REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director Department of Public Utilities BY: JESUS A. GONZALEZ, PE, Assistant Director Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering PATRICIA DIEP, Supervising Engineering Technician Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Council District 6): 1. Adopt a finding of Statutory Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262 and a "common sense" exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). 2. Approve a consultant services agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc., a Delaware corporation, in the amount not to exceed $176,034, inclusive of a $15,000 contingency, to conduct a feasibility study for the expansion of the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Statutory Exemption to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262 and 15061(b)(3); approve a consultant services agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc., in the amount not to exceed $176,034, inclusive of a $15,000 contingency, to conduct a feasibility study for the expansion of the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Project); and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno (City). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Department of Public Utilities, Wastewater Management Division (WMD) is seeking to award a consultant services agreement to Carollo Engineers, Inc., for the Project. The Project will forecast sewer flows to the facility to best predict when the expansion is required, as well as investigate wastewater treatment technologies alternatives. The Project will make no physical changes to the environment. BACKGROUND The WMD operates and maintains the North Fresno Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Facility). The Facility currently treats an average of 0.34 million gallons per day of wastewater to a recycled water standard which is then distributed to nearby recycled water users for beneficial use. Projected population growth in north Fresno will require future expansion of the Facility for which WMD is looking to hire an engineering consultant firm to assess when expansion will be required. The Project will include performing a hydraulic analysis of the service area and condition assessment of the existing treatment plant to determine its current efficacy and its remaining useful life expectancy. Additionally, the Project will investigate alternative wastewater treatment technologies for consideration of the future expansion. In accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1, and Administrative Order 6-19 (AO 6-19), DPU conducted a competitive process to select a consultant to provide services for the Project. A Request for Qualifications was published in the Business Journal and posted on the City's Planet Bids on March 15, 2023. The City received one Statement of Qualifications package from prospective consultants on April 11, 2023. On April 25, 2023, the selection committee members met to review and evaluate the qualifications package. Upon review of the qualifications and analysis of the proposed fee, Carollo as the sole respondent was ultimately selected as providing the best value on the services based on the totality of the evaluation. A standardized Consultant Services Agreement has been approved as to form by the City Attorney's Office accordance with Administrative Order 4-4 and the consultant's Certificates of Insurance have been approved by the City's Risk Management Division. Upon approval by the City Council, the agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities, or his designee. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS The award of this consultant services agreement for a feasibility study is statutorily exempt from a CEQA review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15262. Additionally, because there is no possibility of a significant effect on the environment from this study, the study qualifies for a "common sense" exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). Should a project be pursued in the future based on the findings of the feasibility study, a CEQA review will be required at that time. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented, as Carollo Engineers, Inc., is a local business as defined by the Fresno Municipal Code. FISCAL IMPACT There is no impact to the General Fund. This Project is located in Council District 6. This Project is identified in the Wastewater Management Division's five-year Capital Improvement Plan. Funds for the Project are budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2023 Sewer Enterprise Fund 40501. Attachment: Consultant Services Agreement