To: Boards of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency, Occidental County Sanitation District, Russian River County Sanitation District, Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District, South Park County Sanitation District
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency, Occidental County Sanitation District, Russian River County Sanitation District, Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District, South Park County Sanitation District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis 707-547-1900, Aaron Fulton 707-547-1974
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
As-Needed Structural Engineering Design Services
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager acting on behalf of Sonoma County Water Agency, Occidental County Sanitation District, Russian River County Sanitation District, Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District, and South Park County Sanitation District to execute an agreement with Peterson Structural Engineers, Inc., in substantially the form presented to this Board, for structural engineering design services through June 30, 2031, in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,500,000.
B) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager acting on behalf of Sonoma County Water Agency, Occidental County Sanitation District, Russian River County Sanitation District, Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District, and South Park County Sanitation District to execute an agreement with InfraTerra, Inc., in substantially the form presented to this Board, for structural engineering design services through June 30, 2031, in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,000,000.
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Water Agency and its affiliated sanitation districts and sanitation zones (collectively referred to as “Sonoma Water”) require timely and efficient structural engineering design services for wastewater collection and treatment facilities, flood protection works, and water transmission system components. This item requests approval of two as-needed structural engineering design contracts to ensure Sonoma Water can respond to urgent projects and establish more efficient contracting processes for time-sensitive capital infrastructure projects.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water’s Capital Improvement Plan identifies key infrastructure projects to meet the needs of wastewater, flood management, and water transmission facilities within its jurisdiction. Sonoma Water is currently updating its Natural Hazard Reliability Study (NHRS) which includes a seismic assessment of Sonoma Water’s critical water system assets and a list of prioritized seismic mitigation projects to reduce seismic vulnerability. The NHRS will include recommendations for the design and construction of projects that mitigate the effects of liquefaction and lateral spread along aqueducts and near collector wells. Sonoma Water is also currently implementing a Seismic Retrofit of Storage Tanks program that will address over-constrained piping and bridges and foundation vulnerabilities at the 18 water storage tanks in Sonoma Water’s system.
Seismic and structural design projects require specialized engineering services essential to the planning, design, evaluation, rehabilitation, and construction of Sonoma Water facilities. These services include structural analysis and design, preparation of construction documents, seismic evaluations and retrofits, building assessments, specialized construction support services, and structural inspections beyond the capabilities of Sonoma Water staff. Such services help ensure that public facilities and infrastructure are safe, reliable, resilient, and compliant with applicable building codes and engineering standards.
Sonoma Water seeks to establish as-needed structural engineering design contracts with consulting engineers to more efficiently contract design projects, reduce administrative costs, and decrease project delivery timelines. Establishing two as-needed structural agreements provides additional contracting redundancy to mitigate potential workload constraints of internal staff and consultants and allows Sonoma Water to engage consultants specializing in analyses specific to the subject water, flood, and wastewater infrastructure. Infrastructure assets include, but are not limited to, water transmission pipelines, water storage tanks, storage buildings, booster stations, reservoir and diversion outlets, sewer lift stations, and wastewater treatment facilities. Two agreements allow Sonoma Water to respond quickly to urgent structural design needs and developing priorities. Overall, establishing two as-needed agreements increases contracting efficiency, reduces administrative costs, and will improve project delivery times.
SELECTION PROCESS
InfraTerra, Inc. and Peterson Structural Engineers, Inc. (Consultants) were selected from a list of qualified consultants developed from a competitive selection process. Attached is a memo that explains the competitive selection process.
InfraTerra, Inc. was selected because of its demonstrated expertise in structural engineering design for wastewater and water districts. They are uniquely familiar with Sonoma Water’s transmission system, seismic hazards in the region, and have analyzed and completed multiple structural engineering projects throughout the Bay Area. In addition, InfraTerra has successfully performed structural analysis and design for Sonoma Water’s transmission system, including analyses of liquefaction and lateral spread along pipelines, seismic upgrades for water storage tanks, and evaluation of building structures for code and safety compliance.
Peterson Structural Engineers, Inc. was selected for its demonstrated expertise in structural engineering design for wastewater and water districts. They are uniquely familiar with Sonoma Water’s transmission system and have analyzed and completed multiple structural engineering projects throughout seismically active Oregon and California. In addition, Peterson Structural Engineers, Inc. has successfully completed structural condition assessments on Sonoma Water’s storage tanks, completed structural analysis and design for the Tank Recoating Program, and specializes in evaluation and design of treatment plants, buildings, retaining walls, and foundation systems for municipal water and wastewater districts.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed agreements, Consultants will provide as-needed structural engineering design services that may include the following tasks:
1. Perform structural engineering design or analysis for a variety of structures.
2. Design or analyze structures to adequately support or withstand applicable loading conditions.
3. Verify compliance with the latest edition of the California Building Code and other applicable codes associated with the structural integrity of the structures.
4. Perform field inspections to verify contract or code compliance for structures.
5. Provide emergency response and structural evaluation of compromised infrastructure.
6. Perform geologic and seismic hazard assessments.
7. Provide expert testimony and litigation support.
InfraTerra, Inc. Agreement: The cost of services will not exceed $1,000,000; the term end date is June 30, 2031.
Peterson Structural Engineers, Inc. Agreement: The cost of services will not exceed $1,500,000; the term end date is June 30, 2031.
Through the agreements, the General Manager will be delegated the authority to approve written amendments to extend the term of each agreement for up to two additional years by providing written notice to the other parties thirty days in advance of the term end date and by executing agreement amendments.
California Environmental Quality Act
The General Manager has determined that execution of the agreements is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15306, Information Collection, because activities, such as land surveying and geotechnical investigations and potholing, would avoid sensitive environments and would not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource or result in a substantial adverse change to a historic resource. Future projects designed under the agreements will be subject to future environmental review pursuant to CEQA. Sonoma Water staff has prepared a Notice of Exemption for the agreements in accordance with CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines, and Sonoma Water’s Procedures for the Implementation of CEQA.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
This item directly supports Sonoma Water’s Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following goal, strategy, and action item.
Goal: 2. Planning and Infrastructure - Implement comprehensive, integrated, and innovative infrastructure planning to strengthen existing services, minimize life cycle costs, and prepare for the future.
Strategy: 2.3 Fund and implement the planned capital and maintenance projects on schedule to ensure reliable services.
Action: 2.3.2 Fund Capital Improvement Program budgets to meet infrastructure needs.
Approval of the item will decrease project delivery timelines by providing alternative and efficient contracting procedures to facilitate implementation of infrastructure projects that ensure reliability of existing services and prepare Sonoma Water infrastructure for the future.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
N/A
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
$500,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $500,000 is available from FY 2026/2027 appropriations for the Water Transmission Fund, Flood Control Zone Funds, Occidental, Russian River, South Park, and Sonoma Valley County Sanitation Districts’ Funds, and for the Geyserville, Penngrove, Airport/Larkfield/Wikiup, and Sea Ranch Sanitation Zones’ Funds. The primary revenue sources are water rates for the Water Transmission Fund, property taxes for the Flood Control Zones, and ratepayer annual sewer service charges for the sanitation districts and zones. Work contracted through the proposed as-needed agreements will be budgeted separately and included in the Board-adopted fiscal year appropriation for the subject enterprise fund. No additional appropriation is requested.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Draft Agreement with InfraTerra, Inc.
Attachment 2: Draft Agreement with Peterson Structural Engineers, Inc.
Attachment 3: Competitive Selection Process Memo
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.