To: The Board of Directors of the Russian River County Sanitation District
Department or Agency Name(s): Russian River County Sanitation District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis 547-1911
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Resolution Making Findings of an Emergency Need to Perform Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from Pipeline Corrosion at the Russian River County Sanitation District’s Guerneville Lift Station and Force Main on Orchard Avenue, Guerneville
End
Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
A) Board of Directors Adopt a Resolution:
i) Making findings that there is an emergency need to stabilize dangerous conditions resulting from the corrosion occurring on the discharge pipeline at the Guerneville Lift Station and the force main on Orchard Avenue, Guerneville; and
ii) Suspending the requirements for competitive bidding; and
iii) Authorizing the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency to execute contracts, not to exceed $750,000, necessary to stabilize the dangerous conditions resulting from pipeline corrosion; and
iv) Making an exemption determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; and
v) Ratifying any emergency contracts entered into by the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency relating to these issues. (4/5th Vote Required)
B) Adopt a Resolution authorizing adjustments to the Board Adopted Budget for FY 2021/2022 for the Russian River County Sanitation District Fund in the amount of $750,000.
(4/5th Vote Required) (Fifth District)
end
Executive Summary:
This item requests the Board of Directors for the Russian River County Sanitation District (“District”) adopt a resolution makings findings of an emergency need to repair/replace the section of discharge pipeline at the Guerneville Lift Station and the Force Main on Orchard Avenue, Guerneville, due to extensive deterioration; suspending the requirements for competitive bidding; authorizing the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) to execute contracts necessary to repair/replace sections of pipeline; making an exemption determination under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and ratifying emergency contracts entered into by the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency related to these issues. If left unrepaired, the two sections of pipeline could fail, resulting in extensive release of raw wastewater, potentially impacting residents in the immediate area, the Russian River, and the surrounding environment, and additionally incurring significantly higher repair costs.
Pursuant to authority delegated in Resolution # 06-0649, Sonoma Water’s General Manager has authority to enter into contracts for a total not-to-exceed amount of $750,000 to make emergency repairs. The estimated cost of the project is $750,000, and due to the uncertain conditions in the field, Sonoma Water is requesting Board confirm the existing delegated authority to Sonoma Water’s General Manager for up to $750,000 to stabilize dangerous conditions.
Discussion:
On November 30th, 2021, the General Manager of Sonoma Water, pursuant to authority delegated in Resolution # 06-0649, declared the existence of an emergency for Russian River County Sanitation District due to pipeline corrosion occurring at the Guerneville Lift Station and Force Main on Orchard Avenue, Guerneville, respectively. The Guerneville Lift Station and Orchard Avenue Force Main failures (Incidents) are a result of severely corroded iron/steel pipelines. In response, the Sonoma Water Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated to assist with managing the impacts. As a result of the Incidents, dangerous conditions have arisen at the Guerneville Lift Station and in the force main along Orchard Avenue. These facilities are owned by the Russian River County Sanitation District and maintained by Sonoma Water. The Incidents were sudden and unexpected, and pose a clear and imminent danger requiring immediate action to prevent or mitigate the loss or impairment of life, health, property, or essential public services.
Sonoma Water staff are in the process of doing damage assessments so the exact nature of the emergency repair(s) needed is still being determined.
The incidents are:
• In the early afternoon of November 24, 2021, Sonoma Water became aware of an apparent leak near the District’s Guerneville Lift Station. This lift station accepts wastewater from most of the District’s service area and pumps it through a 3,400 foot-long force main to a downstream part of the collection system.
• In the afternoon of November 30, 2021, Sonoma Water became aware of an apparent leak on the District’s Force Main below Orchard Avenue in Guerneville. This Force Main conveys wastewater from the District’s service area to the treatment plant, at the end of Neeley Road.
At this time, Sonoma Water staff is mobilizing pumper trucks to remove wastewater from the leak site and minimize impacts to the environment and human health. Sonoma Water staff is engaging a local contractor to assist in the emergency repair of the force main.
Because of the severe level of corrosion of the ductile iron pipe at Guerneville Lift Station and the severely corroded steel pipe beneath Orchard Avenue in Guerneville, both sections of pipe need to be replaced immediately to: 1) stop the existing leak, and 2) prevent a catastrophic failure of this pipe. Such a failure could have serious environmental and potentially human health impacts.
Based upon discussions with staff, it was determined that complete failure of the pipeline was highly possible. If the pipeline were to fail, it could cause major erosion, flooding, and contamination along River Road and Orchard Avenue with raw wastewater, thereby posing a significant danger to residents, motorists and the environment. In addition, the failure would impact neighboring properties and businesses in the area.
Based upon the above, there is an urgent need to make the needed repairs to the District’s facilities. The normal contracting process takes two to three months from a minimum advertising period through assessing bids and awarding and executing contracts. This delay would mean that it would not be possible to perform necessary preventative measures to protect public health and safety in a timely manner.
Public Contract Code section 22050 authorizes Sonoma Water to enter into contracts for public projects as may be necessary to mitigate emergency conditions without giving notice for bids. Additionally, pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22035, this emergency work may proceed without adopting plans or specifications. If approved, this item will be brought back to the Boards every 14 days thereafter to determine (by 4/5 vote) if there is a need to continue the action without competitive bidding. The Board is obligated to terminate the waiver of the bid process at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant so that the remainder of the work may be completed under the bid process.
Staff recommend making a finding in the resolution that the requirements of CEQA do not apply because the emergency work is exempt and because the emergency described above came about in a “sudden and unexpected manner” and poses an “imminent danger, demanding immediate action to prevent or mitigate” loss of life and property as those phrases are used in the definition of the word “emergency” contained in section 15359 of the California Administrative Code and as the word “emergency” is used in sections 210801(b)(2) and (b)(4) of the Public Resources Code; however the General Manager of Sonoma Water shall, to the extent he deems feasible in his sole discretion, take steps to mitigate any apparent and significant environmental impacts of the work authorized herein.
Finally, the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency has emergency contracting authority pursuant to Resolution #06-0649. Staff recommends ratifying any contracts for the removal/stabilization of dangerous conditions, or related emergency issues described herein, entered into by the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency subsequent to the drafting of this report to the date of this Board action. The General Manager will report to the Board of Directors on actions related to the emergency declaration every 14 days until the repair has been made and the conditions are safe.
Prior Board Actions:
June 18, 2021 Board Adoption of the FY 2021-22 Budget
November 16, 2021 Board Approval of FY 2021-22 First Quarter Budget Adjustments
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 21-22 Adopted |
FY22-23 Projected |
FY 23-24 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
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|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$750,000 |
|
|
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Total Expenditures |
$750,000 |
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|
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
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|
|
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Fees/Other |
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|
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Use of Fund Balance |
$750,000 |
|
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Contingencies |
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|
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Total Sources |
$750,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Additional appropriations of $750,000 are required to process this expense. With Board approval of the attached budgetary resolution, FY 2021/2022 appropriations of $750,000 from the Russian River County Sanitation District Operations Fund Balance will finance planned emergency repairs and response costs.
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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 A: Resolution Suspending Competitive Bidding Due to Local Emergency
Attachment B: Resolution authorizing adjustments to the Board Adopted Budget
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None