REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 26, 2024
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Terminate Public Contract Code Emergency Declaration for Repairs on National Trails Highway for Sombra Ditch Bridge 77 Repairs Project in the Amboy Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Terminate the finding first made on March 12, 2024 that there was substantial evidence that damage to the Sombra Ditch Bridge 77 caused by storm events during February 2024 in the Mojave Desert, in the community of Amboy, created an emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22050, requiring immediate action to prevent and mitigate the loss or impairment of life, property, and service to the public and would not permit a delay resulting from a formal competitive solicitation of bids to repair the damage (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net Funding Cost) as there is no cost to terminate this local emergency. The Department of Public Works (Department) estimated emergency repairs in the amount of approximately $150,000 for debris cleanup and related Sombra Ditch Bridge 77 (Bridge) damage/repairs which are being performed by County crews. The National Trails Highway Sombra Ditch Bridge 77 Repairs Project (Project) lwas funded with Discretionary General Funding allocated to the Department from fiscal years 2014-15 through 2018-19 for use on National Trails Highway bridge projects. Sufficient appropriation and revenue for the Project are included in the Department’s 2023-24 Road Operations budget (6650002000 22H14788) and will be included in future recommended budgets for the ongoing efforts to rehabilitate or replace all of the 1930’s era timber bridges on National Trails Highway.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In February 2024, the Bridge, in the Amboy area, sustained major damage due to thunderstorms and flooding. As a result of these storms, extensive damage occurred along National Trials Highway where the roadway and Bridge timber elements, such as support piles and bent caps were damaged, as water levels exceeded the structure’s capacity rising and flowing over the Bridge. This resulted in significant debris on the roadway, erosion, and damage to the structure of the Bridge.
On March 12, 2024 (Item No. 39), the Board of Supervisors (Board) declared an emergency, pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22050, that required immediate action, and pursuant to Public Contract Code sections 22035 and 22050, to issue Purchase Orders and/or contracts in an estimated amount of $150,000 for debris cleanup and related Bridge damage, as necessary, to respond to the emergency and prevent and mitigate the loss or impairment of life, property, and service to the public.
County crews have since commenced emergency repair work to the Bridge damaged by the thunderstorms and flooding of February 2024. The remaining work will be completed using County forces. Therefore, termination of this emergency finding is recommended.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 5, 2024; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on March 7, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on March 10, 2024.