TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Nader Heydari, Public Works Director
DATE:August 25, 2026
SUBJECT: Arroyo Conejo Open Space Road Grading Agreement RECOMMENDATION:
1. Award General Services Agreement to Blackpointe Group Construction & Management, Inc. (Moorpark, CA), for Road Grading and Maintenance in the Arroyo Conejo Open Space, in the amount of $152,542, plus $20,000 for extra services, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $172,542, with a term ending November 30, 2026.
2. Approve agreement with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and related agencies in the amount not to exceed $144,000 for environmental mitigation credit/offset and authorize the City Engineer and Finance Director to execute all related documents.
3. Authorize expense in FY 2026-27 in the amount of $316,542 ($152,542 agreement, $144,000 for mitigation credit offset, plus extra services of $20,000) from A/C #621-8220-682-5699 (Wastewater Fund - Contracted Services Private/Other).
4. Find that the Project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 14 CCR 15301 (repair/maintenance of an existing facility).
LEVINE ACT ITEM: Yes
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Funding for this work is included in the Adopted FY 2026-27 Wastewater Fund Budget. Total project cost is $316,542.
BACKGROUND:
The City maintains unpaved access roads that support wastewater collection system operations, maintenance, inspections, and emergency access within the
Arroyo Conejo Open Space Road Grading Agreement
August 25, 2026
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Arroyo Conejo Open Space. These access roads experience deterioration due to weather, runoff, sediment deposition, rutting, vegetation encroachment, and general surface wear. Periodic maintenance is necessary to restore safe and functional driving conditions, maintain proper drainage, and preserve access for City operations and emergency response.
This project includes road grading and maintenance at six locations within the Arroyo Conejo Open Space (Attachment #1), as further described below:
Lower Unit W from Hill Canyon Treatment Plan (HCTP) to Wastewater Collections D-Structure – approximately 4,500 linear feet, including installation of four temporary creek crossings
Arroyo View to Lower Unit W – approximately 3,200 linear feet Upper Unit W – approximately 5,500 linear feet
Calle Brusca – approximately 1,100 linear feet
Box Canyon – approximately 3,500 linear feet
Municipal Service Center (MSC) to HCTP Bridge – approximately 2,800 linear feet
Maintenance activities within the Arroyo Conejo Open Space are required to be conducted under various environmental permits issued by the following regulatory agencies:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Streambed Alteration Agreement (Fish and Game Code Section 1602)
United States Army Corps (USACE) Permit
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Following a review of the above listed regulatory permits applicable to the proposed maintenance activities, staff determined that performing the work between September 1, 2026, and October 31, 2026, is the most appropriate timeframe. This work window minimizes the avoidance and minimization measures required by the permit conditions while allowing the necessary maintenance activities to be completed ahead of the rainy season.
In accordance with Government Code Section 4526 and Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Section 3-10.401, staff solicited a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for Road Grading in the Arroyo Conejo Open Space. Unlike the low bid requirements of the Public Contract Code, contracts for general services should only be awarded to firms or persons who have demonstrated an adequate level of experience, competence, training, credentials, resources, staffing, and other professional Arroyo Conejo Open Space Road Grading Agreement
August 25, 2026
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qualifications necessary for more than a satisfactory performance of the services solicited.
On May 22, 2026, the solicitation was published in the Thousand Oaks Acorn newspaper and on the City’s e-procurement website, which notified 2,513 users, generating 832 views and 48 downloads. The solicitation closed on June 19, 2026.
From this effort, the City received proposals from the following three service providers:
1. Blackpointe Group Construction & Management, Inc. Moorpark, CA
2. JHS Construction, Inc. Simi Valley, CA
3. CERCO Engineering Corporation Thousand Oaks, CA
A committee of Public Works Operations staff evaluated the proposals based on project approach, qualifications and experience, responsiveness and cost reasonableness. After careful review of the proposals and interviews with the two shortlisted proposers, the committee determined that Blackpointe Group Construction & Management, Inc. (Blackpointe) was the most qualified proposer.
Blackpointe met all qualification requirements, provided satisfactory references, and demonstrated a thorough understanding of the project's regulatory requirements, limited work window and coordination required to comply with the environmental permit conditions.
Staff negotiated and finalized a detailed scope of work and fee proposal in the amount of $152,542, plus $20,000 for extra services, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $172,542. Staff recommends awarding a General Services Agreement to Blackpointe (Attachment #2).
As part of the environmental permit approval process, CDFW has required 0.33 acres of compensatory mitigation to be provided by the City, consisting of 0.23 acres of impacts within the bed, bank, and channel of the creek, and an additional
0.10 acre of impacts within developed areas resulting from the road maintenance.
This mitigation will satisfy the requirements for the five-year maintenance permit and may also satisfy the mitigation requirements for a future permit renewal. The total cost to acquire the mitigation credit offset for the 0.33 acres of compensatory mitigation is estimated at $144,000. Staff is requesting City Council approval to have the City Engineer and Finance Director execute the mitigation offset with CDFW, in an amount not to exceed $144,000.
The project is categorically exempt from CEQA per section 15301 (repair/maintenance of an existing facility).
This action meets City Council’s Top Ten Priorities #9, “Public Works Infrastructure & Sustainability .”
Arroyo Conejo Open Space Road Grading Agreement
August 25, 2026
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LEVINE ACT (California Government Code § 84308):
This item is subject to the Levine Act. City Councilmembers who have received a campaign contribution of more than $500 (aggregated) within the preceding 12 months from a party or their agent/representative, or a financially-interested participant involved in this proceeding may do either of the following: (1) disclose the contribution on the record and recuse themselves from this proceeding; or if applicable (2) return the portion of the contribution that exceeds $500 within 30 days from the time the official knew or should have known about the contribution, and participate in the proceeding.
All parties and their agents/representatives must disclose on the record of this proceeding any aggregated contribution of more than $500 made to any Councilmember within the preceding 12 months. Councilmembers are prohibited from accepting, soliciting, or directing a campaign contribution of more than $500 (aggregated) from a party, their agent/representative, or a financially-interested participant during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is made. In addition, a party, their agent/representative, or a financially- interested participant is prohibited from contributing more than $500 (aggregated) to a Councilmember during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is made. The signed Levine Act Form for Blackpointe is included in Attachment #2 as Exhibit D.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
C. Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible and prudent manner to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California's most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.
F. Provide and enhance essential infrastructure to ensure that the goals and policies of the Thousand Oaks General Plan are carried out and the City retains its role and reputation as a leader in protecting the environment and preserving limited natural resources.
PREPARED BY: Patrick McCulloch, Utilities Maintenance Supervisor Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Vicinity and Location Maps
Attachment #2 – General Services Agreement with Blackpointe DPW: 290-20;531-10; 1030-10\ev\Council\2026\Arroyo Conejo Open Space Road Grading staff repot.docx