Item Number: 2
City Council / Board of Directors
Public Hearing
Meeting of: June 4, 2024
Submitted By:
Fredy Bonilla, City Engineer
Doug Mathews, Director of Public Works & Water
Subject:
Mojave Drive and Village Drive Pipeline Repair Project - Notice of Exemption and Award of Construction Contract
Recommendation:
That the Honorable Victorville Water District Board of Directors:
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 Kelly’s Underground Construction, Inc., in the amount of $159,197 for the Mojave Drive and Village Drive Pipeline Repair Project.
Fiscal Impact:
The recommended action will result in a fiscal impact of $159,197. This project will be funded by the Water Fund (Fund 410). 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
4100535-52440-74650 Water – Infrastructure
Repairs – Village/Mojave
$160,000
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with “Goal E Invest in Infrastructure” in the City of Victorville Strategic Plan 2023-2026. This project will repair a water leak in the Victorville Water District’s domestic water system.
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Background:
On April 17, 2024, the City of Victorville Water District (District) field staff were made aware of a water leak underneath a sidewalk, located in front of a gas station at the northwest corner of Village Drive and Mojave Drive. Please refer to Attachment A - Location Map for the precise location of the repair area. The duration of the pipeline leakage is unknown, but it became evident when the sidewalk and a section of the curb and gutter began to sink.
An immediate response ensued from the Water District’s field personnel. Upon removal of a portion of the sidewalk and excavation extending approximately five feet below ground surface, it was revealed that an existing 10-inch AC water main partially traverses behind the customer’s property line beneath the gas station’s drive aisle concrete slab.
The water leakage stemmed from a leaking “push-on” valve on an abandoned fire hydrant lateral, fed from the 10” AC water main that partially extends under the sidewalk.
Furthermore, it was determined that the pipeline depth is substantially deeper than normal pipeline depth, potentially as deep as 14-feet below ground surface.
Despite the urgent need for repair, the challenges posed by excavating at significant depths, working under a canopy structure, and operating on private property led the staff to determine that the project exceeded the capabilities of in-house staff. Water District staff, therefore, sought assistance from the Engineering Department to determine the best way to make reliable repairs and minimize disruption of the local gas station business operations. Engineering staff developed comprehensive repair plans for the infrastructure (WP-1493).
As a temporary measure, the exploratory excavation has been secured with steel plates.
To minimize the disruption to the customer’s business operation, the existing water main will be intercepted before and after the customer’s drive aisle concrete slab and a new 10” pipe will then be rerouted to the sidewalk within the City’s right-of-way. The existing fire hydrant lateral and the leaking valve will be abandoned in place. A section of the sidewalk, curb and gutter will also be replaced. This scope will address the immediate repair. Additional work is anticipated as part of the future reconstruction of Mojave Drive to permanently relocate the pipeline under the roadway.
Discussion:
In response to a water emergency repair near the intersection of Village Drive and Mojave Drive, described in more detail in the Background section of this staff report, Engineering staff drafted a plan for the repair work required (WP-1493). These repairs are being done to address a leak from a fire hydrant lateral, which is now undermining the sidewalk and curb and gutter.
Based on the procurement process outlined in the Victorville Municipal Code Section
2.28.200 for Public works contracts with an estimated cost in excess of sixty thousand dollars, but no more than five hundred thousand, informal bidding procedures were utilized. Staff solicited cost proposals from the three qualified emergency on-call water infrastructure contractors, Apple Valley Construction, Kelly’s Underground Construction, 3 6
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Inc., and High Desert Underground, Inc. Proposals were requested on May 10, 2024, and due on May 22, 2024. Below is the summary of the bids received:
1) Apple Valley Construction Inc. - Did not submit a proposal 2) High Desert Underground, Inc. - $175,940
3) Kelly’s Underground Construction, Inc. - $159,197
After reviewing the proposals, it was determined that the that the lowest responsive, responsible bidder is Kelly’s Underground Construction, Inc., with a bid amount of $159,197.
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 maintenance, repair, and restoration of an existing pipeline less than one-mile in length.
Staff recommends that the Board of Directors approve the Notice of Exemption and award a construction contract to Kelly’s Underground Construction, Inc., in the amount of $159,197 for the Mojave Drive and Village Drive Pipeline Repair Project.
Staff is available for any questions the Board of Directors may have.
Attachments: A. Location Map
B. Notice of Exemption
C. Construction Agreement