To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Steve Koldis 707-547-1914
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
Kawana-Ralphine Sonoma Booster Station Pipeline Project - Ralphine Tanks to Sonoma Booster Station Pipeline Relocation agreement with InfraTerra, Inc.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with InfraTerra, Inc., in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board, for assessment and engineering design of Ralphine Tanks to Sonoma Booster Station Pipeline Relocation through June 30, 2028, in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,011,684, and allowing an extension of up to two additional years for a total agreement term of five years if an extension is exercised.
(First District)
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Executive Summary:
The Santa Rosa Aqueduct connects the Ralphine storage tanks (Ralphine Tanks) and Sonoma Booster Station and is located beneath Spring Lake and Spring Lake dam. Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is seeking engineering and design services for the relocation of portions of the pipeline to address maintenance challenges and potential seismic vulnerabilities associated with the sixty-seven-year-old pipeline.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
The Santa Rosa Aqueduct conveys water from the Russian River Wohler production facility to eastern Santa Rosa and Sonoma Valley. Between the Ralphine Tanks and Sonoma Booster Station, the aqueduct is a single 27-inch diameter 67-year-old steel pipe nominally capable of providing adequate supply during periods of high demand. This section of the aqueduct was constructed in 1958 and was relocated to its current position underneath Spring Lake and the Spring Lake main dam embankment in 1963 as part of the Central Sonoma Watershed Project. The location of the pipeline makes access for maintenance and repair highly impractical, if not nearly impossible, for portions of this pipeline that is critical to the water supply for eastern Santa Rosa and the Sonoma Valley. Additionally, the pipeline’s close proximity to the nearby Bennett Valley Fault Zone warrants detailed assessment of its vulnerability to seismic events.
Sonoma Water intends to relocate this section of aqueduct to address maintenance and repair challenges while also seeking to minimize seismic vulnerabilities. The proposed pipeline relocation is consistent with a 2017 Camp Dresser McKee (CDM Smith) Preliminary Engineering Report for the Kawana-Ralphine Reliability Pipeline Project, which identified alternatives to increase transmission system reliability and redundancy by providing an alternate conduit to move water between Kawana Springs East Pipeline, Ralphine Tanks, and Sonoma Booster Station. The CDM Smith report included replacement of the aqueduct between Ralphine Tanks and Sonoma Booster Station, although replacement is not contingent on other systemwide reliability and redundancy improvements.
SELECTION PROCESS
InfraTerra, Inc. (Consultant) was selected from a list of qualified consultants developed from a competitive selection process. Attached is a memo that explains the competitive selection process.
Consultant was selected for the subject work because of its familiarity with the area, expertise in geotechnical and structural engineering evaluating seismic risk, and successful completion of other similar projects.
Sonoma Water may seek to amend or enter into subsequent agreement(s) with Board approval if required, relying upon this competitive selection process, after the preliminary or initial work is completed for the Project.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the agreement, Consultant will perform geotechnical investigations and geologic hazard assessments along the pipeline to evaluate pipeline susceptibility to potential seismic events, and provide engineering design services through final design for relocation of the pipeline under one of the following circumstances:
1. Relocation of the portion of the pipeline beneath Spring Lake and leaving the pipeline beneath the dam in its current alignment.
2. Relocation of the pipeline away from both Spring Lake and Spring Lake dam.
The cost of services will not exceed $1,011,684; the term end date is June 30, 2028.
Under the agreement, the General Manager shall have the ability to extend the term of the agreement for up to two additional years by providing written notice to the other party thirty days in advance of the expiration date. The extension shall be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by the parties.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The General Manager has determined that the agreement that includes conducting geotechnical investigation is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15306, Information Collection. Section 15306 consists of basic data collection and research that do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. The geotechnical investigation will help determine how the Kawana-Ralphine pipeline may be affected by seismic activity and inform the design and relocation of the pipeline to ensure its safety, reliability, and resilience. Sonoma Water staff prepared a Notice of Exemption in accordance with the 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
Goal: Planning and Infrastructure
Strategy: Conduct planning that integrates and balances operational, maintenance, and infrastructure priorities.
Action: Continue to engage in planning efforts and partnerships to protect and enhance our water supply.
Relocation of the pipeline under Spring Lake and Spring Lake dam will allow for easier maintenance of the pipeline as well as address potential seismic vulnerabilities, thereby protecting Sonoma County’s water supply during a seismic event.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
11/5/2013 Board approved second amended agreement between Sonoma Water and CDM Smith, Inc. Additional cost $164,851, new end date June 30, 2015.
08/9/2011 Board approved agreement between Sonoma Water and CDM Smith, Inc. for preparation of preliminary engineering report for Kawan-Ralphine Reliability Pipeline Project. Cost $216,023, end date June 30, 2013.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$750,000 |
$261,684 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$750,000 |
$261,684 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$750,000 |
$261,684 |
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
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|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$750,000 |
$261,684 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $750,000 is available from FY 2024/2025 appropriations from the Storage Facilities fund. FY 2025/2026 appropriations will be budgeted in that fiscal year.
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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: Competitive Selection Process Memo
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.