HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 - Advertisement of Calle Joaquin Siphon and Sewer Lift Station (Spec. 91118)
Department Name: Utilities
Cost Center: 6002
For Agenda of: January 12, 2021
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Aaron Floyd, Utilities Director
Prepared By: David Hix, Deputy Director Utilities - Wastewater
Jennifer Metz, Utilities Project Manager
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE ADVERTISEMENT OF CALLE JOAQUIN SIPHON AND
SEWER LIFT STATION REPLACEMENT PROJECT, SPECIFICATION NO.
91118
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the plans and specifications (Council Reading File, Attachment A and B) for the
Calle Joaquin Siphon and Sewer Lift Station Replacement Project (Project), Specification
No. 91118; and
2. Authorize staff to advertise the Project for bids; and
3. Adopt a Resolution entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo, California, Authorizing Use of Sewer Fund Unreserved Working Capital for
Construction of the Calle Joaquin Siphon and Lift Station Replacement Project, Specification
No. 91118 and General Fund Completed Projects and Capital Reserves to Fund Silt
Removal” (Attachment C); and
4. Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract for the Project if the lowest
responsible bid is within available project funding.
DISCUSSION
Background
Wastewater collection systems function
primarily by gravity, flowing from higher to
lower elevations throughout the City until
wastewater ultimately reaches the Water
Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) for
treatment. To maintain adequate elevations,
sewer lift stations are constructed to “lift” the
wastewater to higher elevations, where it can
again be conveyed by gravity. The Calle
Joaquin Sewer Lift Station serves properties in
the southern portion of the City on both the east
and west sides of US 101. The lift station was
put into service in 1967 making it the oldest of
eight sewer lift stations operated by the City.
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Sewer siphons are designed to carry wastewater for short distances under pressure, typically
when the wastewater collection system needs to cross a creek or other low elevation site that
would impede gravity flow. The sewer siphon under San Luis Obispo Creek and the gravity
sewer main across US 101 were installed in the early 1970s to direct wastewater to the Calle
Joaquin lift station. The lift station also serves new development on the northern portion of Calle
Joaquin and will serve the future Froom Ranch project. When first programmed as part of the
2011-13 Financial Plan, the project included design and replacement of the Calle Joaquin sewer
force main. That element was constructed in 2015 (Specification No. 91133).
Replacement of these facilities is challenging due to limited site area and access for construction
work, past flood events requiring elevating access to the lift station, deep excavations, high
groundwater, and seasonal limitations for work in the San Luis Creek channel. The City acquired
temporary construction and permanent easements for the lift station and siphon construction.
Due to the proximity of this project near US 101 and the creek environment, the City is obtaining
permits from Caltrans and various environmental agencies including U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Regional Water Quality Control Board
(RWQCB), Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration - National Marine Fisheries Service.
Project
The City completed plans and specifications for the
Project (Attachments A and B) and recommends the
City Council authorize advertisement of the Project for
construction. The project requires diversion of San Luis
Obispo Creek and excavation work to enable the
construction of the new sewer siphon under the Creek
and removal of the existing siphon. With the diversion
in place to enable access for equipment, the Project
includes removal of over 0.5 acres of the perennial
invasive exotic grass Arundo donax and 1,000 cubic
yards of silt from the San Luis Obispo Creek channel
that has posed a historic flooding risk to the City.
Consistent with Municipal Code section 12.08.100
(Exceptions to Discharge), the City has applied for a
permit from the RWQCB authorizing discharge to a
City storm drain connected to Froom Creek for the lift
station portion of the project for dewatering.
The Project contingency for construction, construction management, and inspection services is
budgeted at 25 percent due to the complexity of the Project and consequence of failure.
Construction management and inspection services will be provided by consultants from the
City’s on-call service contracts, Capital Plan Construction Management Services, Specification
No. 50410.2018CM.
Project Components
• Replace lift station above flood
elevation
• Provide backup emergency power
• Replace siphon 12 feet under San
Luis Obispo Creek
• Replace sewer crossing of US 101
• Replace gravity sewer on southern
stretch of Calle Joaquin (toward
KSBY)
• Remove invasive Arundo donax and
silt to alleviate future flooding
• Restore Creek per permit
requirements
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Policy Context
Per the City’s General Plan Water and Wastewater Management Element, 2019 Sewer System
Management Plan, and 2015 Wastewater Collection System Infrastructure Renewal Strategy, the
City replaces wastewater infrastructure to ensure delivery of reliable service, minimize sanitary
sewer overflows, and provide adequate capacity to serve future development.
