Town of Yountville
Staff Report
6550 Yount Street
Yountville, CA 94599
Agenda Item #: 11E
Yountville Town Council Staff Report
DATE: August 5, 2025
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Rosalba Ramirez, Deputy Public Works Director
PREPARED BY: Rosalba Ramirez, Deputy Public Works Director
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution Number 25-4383 awarding the contract for the Yountville Crossroads Main-Valve Insertion Project Number WA-3026, to Benchmark Civil Construction out of Napa, CA for $71,260, and authorizing the Town Manager to execute a construction contract, change orders and amendments up to the WA 3026 budget amount.
DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
At recent Town Council meetings, Town Council and Town staff have received input from several of the Town’s out of Town water customers regarding the perceived frequency of reduced water pressure and/or interruptions to water service along with precautionary boil water notices. While the Town is the licensed water purveyor to its 840 customers, both inside and outside of the Town limits, the Town as a whole is a water customer of CalVet, the state agency who owns and operates Rector Reservoir and Rector Water Treatment Plant.
Due to the physical layout of the water infrastructure that has evolved since 1965 when the Town became incorporated and first became a Cal-Vet customer, when Cal-Vet experiences technical difficulties delivering potable water from Rector Water Treatment Plant, the out-of-town customers may be affected more directly than the in-town customers. The in-town customers are less affected because of the water infrastructure connected to the City of Napa water system as a back-up to the Cal-Vet connection. Due to the geography and elevation changes, when the Town is on City of Napa water, the pressure is not sufficient to reach the easterly customers on Yountville Crossroad and Silverado Trail.
Public Works and Utility staff are sensitive to this condition and spring into action when we receive word from Cal-Vet about a water issue. We immediately gather our task force and admin staff to call each of the affected water customers directly to advise them of the situation and offer bottled water to augment supply for the duration. Additionally, utility staff drive out and visit each location to make contact, post a water notice, and also offer bottled water as needed. Then as information is shared by Cal-Vet, the same level of communication is used to provide updates to the customers.
Given these experiences, Public Works and Utility staff have been and continue to work on the infrastructure piece to mitigate or minimize the impacts to the Town’s customers, more specifically the out-of-town customers.
To that end, in 2019 Town Public Works staff had the foresight to include connection/pumping features into the upgrade of the Finnell Road water station. In order for those to become fully functional, there remain a few improvements to be installed on state facilities to complete the effort with the intent of maintaining service to the out-of-town customers during times of difficulty at Rector Water Treatment Plant.
Town staff continue to work collaboratively with our counterparts at Cal-Vet to figure out the most expedient means of implementing these changes. This item is result of that collaboration whereby the Town will make the effort via a hired contractor to install a water valve into the Cal-Vet water transmission main in the vicinity where it intersects with Yountville Crossroad. Installation of this valve will allow operational flexibility intended to decrease the frequency of service interruption to the Town’s out-of-town customers.
The valve, coupled with the infrastructure installed in 2019 at Finnell Road, will allow the Town to connect temporary pumps to at the Finnell connection to boost the pressure of the Napa water connection out to the east along Yountville Crossroad and Silverado Trail. The operation of the valve will be in direct correlation with CalVet staff and will reduce the frequency of interruption for more water delivery circumstances but will not eliminate all circumstances that may cause interruption of service.
Town utility staff have performed sufficient due diligence to determine the existing conditions of the underground pipe at the proposed valve location and Town engineering staff have determined the optimal method for installation of the valve. That said, the installation of the valve will require a shutdown of water service to the outside customers and a subsequent boil water notice. The most efficient means to perform the work is via an underground contractor, in this case Benchmark Civil Construction.
Benchmark Civil Construction is a local contractor with the equipment and expertise to perform repairs and valve insertion work on active water mains. The Town has previously completed successful projects with Benchmark Civil Construction and requested a quote for work for the WA 2026 Yountville Crossroads Main-Valve Insertion Project. The Town follows the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act which allows the Town to award projects under $75,000 to qualified contractors without conducting a full project advertisement for bid.
The quote from Benchmark Civil Construction for the work is $71,260 and as such no formal bid was advertised.
The work is currently budgeted for Fiscal Year 25/26 under project WA 3026.
Staff requests the Town Council approve the contract for the Yountville Crossroads Main-Valve Insertion Project; project number WA 3026, to Benchmark Civil Construction out of Napa, CA for $71,260 and authorize the Town Manager to execute a construction contract, change orders and amendments up to the WA-3026 budget amount.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Categorically Exempt per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guideline; Class 2, Replacement or Reconstruction.
FISCAL IMPACT
Is there a Fiscal Impact? Yes
Is it Currently Budgeted? Yes
Where is it Budgeted? 60-4500-5500; Main and Service Lateral Replacement Program Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? Discretionary
Is there a Staff Resource Impact? Nominal
STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL
Is item Identified in Strategic Plan? Yes
If yes, Identify Strategic Goal and Objective. Quality of Life: The Town enhances the livability of Yountville by providing well-maintained public facilities, parks, trails, and quality programs and events. Responsible Fiscal Policy: The Town maintains its fiscal health through policies designed to maximize economic opportunities, manage expenses, and ensure prudent reserves.
Briefly Explain Relationship to Strategic Plan Goal and Objective.
The award of this contract to install the valve at the prescribed location will enable the Town to provide quality water service to all the Town’s water customers while following the rules of the Public Contract Code.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No 25-4383
2. Draft Benchmark Contract