Council approves multiple public‑works contracts, tables contested tank‑modification bid for review

The Imperial City Council voted Wednesday to approve several public‑works and wastewater projects and to table a contested tank‑modification bid pending additional staff review.

Council approved contracts and actions on multiple infrastructure items during the D (action) agenda, including parking‑lot improvements, a sidewalk inspection proposal, a manhole and gravity sewer inspection contract for CCTV and inventory, a sewer pipeline replacement project with associated wet‑well replacement, and the purchase and installation of retrofit screen sets for the wastewater treatment plant headworks.

Summary of actions and votes: • CA Irving parking lot (D1): Council awarded a construction contract after a competitive bid process; staff reported two bids (Pyramid Construction $106,969.17; SLA Paving $122,700) and requested a contingency to allow additional scope and use of available grindings. Motion carried 4‑0 with one abstention. • Sidewalk survey (D2): Council approved a proposal from Precision Concrete Cutting under a master service agreement with CJPIA for a $10,328.50 inspection that includes GIS deliverables; motion carried 5‑0. • Manhole and gravity sewer inspection (D3): Council adopted plans and authorized public bidding for a project to inspect roughly 1,700 manholes and about 12 miles of sewer pipeline using CCTV; staff said work would likely start in October and that cleaning lines before inspection will reduce contract costs; motion carried 5‑0. • 8‑inch sewer line replacement, Phase 2 (D4): Council awarded the construction contract after receiving a single bid that came in substantially below the engineer's estimate; staff also noted a related wet‑well replacement (from a 6‑foot to a 12‑foot diameter wet well) to prevent rapid pump cycling; motion carried 5‑0. • Wastewater headworks screens (D5): Council approved purchase and installation of two retrofit screen sets for the Huber system to protect membrane filters. Staff explained membranes cost about $2 million to replace and that the previously installed solstice filter had experienced recurring reliability and parts issues; motion carried 5‑0. • SB1 project list (D6): Council adopted a resolution listing projects for SB1 funds for FY 2025‑26 that staff said will make the city eligible to receive approximately $600,000; motion carried 5‑0.

Separately, on the consent agenda item B4 (shop tank and heat‑tank modifications, bid 2025‑03), staff recommended rejecting all bids and rebidding. Josh Quintero, owner of Total Industries, spoke during public comment to object to rebidding and said his company submitted a local competitive bid and could hold price through October. City staff and the city attorney explained the decision to rebid was driven by three concerns, including possible missing subcontractor documentation that could prompt a bid protest and the possibility of achieving a lower price on rebid. After discussion, a motion to table the B4 action to the next meeting passed 4‑0 with one abstention from Council member Barnworth.

Why it matters: the council approved inspection and rehabilitation work to better document and plan the wastewater collection system (critical for a future collections system master plan), approved a pipeline replacement and new wet well to protect pump equipment, and prioritized measures intended to protect costly membranes at the wastewater plant. The tabled bid decision preserves the city’s options while staff collects documentation and legal review of the protested bid.

Staff said the manhole and CCTV inventory will provide inverts, pipe sizes and conditions needed for a collections system master plan; the headworks screening upgrade was described as a measure to extend membrane life and avoid multi‑million‑dollar replacements.