Previous Council Action
On March 15, 2019, the City Council approved contract amendments for the completion of
engineering design services for the project’s construction documents (Attachment D). As part of
that item, the City Council also approved additional environmental permitting services related to
the construction of the project and property acquisition services for the project’s temporary
construction easements and permanent utility easements.
Public Engagement
The Calle Joaquin Siphon and Lift Station Replacement Project has been identified as a priority
project in the Financial Plan Capital Improvement Plan since 2011. As construction proceeds,
updates will be provided on the City’s Public Works Department website at:
www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/public-works/construction-and-traffic-updates
COVID-19 Considerations
Due to the current economic impacts of COVID-19, the City reevaluated all Capital
Improvement Plan projects with the goal of adjusting Capital Expenditures in response to
projected revenue shortfalls and aligning the adjusted CIP program with a focus on economic
recovery and fiscal responsibility. With these criteria in mind, this project is recommended to
continue as it addresses a critical infrastructure need. Additionally, this project supports
economic recovery through contracts with local or regional companies that will further retain
employment and long-term viability of the construction industry.
CONCURRENCES
Utilities staff, City Biologist, and Public Works Department staff (City Engineer and
Construction Manager) have worked cooperatively on the delivery of this Project. Those staff
concur with the recommendations in this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City Council approved a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact for the
Project in 2016 by Resolution 10718 (Council Reading File, Attachment E). An addendum was
prepared in 2020 to include the removal of the existing siphon from San Luis Obispo Creek
during construction as required by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -
National Marine Fisheries Service to improve fish passage in the Creek.
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FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2019-20
Funding Identified: Yes
The Project was described in the 2019-21 Financial Plan, Capital Improvement Program. The
construction cost estimate for the project is $3,500,000. Other project costs of $825,000 are
outlined in the table below. Contingencies are included at 25 percent of the construction and
construction management/inspection budget to address potential changes in scope that may arise
during construction. This is a higher rate of contingency to typical pipeline replacement capital
projects due to the complexity of the Project. The estimated total project cost is $5,406,250. The
approximate current balance in Sewer Fund unreserved working capital is $35 million.
Estimated Construction Costs
Construction Cost Estimate $3,500,000
Construction Management/Inspection $400,000
Engineering Construction Phase Support/Record Drawings $200,000
Biological and Cultural Resources Monitoring $100,000
Utility Service and Relocations (PG&E, Gas, AT&T, Charter Cable) $100,000
Specialty Inspection, Materials Testing, and Printing $25,000
Subtotal $4,325,000
Construction Contingency (25%) $1,081,250
Total Project Cost1 $5,406,250
Project Funding
Sewer Fund, FY 2017-19 Funding (91118, carryover) $2,200,000
Sewer Fund, FY 2019-20 Funding (1000087) $700,000
Expenditures to Date - $400,000
Available Funding $2,500,000
General Fund, Capital Reserve (Silt Removal) $77,000
General Fund, Completed Projects $23,000
Sewer Fund, Unreserved Working Capital $2,900,000
Project Funding $5,500,000
1 Excludes operating costs.
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Fiscal Analysis:
Funding Sources Total Budget Expenditures
to Date Remaining Budget
General Fund $100,000 $0 $100,000
State
Federal
Fees
Other: Sewer Fund $5,800,000 $400,000 $5,400,000
Total $5,900,000 $400,000 $5,500,000
Annual staffing, maintenance, equipment, and energy cost for the Calle Joaquin Lift Station is
estimated at $15,000 annually. This cost is not expected to increase with the replacement of the
lift station. Funding for the Project’s on-going operational costs was approved as part of the
2019-2021 Financial Plan in the Sewer Fund, Wastewater Collection section operating budget.
ALTERNATIVES
Deny or defer approval to advertise. The City Council may choose to deny or defer the approval
to advertise this project. Staff does not recommend this alternative as the City is required to remain
in regulatory compliance. Should this be denied or deferred, the existing siphon and lift station will
continue to deteriorate, increasing the likelihood of failure, which could result in the discharge of
untreated wastewater directly into San Luis Obispo Creek.
