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Board approves Hazen & Sawyer agreement for Laguna headworks seismic retrofit design
Summary
The Santa Rosa Board of Public Utilities approved a professional services agreement with Hazen & Sawyer to produce 90% design documents for a seismic retrofit of the Laguna treatment plant headworks. The board approved the agreement unanimously; staff said FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding could reimburse a substantial share of costs.
The Santa Rosa Board of Public Utilities voted unanimously to approve a professional services agreement with Hazen & Sawyer for 90% design of a seismic retrofit at the Laguna wastewater treatment plant headworks, funding the contract in an amount not to exceed $443,626.
The board acted after a presentation from Tanya Mokwitz, water reuse engineer for Santa Rosa Water, who described structural deterioration in the headworks superstructure and recommended a phased retrofit. Mokwitz said a full replacement of the headworks was estimated at roughly $300 million (2023 dollars) and therefore not feasible in the near term. Staff evaluated four interim alternatives — superstructure demolition and equipment frame ($12.7 million), a pre-engineered metal canopy ($17 million), a tent canopy ($15.5 million) and carbon fiber wrapping ($3.7 million) — and recommended carbon fiber wrapping of existing columns because it met seismic reliability needs at the lowest near-term cost and would minimize operational disruptions.
Mokwitz told the board the project scope would include carbon fiber wrapping of columns, rehabilitation of four corroded monorails and chain hoists, and concrete repairs to primary sedimentation tanks and the underground digester gallery. She summarized the budget as approximately $443,000 for design and about $7 million for construction (all figures shown in the presentation were in 2023 dollars) and noted that part of the construction cost could be reimbursed through FEMA if the city’s Hazard Mitigation Grant application is awarded.
“Once the design starts, the consultant will perform a finite element analysis for the concrete moving moment frames and the design of wrapping system,” Mokwitz said in her presentation. She said completion of 90% design would be expected within about one year after contract execution.
Mark Solomon of Hazen & Sawyer answered board questions on expected service life for the interim repairs. “The carbon fiber is anticipated to last 10 years or more,” Solomon said, adding that life spans for the other interim options were broadly similar, with a pre-engineered metal canopy likely lasting longer than the others.
Staff described the consultant selection process: the request for proposals was advertised in September 2024, one proposal was received (Hazen & Sawyer), and the selection panel evaluated responsiveness, team qualifications, demonstrated technical ability and reasonableness of fee. Staff said the pool of firms with the specialized expertise required for this project is limited and that several firms had prior commitments preventing timely proposals.
On funding, staff said the project is currently budgeted in the city’s cash-funded capital improvement program and that the city would proceed to implement the repairs regardless of grant outcomes. Staff also said they are preparing for the potential of a bond sale or use of excess bond proceeds if FEMA funding is not received. Mokwitz said that Cal OES (California Office of Emergency Services) recommended the project to FEMA for further review in September 2024; if FEMA awards the Hazard Mitigation Grant, it would fund design completion from 90% to final and would fund at least 75% of construction costs. Staff estimated the FEMA grant could cover at least $2.8 million of the total project cost, but the grant award timeframe was “not known at this time.”
Vice Chair Arnoni made the motion to approve the agreement; Board member Matthew Mullen seconded. The roll-call vote recorded approval by Board members Mullen, DeWitt, Bartholow, Vice Chair Arnoni and Chair Galvin, with Board members Wright and Battenfort absent. The motion carried.
Staff said executing the design contract would allow the city to meet seismic safety code requirements and reduce risk of major injuries or plant disruption in the event of an earthquake. The board asked and received clarification that the selected interim approach is intended to extend serviceability until a full replacement could be funded and built.
The board did not discuss a construction contract award at this meeting; staff said they would return if a contract amendment were needed following FEMA determination or to proceed to construction.
