Seal Beach approves construction‑management review, PACE amendment for Lampson well project; city attorney says Poplar Place has no sewer connection approval

The Seal Beach City Council on Oct. 13 authorized outside construction‑management and engineering amendments aimed at reworking the Lampson Well Treatment System bid documents after bids came in far higher than the project estimate. The council approved a $494,722 agreement with Boutier Engineering Inc. for a constructability review and inspection services and an amendment to PACE (Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering Inc.) increasing that contract by $144,870, officials said. Staff told the council the work will be funded initially through an existing Orange County Water District (OCWD) producer-well construction loan.

Deputy director of public works and city engineer Cho summarized the background: the city solicited bids this year, then rejected them when they expired. "We were able to get bids that were substantially higher than the engineer's estimate of $4,350,000.00," Cho said in explaining the need for a constructability review and plan revisions before re‑advertising. Staff proposed Boutier perform a pre‑bid, independent review to identify cost‑saving opportunities and to recommend updates prior to rebidding.

Cho described the Boutier scope as a full review of plans, specifications, cost estimate and schedule, followed by construction support if the project proceeds. He said Boutier will meet with PACE and city staff to ensure any changes maintain the project’s quality and integrity. The recommended Boutier agreement includes authorization for the city manager to approve up to $50,000 in additional services if needed.

City Attorney Guarelli provided a separate update on the nearby Lampson development, now marketed as Poplar Place by developer Lennar, in response to resident questions about demolition, debris and sewer connections. "The City of Seal Beach has not issued an encroachment permit to the project or authorized a connection to the sewer system," Guarelli said. He added that Los Alamitos had imposed a condition that the developer obtain a sewer connection from either the city of Seal Beach or the Rossmoor/Los Alamitos area sewer district before building permits can be issued, and that to the attorney’s knowledge the developer had not secured that connection.

Cho and staff said the Boutier review and PACE design updates are expected to enable a re‑bid in January 2026, though the schedule could shift for holidays and material availability. Staff told the council the project would be funded through the city’s existing $4,450,000 OCWD producer-well construction loan and that staff will seek a loan amendment after a reliable construction bid is received. Council members asked staff to explore other CIP funding options where feasible to limit loan draws.

Why it matters: The Lampson Well Treatment System is a capital water-treatment project intended to address local potable-water needs. The unexpectedly high bid results prompted the city to contract independent review and to revise bid documents to seek better pricing and to reduce risk in procurement. Residents also sought information about a nearby development’s demolition and sewer-connection status; the city attorney confirmed no Seal Beach sewer connection has been authorized.

What's next: Boutier will complete the constructability review and meet with PACE and staff; PACE will revise bid documents as needed; staff expects to re‑advertise for construction bids in January 2026 and will return to council with awards, funding amendments or schedule changes as needed.