Attachments:
a - COUNCIL READING FILE - Project Plans
b - COUNCIL READING FILE - Project Specifications
c - Draft Resolution
d - COUNCIL READING FILE - Council Agenda Report dated 03/05/2019
e - COUNCIL READING FILE - Resolution No. 10718 (2016 Series)
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2021 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING USE OF SEWER FUND
UNRESERVED WORKING CAPITAL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE
CALLE JOAQUIN SIPHON AND LIFT STATION REPLACEMENT
PROJECT, SPECIFICATION NO. 91118 AND GENERAL FUND
COMPLETED PROJECTS AND GENERAL FUND CAPITAL RESERVES
TO FUND SILT REMOVAL
WHEREAS, per the City’s General Plan Water and Wastewater Management Element,
2019 Sewer System Management Plan, and 2015 Wastewater Collection System Infrastructure
Renewal Strategy, the City replaces wastewater infrastructure to ensure delivery of reliable service,
minimize sanitary sewer overflows, and provide adequate capacity to serve future development;
and
WHEREAS, the Calle Joaquin Sewer Lift Station serves properties in the southern portion
of the City on both the east and west sides of US 101, serves new development on the northern
portion of Calle Joaquin, and will serve the future Froom Ranch project; and
WHEREAS, the Calle Joaquin Sewer Lift Station was put into service in 1967 making it
the oldest of eight sewer lift stations operated by the City, and is past its useful life and in need of
replacement; and
WHEREAS, a sewer siphon under San Luis Obispo Creek and the gravity sewer main
across US 101 were installed in the early 1970s to direct wastewater to the Calle Joaquin lift
station, also requires replacement due to its condition; and
WHEREAS, construction of the sewer siphon enables access to an area to remove over
0.5 acres of the perennial invasive exotic grass Arundo donax and 1,000 cubic yards of silt from
the San Luis Obispo Creek channel that has posed a historic flooding risk to the City; and
WHEREAS, in June 2019, the City Council approved the 2019-21 Financial Plan, Capital
Improvement Program, which identified a total budget of $3.1 million for the Calle Joaquin Siphon
and Lift Station Replacement Project; and
WHEREAS, on March 5, 2019, the City Council approved amendments to the design
scope of the Project to include removal of the existing siphon from San Luis Creek and additional
environmental permitting work; and
WHEREAS, the total available budget for the Project is $2,600,000 and the total Project
cost is estimated at $5,500,000 requiring an additional $2,900,000 to fund Project construction;
and
WHEREAS, a balance of over $35 million is available from Sewer Fund, Unreserved
Working Capital to fund the Project; and
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Resolution No. _____ (2021 Series) Page 2
R ______
WHEREAS, a balance of $23,000 is available from General Fund, Completed Projects
Account to fund a portion of the silt removal component of the Project; and
WHEREAS, a balance of $120,000 is available from General Fund, Capital Reserve
Account to fund the remainder of the silt removal component of the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
as follows:
SECTION 1. The budget of $2,900,000 will be moved to the Calle Joaquin Siphon and
Lift Station Replacement Project, Specification No. 91118, from Sewer Fund, Unreserved
Working Capital, as it is a high priority City project.
SECTION 2. The budget of up to $23,000 will be moved to the Calle Joaquin Siphon and
Lift Station Replacement Project, Specification No. 91118, from General Fund, Completed
Projects Account for silt removal.
SECTION 3. The budget of up to $77,000 will be moved to the Calle Joaquin Siphon and
Lift Station Replacement Project, Specification No. 91118, from General Fund, Capital Reserve
Account for silt removal.
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Resolution No. _____ (2021 Series) Page 3
R ______
SECTION 4. Environmental Review. The City Council approved a Mitigated Negative
Declaration of Environmental Impact for the Project in 2016 by Resolution 10718 (2016 Series).
An addendum was prepared in 2020 to include the removal of the existing siphon from San Luis
Obispo Creek during construction as required by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration - National Marine Fisheries Service to improve fish passage in the Creek.
Upon motion of _______________________, seconded by _______________________,
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _____________________ 2021.
____________________________________
Mayor Heidi Harmon
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, on ___________________________.
____________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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