TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Nader Heydari, Public Works Director
DATE:September 15, 2026
SUBJECT: Wastewater Pipe and Maintenance Hole Relining FY 2025-27 (CI 5532)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the project design, plans, specifications, and Addendum No. 1 for the construction of the Wastewater Pipe and Maintenance Hole Relining FY 2025-27 (CI 5532).
2. Award construction contract to Southwest Pipeline and Trenchless Corp. (Torrance, CA) in the amount of $1,293,638, plus a contingency of $130,000.
3. Authorize expense in the amount of $1,428,638 ($1,293,638 construction contract; $130,000 construction contingency; and $5,000 City furnished materials and supplies) from A/C #624-8220-682-8300 (Wastewater Capital Fund – Improvements Other Than Buildings, CI 5532).
4. Delegate authority to the City Engineer to approve changes to the design, plans, specifications, and working details of the project on work directives and change orders up to the project contingency amount.
5. Find that the Project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 14 CCR 15301.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. $1,500,000 is included in the Adopted FY 2026-27 Wastewater Capital Fund Budget for CI 5532. The estimated project cost is $1,428,638.
Wastewater Pipe and Maintenance Hole Relining FY 2025-27 (CI 5532) September 15, 2026
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BACKGROUND:
The City provides wastewater service to nearly 38,000 customers, representing more than 100,000 residents. The Public Works Department maintains 415 miles of wastewater pipelines and 8,300 maintenance holes in the City’s wastewater system. These wastewater pipelines and maintenance holes are video-inspected on an ongoing basis to identify issues, including deteriorated conditions that warrant refurbishment through an ongoing maintenance and inspection program.
One method for addressing aging conditions in the wastewater collection system is through the use of lining technology. Since the start of the City’s wastewater lining program in 2002, more than 29.5 miles of pipeline and over 760 maintenance holes have been rehabilitated using the lining method.
The Wastewater Pipe and Maintenance Hole Relining FY 2025-27 Project involves lining approximately 19,060 linear feet (3.6 miles) of 6-inch to 15-inch deteriorated wastewater pipelines, installation of 51 service lateral connections (SLC), and rehabilitation of 84 maintenance holes located within City streets and private property easements (Attachment #1). The proposed project will improve the performance, integrity, and longevity of the City’s wastewater system, which will help avoid more expensive replacements in the future.
The lining system consists of cleaning wastewater lines, cutting/removing tree roots, and lining the pipes using the Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) method. The rehabilitation of the wastewater maintenance holes includes removing ladders to improve access safety, stopping any inflow or infiltration, applying gunite/mortar or water stop material, and installing polyurethane protective lining. The SLCs are installed at selected laterals where roots are present.
On June 9, 2026, City Council authorized this project to be advertised for construction bids.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The Notice Inviting Bids (NIB) was published in the Thousand Oaks Acorn newspaper on July 3, 2026, and was made available to all vendors on the City’s procurement website per Public Contract Code Section 22037 and Thousand Oaks Municipal Code 3-10.306. The NIB had a total of 3,049 vendor notifications and received 67 downloads. On August 5, 2026, four construction bids were received for the project and publicly opened as follows:
Wastewater Pipe and Maintenance Hole Relining FY 2025-27 (CI 5532) September 15, 2026
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Bidder Bid
Southwest Pipeline & Trenchless Corp. (Torrance, CA) $1,293,638 Vortex Services, LLC (Huntington Beach, CA) $1,541,366
Nu Line Technologies, LLC (Vista, CA) $2,091,123
Insituform Technologies, LLC (Chesterfield, MO) $2,181,533 The apparent low bid was from Southwest Pipeline & Trenchless Corp. (Southwest) in the amount of $1,293,638, which is lower than the engineer’s estimate of $2,300,000. The engineer’s estimate was based on costs of similar past lining projects.
Southwest’s bid package has been reviewed and found to be in order. The bid protest has elapsed, and no formal protest has been received. Southwest has satisfactorily completed similar projects for the City and other municipalities, and their references were verified. Staff recommends the award of the construction contract to Southwest.
The project contract documents were prepared by in-house staff. The estimated costs for the project are as follows:
Construction (this action) $ 1,293,638
Construction Contingency (this action) $ 130,000
City Furnished Materials/Services (this action) $ 5,000 Total Estimated Project Cost $ 1,428,638
The tentative schedule for the completion of the project is as follows:
Award of Construction Contract September 2026
Start of Construction October 2026
Project Completion Spring 2027
The project is categorically exempt from CEQA per section 15301 (repair/maintenance of an existing facility).
The project design, plans, and specifications are available for review by request to the Public Works Department by email at [email protected] or by phone at (805) 449-2400.
Community Outreach:
Staff has developed and implemented public outreach for the project. A dedicated project website has been created: https://toaks.gov/relining, where updated project information will continue to be provided throughout the construction phase of the Wastewater Pipe and Maintenance Hole Relining FY 2025-27 (CI 5532) September 15, 2026
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project to inform the public and receive feedback. Additionally, prior to the start of the construction, construction notices will be mailed to all property owners in the project area.
This project meets the City Council’s Top Ten Priority #9, “Public Works Infrastructure & Sustainability.”
CIP PROJECT PRIORITY (as outlined in FY 2025-26 and FY 2025-27 CIP Program Budget)
Priority Two – Necessary, but not essential, and there could be consequences if deferred.
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: Gareth Madrid, Engineering Assistant
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Vicinity and Location Maps
Documents Provided Under Separate Cover:
#1 – Project Plans, Specifications and Addenda No. 1
DPW: 850-20\ev\Council\2026\091526\CI5532\WW Pipe and Maintenance Hole Relining staff report.docx