Redlands council adopts floodplain urgency ordinance, approves pensions change and awards multiple public-works contracts

The Redlands City Council on Oct. 10 adopted an urgency ordinance amending Title 15, Chapter 15.32 of the Redlands Municipal Code to update local floodplain management rules; approved an amendment to the city's contract with CalPERS to remove language excluding hourly employees; and awarded multiple public-works and professional services contracts, City staff said.

The urgency floodplain ordinance was presented by the city's development services staff as needed to bring Redlands into conformance with state and Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements and to avoid jeopardizing flood insurance rates for property owners in mapped floodplains. The council adopted the urgency ordinance by roll-call vote and also introduced a parallel regular ordinance for the standard first/second-reading process.

The council approved, by separate votes, the second-reading adoption of ordinance No. 29-90 authorizing an amendment to the contract between the City of Redlands and the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to remove language that excluded hourly employees from membership, City staff said.

On infrastructure, the council awarded a public-works contract to Demo Leaders Inc. for the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) Hillside Stabilization Project for an amount not to exceed $299,828.44, and awarded a separate contract to Elegant Construction Inc. for the Joint Utilities Laboratory building renovation and expansion project for an amount not to exceed $3,097,000. The council also approved a sole-source professional services agreement with Veil and Environmental Consultants Inc. for engineering design and permitting of a new ultra-low-emissions flare (not to exceed $268,200) and approved a $729,210.49 purchase-order modification with Enterprise FM Trust for the vehicle lease and maintenance program, producing a revised purchase-order total not to exceed $3,791,433.53 and a total contract amount not to exceed $8,519,823.38.

City staff described the WWTP hillside work as a short, roughly two-month project to shore up an eroding slope near the plant lab and administration building ahead of a larger, planned $45 million plant rebuild. The lab expansion is a roughly nine-month construction project intended to add separated office space and later allow the lab footprint to be expanded.

Council votes on the items were recorded by roll call with the members present voting in favor on each listed item; for the urgency floodplain ordinance the council noted the four-fifths requirement was met. The closed-session report to the council said the city approved a proposed settlement of a government claim by claimant Martha Barquehar for $254,341.90; the city attorney reported the settlement terms to the public at the meeting.

City staff and the presenting directors who summarized the items included Development Services Director (presenter), John Thompson (chief building official and floodplain manager), Human Resources and Risk Management Director (presenter), Municipal Utilities and Engineering Director Andrew Harris (presenter), and City Manager Doug Duggan, who responded to procedural questions. Staff and consultants said all projects have funds budgeted in the current fiscal year.

Votes at a glance

- Urgency ordinance adopting amendments to Title 15, Chapter 15.32 (flood damage prevention): Adopted by roll call; council found urgency justified to meet state/FEMA deadline and protect flood insurance rates. (Motion: adopted; roll call: recorded yes votes by councilmembers present.)

- Ordinance No. 29-92 (regular ordinance amending Title 15, Chapter 15.32): Introduced (first reading); to follow normal adoption process.

- Ordinance No. 29-90 (CalPERS contract amendment — second reading/adoption): Adopted by roll call; removes exclusion language for hourly employees from CalPERS membership.

- WWTP Hillside Stabilization Project contract (Demo Leaders Inc.): Awarded for an amount not to exceed $299,828.44; categorically exempt from CEQA per staff recommendation.

- Joint Utilities Laboratory building renovation and expansion (Elegant Construction Inc.): Awarded for an amount not to exceed $3,097,000; staff recommended CEQA exemption under guidelines for limited building expansions.

- Sole-source professional services (Veil and Environmental Consultants Inc.): Approved for engineering design and permitting for an ultra-low-emissions flare; not to exceed $268,200.

- Enterprise FM Trust purchase-order modification: Approved for $729,210.49 modification resulting in a PO total not to exceed $3,791,433.53 and total contract not to exceed $8,519,823.38.

- Closed-session settlement: City approved a proposed settlement of a government claim filed by Martha Barquehar for $254,341.90; terms reported in open session by the city attorney.

Why it matters: The floodplain code amendments are intended to keep the city's ordinance in conformance with state and federal standards and, according to staff, to avoid adverse consequences for flood insurance rates for owners of floodplain properties. The public-works awards move forward two projects connected to a larger WWTP rebuild and laboratory expansion; the CalPERS amendment affects employee retirement plan eligibility.

City staff said budgeted funds cover the projects; questions about contract bids and contractor qualifications were raised and addressed by staff during the meeting. No further timelines beyond general construction-duration estimates were specified for the projects.