REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: PAUL AMICO, PE, Director Department of Public Utilities BY: AHMED ALY, PE, Assistant Director Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering LAURA TOOMEY, Engineer I Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering SUBJECT ..Title Approve a Consultant Services Agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, for the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility Process Improvements Project with a term of December 31, 2027, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $408,122.00 (Bid File No. 120601291). (Council District 6) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that City Council approve a Consultant Services Agreement (Agreement) with Carollo Engineers, Inc., (Consultant), with a term of December 31, 2027 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $408,122.00, and authorize the Director of Public Utilities or designee, to sign and execute all documents on behalf of the City of Fresno (City). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) recently completed a study of the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility (NFWRF) that identified improvements to increase treatment processes reliability to improve reliable production of disinfection tertiary effluent (DTE) for beneficial reuse. DPU is seeking approval to enter into the Agreement for professional services to design the NFWRF improvements with the goal of completing construction and achieving full operation by or before the summer of 2028. BACKGROUND The NFWRF is operated by DPU's Wastewater Management Division (WMD). The NFWRF currently receives approximately 0.4 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater from the Copper River Ranch area and several areas south of Shepherd Avenue. The DTE complies with tertiary recycled water standards as defined by Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations and it is conveyed to the Copper River Country Club (CRCC) for golf course irrigation. Recently, the NFWRF has experienced operational challenges that have reduced the availability of DTE provide irrigation supply to the CRCC golf course. Improving the NFWRF processes is necessary to reduce disruptions in the delivery of DTE to the golf course. The NFWRF Expansion Feasibility Study and the NFWRF Process Study were completed in 2025 and identified the following improvements to address treatment reliability issues: * Replacement of the aeration system blowers and diffusers * Structural improvements and recoating of various basins * Addition of ultraviolet disinfection reactors * Additional process control integration In accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1, and Administrative Order 6-19, DPU conducted a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to select a consultant capable of providing the requisite professional services. The RFQ was published in the business Journal and posted on the City's Planet Bids website on January 9, 2026. One Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) was received by the extended submission deadline of February 20, 2026. A selection committee consisting of representatives from the DPU WMD and Administration Divisions evaluated the SOQ and selected the Consultant based upon their overall experience with wastewater treatment plant design and also with their specific knowledge of the NFWRF improvement needs. The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the proposed agreement and approved as to form. Upon approval by the City Council, the consultant service agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities or designee. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By the definition of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, the approval of this agreement is not a "Project" for the purposes of CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Carollo Engineers, Inc. is a local business, as defined by the Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-109(b)(3). FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund. Funding for this Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget within the Wastewater Division's Enterprise Fund 4500-4501. Attachments: Consultant Services Agreement Vicinity Map Location Map