Item Number: 2
City Council / Board of Directors
Public Hearing(s)
Meeting of: April 2, 2024
Submitted By:
Fredy Bonilla, City Engineer
Subject:
Old Town Septic to Sewer Conversion Project - Approve Notice of Exemption and Award of a Construction Contract
Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council:
(1) Open and conduct a public hearing, receiving testimony regarding the proposed capital improvement project (CIP);
(2) Close the Public Hearing;
(3) Approve the Notice of Exemption and authorize staff to file the notice with the Office of Planning and Research and the County Clerk; and
(4) Award a construction contract to Kerns, Inc., in the amount of $724,223 for the Old Town Septic to Sewer Conversion Project.
Fiscal Impact:
This recommended action will result in fiscal impact of $724,223. This project will be funded by the Sewer Fund, No. 425. An additional appropriation is not required. There are sufficient funds available in the project budget to cover the planned expenses.
Account Number Account Description Amount Available
4254500-55335-77438 Sewer Engineering – Old Town Septic Sewer Conversion
$748,501.46
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with “Goal E Invest in Infrastructure” in the City of Victorville Strategic Plan 2023-2026. This project will expand the City’s sewer collection system on Willow Street in Old Town Victorville and connect a total of three sites to the City’s sewer collection system.
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Background:
Due to several large sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) from the City’s sewer collection system from March 2014 through June 2017, the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board (Lahontan) issued an Administrative Civil Liability Complaint against the City related to these SSOs (R6V-2016-0042). In May of 2020, a settlement agreement between Lahontan and the City was approved which resulted in a $1,500,000 penalty. In accordance with the agreement, the City paid $750,000 to Lahontan and the remaining $750,000 is being used for a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP).
The intent of the State Water Board SEP Policy is to make a portion of penalty monies available for projects intended to help mitigate environmental degradation caused by water quality violations near the area, or with a nexus to the area, where the degradation occurred. It identifies criteria to ensure that selected projects have environmental value, further the enforcement goals of the State Water Board and its regions and are subject to appropriate input and oversight by the regional water boards.
The City’s SEP is the Septic to Sewer Conversion Project within Old Town Victorville.
To date, as part of SEP, the City investigated a total of 146 parcels within the Old Town area, diverted the Avalon Church, located at 16673 Avalon Street, septic system into the City’s sewer collection system, and manufactured a sewer lift station for three houses on Willow Street so they can be connected to the City’s sewer collection system. Romtec Utilities has design-built the lift station in compliance with General Services Provide Standard Agreement that City council approved on February 21, 2023. The last task remaining in the City’s SEP is to install the sewer lift station in Willow Street and connect three single-family homes to the City’s sewer system. Existing septic tanks will be abandoned in-place by the City, in compliance with the City’s Municipal Code. The lift station has sufficient reserve capacity for additional homes, if additional vacant parcels develop on Willow Street.
Discussion:
It is a requirement to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) before construction starts on a capital improvement project. The Notice of Exemption, Attachment B, describes the project activities and states that the project is statutorily exempt under CEQA section 15282(k) because the project involves the installation of new pipeline less than one mile in length.
This project was bid using formal bidding procedures in accordance with Victorville Municipal Code Section 2.28.210 and the California Public Contract Code. Formal bidding procedures are used for Public Works contracts with an estimated cost in excess of five hundred thousand dollars. The Notice Inviting Bids was advertised on the Daily Press on January 19,2024, and on the SB Sun on January 26,2024. The bid package was emailed to ten (10) prospective bidders on January 19, 2024, as well posted on the City of Victorville’s website. On February 29, 2024, five (5) formal bids were received, publicly opened and read aloud.
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The Engineer’s Estimate for this project ranged from $700,000 – $800,000. The bid results are shown below:
Company Bid Amount
Kerns, Inc., Hesperia, CA $724,223.00
Morrow Trenchless, San Clemente, CA $876,042.00
Pyramid Bldg, Hesperia, CA $879,475.00
GCI,Inc., San Clemente, CA $938,875.00
R.E. Chaffee, Wrightwood, CA $975,250.00
After a review of the bid proposals, it was determined that the lowest responsive, responsible bidder is Kerns, Inc., with a bid amount of $724,223. Therefore, the staff recommends awarding a construction contract to Kerns, Inc.
Please refer to Attachment C, the Construction Contract, which includes the contract bid items and the total contract amount.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Notice of Exemption and award a construction contract to Kerns, Inc., in the amount of $724,223, for Old Town Septic to Sewer Conversion Project.
Staff remains available for any questions Council may have.
Attachments: A. Location Map
B. Notice of Exemption
C. Construction Agreement