TO: Members of the Governing Board
FROM: Christopher Silke, District Engineer
REPORT BY: Annamaria Martinez, Assistant Engineer
SUBJECT: Budget Amendment and Award of Construction Contract for the NBRID Wastewater Disposal Sprayfields Rehabilitation Project, NB, 23-02
RECOMMENDATION
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District Engineer requests the following:
1. Award of a construction contract for the “Wastewater Disposal Sprayfields Rehabilitation Project, NB 23-02, to Brightview Landscape Development, Inc. of San Fernando, California, for their low bid of $436,019, and authorization for the Chair to sign the construction contract; and
2. Approval of a Budget Amendment for the following (4/5 vote required):
a. Increase Interfund Transfers Out appropriations by $525,000 in Fund 1000, Sub-division 1058006, Account 56100 (2020 Lightning Fire Complex) with use of its available fund balance; and
b. Increase Construction Services appropriations by $525,000 in the Program 24013 (Wastewater Disposal Sprayfields Rehab) budget (Fund 5240, Sub-Division 5240500) offset by an increase in revenue from the transfer-in from the 2020 Lightning Fire Complex budget.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
NBRID’s wastewater disposal sprayfields, that are used to dispose of treated wastewater from the Berryessa Highlands, were damaged by the 2020 LNU Lightning Complex Fire in August 2020, limiting NBRID’s ability to dispose of treated wastewater, even after temporary repairs were implemented, putting NBRID at risk of compliance violations with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Plans and specifications for the permanent rehabilitation project were approved by the Board on September 12, 2023, and bids were opened on October 19, 2023, with the lowest bid of $436,019 from Brightview Landscape Development, Inc. of San Fernando, California.
Staff recommends that the Board award the construction contract and approve the proposed budget amendment. The project is proposed to be funded by some of the remaining insurance settlement proceeds received from Golden State Risk Management Authority (GSRMA) to cover damages incurred during the fire.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Where is it budgeted? |
The source of the budget amendment comes from insurance settlement monies included in Fund 1000, Sub-division 1058006 - 2020 Lightning Fire Complex. The insurance settlement was issued to NBRID for damages to infrastructure and equipment caused by the 2020 Lightning Fire Complex. |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Rebuilding the wastewater disposal sprayfields system after severe wildfire damage is essential to satisfy operating permit guidelines within NBRID’s Waste Discharge Requirements Order issued by Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB). |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Maximizing the permitted land coverage area for treated wastewater effluent disposal may reserve sufficient capacity to serve future sanitary flows from the proposed resort development at the Steele Canyon Recreation Area. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
NBRID will be left with stored pond water each season risking a winter spill into the environment - a violation of the NBRID’s regulatory permit issued by the CVRWQCB. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Effective and Open Government |
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: Categorical Exemption Class 1: It has been determined that this type of project does not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. [See Class 1 (“Existing Facilities”) which may be found in the guidelines for the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act at 14 CCR §15301; see also Napa County’s Local Procedures for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act, Appendix B.].
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Napa Berryessa Resort Improvement District (“NBRID”) is a special district of the State of California organized under the Resort Improvement District Law (Public Resources Code Section 13000 et seq.) for the provisions of water and sewer service in an unincorporated portion of the County of Napa. NBRID provides water and sewer service to the Berryessa Highlands and Oakridge Estates subdivisions.
On August 19, 2020, the LNU Lightning Fire Complex burned through the community, destroying over 100 homes and damaging or destroying critical elements of infrastructure needed to operate the water and wastewater facilities, including the complete loss of an irrigation system spanning 60 acres in coverage to disposal of treated wastewater effluent. NBRID received an insurance settlement to reconstruct the land disposal system after spot repairs were completed to temporarily sustain operations. Majority of the piping, fittings, valves and spray nozzles not replaced during emergency repairs has weakened and is prone to leaks, breaks and frequent maintenance.
The original land disposal irrigation system consists of vintage steel transmission pipe from a pump station into the steep terrain above wastewater storage ponds, a 50,000 gallon tank and several thousand feet of galvanized pipe laterals and risers with small diameter irrigation nozzles that clog perpetually by rust particles flaking off the iron pipe. Galvanized pipe, fittings and spray nozzles left in service after the wildfire have been problematic and subject to weekly service work when online seasonally.
The newly designed wastewater disposal sprayfield system will encompass the entire NBRID owned parcel yielding more surface area for land application, not be susceptible to iron corrosion, give more flexibility to apply water over subzones, require much less maintenance by Operators and improve fire resiliency with a wider wet break line of defense.
Plans and specifications for the project were approved by the Board on September 12, 2023, and bids were opened on October 19, 2023. A bid summary sheet is included as an attachment to this report.
Staff recommends award of the construction contract to Brightview Landscape Development, Inc. of San Fernando, California for their low base bid of $436,019. Based on the low bid, the total project budget with construction, engineering design, construction management, project management, special inspection and contingency is $525,000. The project is proposed to be funded by the remaining insurance settlement proceeds received from Golden State Risk Management Authority (GSRMA) to cover damages incurred during the fire.
After an extensive post-fire evaluation of NBRID’s facilities by agents of the GSRMA and negotiations with staff and the Risk Manager for Napa County, NBRID was issued a total of $1,656,941 to cover the cost of immediate repairs of damaged infrastructure and essential facility losses incurred during the fire. The balance of unobligated insurance proceeds remaining for NBRID projects as of November 7, 2023 was $648,949. Including the budget amendment requested as part of this agenda report, the remaining balance of insurance proceeds for NBRID in the 2020 Lightning Fire Complex budget is estimated at $123,000.
Staff recommends that the Board award the construction contract and approve the proposed budget amendment to fully fund the project.
Brightview Landscape Development, Inc. is not a local vendor. The Public Contract Code requires that the construction contract be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder regardless of whether the low bidder is local or not. Staff outreach to the local construction contractor community included advertising the request for bids in the Napa Valley Register, the Solano-Napa Builder's Exchange and by posting on the County website. Staff also sent "Notices to Contractors" to the local construction community.