REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Authorize the Use of City Water Forces to Upgrade Three (3) Existing Water Services with Backflow Prevention Devices at 355 Reed Street
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
Charter Section 1310, titled Contracts on Public Works, states in part “that every contract involving an expenditure of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for the construction or improvement, (excluding maintenance and repair), of public buildings, works, streets, drains, sewers, utilities, parks and playgrounds shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder.” The section further states that “the City Council may declare and determine that, in its opinion, the work in question may be performed better or more economically by the City with its own employees, and after the adoption of a resolution to this effect by at least four affirmative votes, it may proceed to have said work done in the manner stated, without further observance of the provisions of this section.”
DISCUSSION
Staff believes that the work described below is best performed with City Forces based on the following factors: (1) the work is limited in size and scope; (2) Water Utility forces have in-house knowledge and training in operating and maintaining the water system that can be leveraged to more economically perform this work; and (3) bidding out the work and contracting with a private entity would not likely result in a lower overall cost or time savings. Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council declare and determine that City forces can better perform the installation of the following water facilities and approve the use of City forces for this purpose.
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Location: |
355 Reed Street |
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Type of Service: |
Provide installation services for new public water improvements. |
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Description of Work: |
Upgrade existing (3) - 1” water service with reduced pressure (RP) backflow prevention devices |
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Job Number: |
592-1423-80300-7054-(i)31191 |
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Cost Estimate |
$ 39,760.00 |
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The actions being considered are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15302(c) (Class 2 - Replacement or Reconstruction) because they involve the replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible expansion of capacity, and 15303(d) (Class 3 - New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), because they involve the construction of new water utility extensions.
FISCAL IMPACT
The funds to support the staff time for the work detailed in this report are included in the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Adopted Budget.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office beginning the Thursday evening before the Tuesday meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Determine that the proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15302 (Class 2 - Replacement or Reconstruction) and Section 15303(d) (Class 3 - New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; and
2. Declare and determine in accordance with Section 1310 of the City Charter that the public works located at 355 Reed Street are better performed by the City with its own employees based on the information set forth in this Report to Council and authorize the performance of these public works consistent with this authorization.
Staff
Reviewed by: John Ramirez, Director, Water & Sewer Utilities
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager