Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities And Construction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board waives standard bidding for emergency work after underground storage tank found at San Rafael High pool site
Summary
Trustees approved a resolution on June 9 declaring an emergency after an underground storage tank was discovered during pool excavation at San Rafael High School; staff said the tank likely dated to the 1940s and the board authorized expedited contracting to continue adjacent construction.
San Rafael City Schools staff told trustees on June 9 that excavation for a new aquatic center at San Rafael High School uncovered an underground storage tank and that the district needed immediate environmental consulting and remediation to protect construction and campus operations.
Facilities staff asked the board to declare an emergency and waive the district’s use of the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA) public-bidding process to allow immediate contracting and avoid delays to adjacent construction. Staff characterized the discovery as the likely remnant of an abandoned tank dating to the 1940s and said there was no moment when student, staff or community safety was in peril because the site was managed and mitigations were implemented.
The board voted to approve the resolution authorizing the emergency contracting. Trustee Kerner moved the motion and Trustee DeNammar Marsh seconded it; the motion passed with a verbal aye vote. Staff said the district will continue to treat the project as a standing agenda item until completion and expects remediation and related work to be finished by the end of the summer.
Why it matters: The waiver allows the district to hire qualified environmental consultants and remediation contractors without the usual extended bid timeline. Staff said acting quickly also avoided delays to adjacent construction activities and helped keep the overall campus project on schedule.
