REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 8, 2022
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
Budget Increase for Trona Earthquake Excavation Sewer Line Repairs
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of County Service Area 82 - Searles Valley, approve 2021-22 budget adjustments, as detailed in the Financial Impact Section, to establish a budget of $712,162 for Trona Earthquake Excavation Sewer Line Repairs and authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the adjustments (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, 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
This item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the $712,162 projected cost of the Trona Earthquake Excavation Sewer Line Repairs will be funded entirely by County Service Area 82 (CSA 82) Searles Valley through the following:
• Use of Net Position - CSA 82 Operating Fund ($462,162).
• Operating Transfers In from CSA 82 Capital Replacement Reserve Fund ($100,000).
• Loan proceeds from CSA 70 (Countywide) Revolving Loan Fund ($150,000).
CSA 82 Searles Valley will repay the $150,000 loan with interest at the County Treasurer’s Investment Pool rate.
The following 2021-22 budget adjustments are needed to proceed with the subject repairs:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
|
CSA 82 Searles Valley - Operating Fund |
|
4950004866 |
52002445 |
Other Professional and Specialized Services |
$533,135 |
|
4950004866 |
55405012 |
Services and Supplies - Transfers Out |
$179,027 |
|
4950004866 |
40909975 |
Operating Transfers In |
$100,000 |
|
4950004866 |
40909985 |
Long Term Debt Proceeds |
$150,000 |
|
4950004866 |
40909995 |
Residual Equity Transfer In |
$462,162 |
|
CSA 82 Searles Valley - Replacement Reserve Fund |
|
4950004864 |
55305030 |
Operating Transfers Out |
$100,000 |
|
4950004864 |
40909995 |
Residual Equity Transfer In |
$100,000 |
The repairs are in response to the earthquake events occurring in July 2019 that impacted Trona and the surrounding area. Since the Governor of California declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County in the wake of the powerful earthquakes, the cost of these repairs may ultimately be reimbursed by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). Any remaining funds not reimbursed by Cal OES or the loan will be paid by sewer fees collected from customers.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
San Bernardino County Department of Public Works - Special Districts, Water and Sanitation Division (Division) staff were dispatched to the community of Trona in response to major earthquake events that began on July 4, 2019, with an approximate 6.4 magnitude earthquake. Division staff inspected the sewer collection and treatment systems by opening manholes to look for damage and examining sewer lines along with sanitary sewer overflows. Following many large aftershocks, an even larger earthquake (approximately 7.1 magnitude) struck a day later on July 5, 2019. Accordingly, Division staff were dispatched again and commenced a detailed system inspection.
On-call contractors were mobilized on July 6, 2019, along with additional staff, equipment, and resources, to prepare and begin remediation work in response to the damage caused by the earthquakes. On July 8, 2019, another underground on-call contractor was mobilized to repair collapsed pipelines, offset joints, and any damaged pipelines that required open excavations.
On August 20, 2019, Cal OES hosted a kickoff meeting to review with local agencies the process of documenting and submitting reimbursement requests for costs associated with the Trona earthquake emergency. The Division identified the following three separate phases of remediation work that included initial emergency response to repair main trunk sewer lines and septic tank integrity in Phase 1. Phase 2 scope of work would include repair of main line sewer damages utilizing trenchless slip line repair method (insertion of a fiberglass cloth tube infused with resin inserted in damaged pipe and steam activated forming hard inner lining of pipe). Phase 3 will require excavation of remaining 2,612 linear feet because remaining damaged pipes are offset joints which cannot be slip lined and allow clearance of closed-circuit television (CCTV) Camera or pressure washing devices to pass through.
• Phase 1: On-call contract work was completed on September 5, 2019 and the reimbursement request was submitted to Cal OES on September 22, 2019. A total of $782,166 was reimbursed by Cal OES on June 19, 2020.
• Phase 2: On-call contract work was completed on April 19, 2021 and a reimbursement request of $320,166.85 was submitted to Cal OES on December 17, 2021. Reimbursement is currently pending from Cal OES.
• Phase 3: This phase (Trona Earthquake Excavation Sewer Line Repairs) is needed as the original scope of work, which included repairing pipes using the slip lining method, could not be accomplished and therefore excavation of existing damaged pipes is warranted. Upon approval of this item, an on-call contractor will be authorized to excavate and replace the remaining 2,612 linear feet of damaged sewer collection line.
Approval of this item will provide the budget authority for the Division to complete the repair of all earthquake related damages identified in Phase 3, with the specific scope of work to include excavating and replacing the remaining 2,612 linear feet of damaged sewer collection line.
Upon completion of Phase 3 work, a reimbursement request will be submitted to Cal OES. Completion of Phase 3 will finish all required repairs caused by the damage from the July 2019 Trona earthquakes.
PROCUREMENT
The contractor identified to complete the Trona Earthquake Excavation Sewer Line Repairs is Kirtley Construction, Inc. dba TK Construction (TK). TK is one of eight on-call contractors approved by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on June 22, 2021 (Item No. 124) to provide pipeline maintenance and repair services, as needed, for the Board Governed County Service Areas through June 30, 2026.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Vanessa Doyle, Chief Deputy Controller, 382-3195) on January 20, 2022; County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5289) on January 18, 2022; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on January 21, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 24, 2022.