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Council awards contract for Hinojosa Water Tower demolition under state grant
Summary
Council approved award to a low bidder for demolition of the out-of-service Hinojosa water tower under a state grant; staff said the project must be completed by the grant deadline and that foundations will remain for a possible future project.
The Brawley City Council approved a contract award to demolish the out‑of‑service Hinojosa Water Tower using a state grant that covers most project costs.
City staff told the council the structure, erected in 1935, was the subject of a cultural, historical and environmental evaluation and that the State Water Resources Board awarded grant funding tied to Assembly Bill 179 to assist removal. Staff said the state grant was awarded on April 8, 2024 and that the city must complete removal by the grant deadline (noted in the meeting as October 31) to remain in compliance with grant conditions.
Staff reported receiving seven bids and recommended the lowest responsive bidder; staff cited references, including a recent contract to remove a tower for the Coachella Valley Water Authority, and recommended award. The recommended contract amount was presented in the staff report; the meeting record shows a recommended award in the mid‑hundreds of thousands of dollars with a 10% contingency noted in staff remarks (the staff-stated contingency amount was $14,007.72). Council members asked about community sentiment and the historical significance; several members acknowledged the water tower’s local meaning but said safety and grant compliance drove the decision.
Public works staff said the RFP included lead‑based paint abatement and air‑quality compliance requirements and that disposal of materials was included in the contract. To preserve options for a future restoration or commemorative project, staff removed foundations from the scope and said they will remain in place covered with native soil; future reuse would require a structural engineering determination. City staff also pledged community notification before work begins and to post a project summary on the city website. The contract was awarded and council approved the motion by voice vote; staff said the contractor’s 60‑day demolition timeline would likely result in removal by mid‑September, subject to contract processing and preconstruction steps.
Council and staff agreed to prepare outreach materials for residents near the site and to continue coordination with the grant agency on the project schedule.
