vessels, piping, valves, and telemetry. Additionally, the project will facilitate future expansion should treatment be necessary at the adjacent Well 10, which can provide an additional 800 AFY of potable water.
A Request for Proposal (RFP), No. 2024-1019 – “Design Build Well 34 Groundwater Treatment Plant CIP 95087” - was issued on the City’s electronic bidding platform on December 5, 2024. The solicitation notified 87 prospective bidders, of which four (4) proposals were received, two (2) were deemed non-responsive, resulting in the City receiving two (2) qualified proposals for consideration. Both proposals met minimum qualifications and were then evaluated on a 300-point scale based on responsiveness and compliance to the bid documents, qualifications, past performance, project approach, and price. RC Foster Corporation’s proposal was selected as the highest-ranking proposal by the Evaluation Committee. RC Foster Corp. was selected due to its efficient and complete project approach, qualifications, experience on similar projects, and strong references.
Table 2
No.
Consultant
Score
1 RC Foster Corporation
255.26 pts
2 Covenant Technical Solutions
233 pts
Once completed, the treatment system will allow Well 34 to resume production and produce up to 1,300 acre-feet per year (AFY) of potable water to the City’s supply and thereby reducing reliance on imported water. Therefore, Staff recommends City Council authorize the City Manager to execute the attached agreement (Attachment 2) and any subsequent documents or amendments.
Prepared by:
Michael Mitchell, P.E.
Senior Water Resources Engineer
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution 2025-100
Attachment No. 2 – Agreement with RC Foster Corp.
Attachment No. 3 – Community Grants Program FY 2023 Final Implementation Guidance Award a Design-Build Contract to RC Foster Corp. for “Water Treatment – Volatile Organic Compound Treatment Plant” Project