TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Nader Heydari, Public Works Director
DATE:September 15, 2026
SUBJECT: Hill Canyon Treatment Plant Miscellaneous Repairs FY 2025-27 (MI 2646)
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the project design, plans, specifications, and Addendum No. 1 for construction of the Hill Canyon Treatment Plant Miscellaneous Repairs FY 2025- 27 Project (MI 2646).
2. Award construction contract to Best Contracting Services, Inc. (Gardena, CA) in the amount of $391,750, plus a contingency of $39,000.
3. Authorize expense in the amount of $430,750 ($391,750 construction contract, $39,000 construction contract contingency) from A/C #624-8250-682-5500 (Wastewater Capital Fund - Contract Services/Construction, MI 2646).
4. Delegate authority to the City Engineer to approve changes in the design, plans, specifications, and working details of the project on work directives and change orders up to the project approved contingency amount.
5. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 14 CCR 15301 (repair/maintenance of an existing facility).
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. $343,127 is available in the Adopted FY 2026-27 Wastewater Capital Fund Budget for MI 2646, and an additional $349,800 in FY 2026-27 carryover budget is available. The estimated total project cost is $480,750.
HCTP Miscellaneous Repairs FY 2025-27 (MI 2646)
September 15, 2026
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BACKGROUND:
The City’s Hill Canyon Treatment Plant (HCTP) is located at 9600 Santa Rosa Road, in a canyon in the northwest section of the City and sits at the confluence of the North and South Arroyo Conejo Creeks (Attachment #1). The facility has two reinforced concrete flow equalization basins (FEB) near the south headworks and a cover over the chlorine contact channel. The FEBs hold wastewater that enters the plant when capacity is exceeded during daily high flows, storm events, or when staff maximizes portions of the treatment process and some incoming flow must be temporarily stored. The FEBs are an important resiliency and safety measure that allow flexibility in managing the plant’s treatment flows. HCTP also has a chlorine contact channel (CCC), covered with concrete panels. The panels help reduce debris entering the channels (e.g., dust, leaves), improving water quality.
Over time, the caulking on the FEBs’ reinforced concrete expansion joints fails due to sunlight exposure or when submerged in aggressive environments (e.g., wastewater). As part of regular maintenance, the caulking and backer rod material must be removed and replaced. The project includes removing existing caulking and backer rod from the reinforced concrete expansion joints at the FEBs and CCC and replacing them with new caulking and backer rod. The caulking provides a seal at the expansion joints and helps preserve the reinforced concrete. The proposed caulking is expected to last up to 10 years before requiring replacement.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
City Council authorized bidding of the project on July 7, 2026, and the Notice Inviting Bids was publicly advertised in the Thousand Oaks Acorn newspaper and posted on the City’s procurement website on July 17, 2026. Five bids were received and publicly opened on August 12, 2026. The bid results are as follows:
Bidder Bid
1 Best Contracting Services, Inc. (Gardena, CA) $ 391,750 2 Pacific Waterproofing & Restoration, Inc (Santa Fe Springs, CA) $ 599,936 3 AME Builders, Inc. (Upland, CA) $ 780,520
4 GSE Construction Company, Inc. (Livermore, CA) $ 893,960 5 Howard Ridley Company, Inc. (Chino, CA) $1,054,006
All bids received for this project are higher than the engineer's estimate of $290,000. This is primarily due to significant increases in the cost of the required caulking materials needed for the project. Despite the deviation from the engineer’s estimate, staff recommends awarding the construction contract due to the strong number of bids received and the need to deliver the improvements to address the daily high flows, mitigation of future storm events, and operational needs of the HCTP Miscellaneous Repairs FY 2025-27 (MI 2646)
September 15, 2026
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treatment process. Delaying the work could increase the overall project cost due to possibly reduced bidder participation as well as continued inflation and construction-cost escalation.
The apparent lowest bidder is Best Contracting Services, Inc., with a total bid cost of $391,750. The bid package submitted by Best Contracting Services, Inc., was reviewed and found to be in order; no bid protests have been received, and the bid protest period has ended. Staff therefore recommends awarding the construction contract to Best Contracting Services, Inc., in the amount of $391,750, plus a contingency of $39,000.
A summary of the estimated project cost is shown below.
ESTIMATED PROJECT COST SUMMARY
Design and Engineering Services (existing services under Contract No. 13281-2023) $ 25,000
Design Services During Construction (existing services under Contract No. 13281-2023) $ 25,000
Construction + Contingency Estimate (this action) $ 430,750 Total Estimated Cost $ 480,750
$343,1327 is available in the Adopted FY 2026-27 Wastewater Capital Fund Budget for MI 2646 and an additional $349,800 in carryover budget is available for HCTP Miscellaneous Repairs FY 2025-27 (MI 2646). The overall project cost (including contingencies, design and engineering support services prior to construction, during construction/testing, and project management) is estimated at $480,750.
The tentative schedule for completion of the project is as follows:
Bidding July 2026
Award of construction contract September 2026
Start of construction October 2026
Construction completion Early 2027
The project plans, specifications, and Addendum No. 1 were completed by Phoenix Civil Engineering, Inc. and approved by City staff in Summer 2026. These documents are available for review by request to the Public Works Department by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (805) 449-2400.
HCTP Miscellaneous Repairs FY 2025-27 (MI 2646)
September 15, 2026
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This project is categorically exempt from CEQA per Section 15301 (repair/maintenance an existing facility).
Community Outreach: This project will be limited to work at the HCTP and is not expected to impact neighboring residences. The work will be at the south end of the plant and will have a limited impact on plant operation. Construction-related impacts on hiking trail users will be minimal.
This project meets City Council’s Top Ten Priorities #9, “Public Works Infrastructure & Sustainability.”
CIP PROJECT PRIORITY (as outlined in FY 2025-26 and 2026-27 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: Paul Weinstein, Associate Analyst
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Vicinity and Location Maps
DPW: 850-20\ev\Council\2026\091526\MI 2646 HCTP Miscellaneous Repairs FY 2025-27 staff report.docx