Tim Beeman, assistant director of public works for Oxnard City, recommended the City Council approve and authorize the mayor to execute a fifth amendment to the professional services agreement with Brown and Caldwell to increase engineering support during construction for the primary clarifiers and activated sludge basins project (PW 2117).

Beeman said the amendment would "increase the not to exceed amount from $1,349,868 to $2,609,075 and extend the term to 06/30/2028 for additional engineering services during construction required for the primary clarifiers and activated sludge improvements PW 2117." He characterized the additional funds as time-and-materials: the firm would be engaged as needed rather than on a fixed-fee basis.

The presentation explained why staff seeks expanded engineer-of-record support. Beeman described multiple breaks on the primary effluent pipe discovered after the design was complete and said those failures have called into question the condition of underground piping. He cited an example photo of a concrete pipe with top-surface corrosion caused when hydrogen sulfide (H2S) released from partially submerged effluent "eats apart the concrete," producing holes in the pipe.

Beeman reviewed prior amendments to the contract: the first amendment added structural analysis, additional underground pipe work, hydraulic modeling, extra odor control and pavement repair; the second added PLC/SCADA input-output work; and the third added design for the primary clarifier building and further underground pipe work. He said a fourth amendment extended the contract term through March 15, 2026 while bidding was postponed to avoid conflicts with contractors on a separate reliability project.

Staff also told the council the initial construction schedule has doubled since Brown and Caldwell's original proposal, increasing the period during which engineer-of-record services will be needed for start-up and commissioning of new treatment processes, including replacement of aeration mechanical equipment and installation of baffle walls.

Beeman stated the fifth amendment total in the presentation twice with slightly different figures: earlier he said the not-to-exceed amount would increase "to $2,609,075," and later he referred to a similar total as $2,607,075. The record in the presentation does not resolve that discrepancy.

On funding, Beeman said project C1814 has approximately $23,100,000 in appropriations from the Wastewater Fund. The transcript language around the fund reference is garbled in one line; staff cited the Wastewater Fund as the source of available appropriations.

The presentation concluded with Beeman stating, "This concludes the presentation." The transcript records the recommendation but does not record any formal motion on the council floor, a second, or a vote during this segment.

Next steps: the presentation asked the council to authorize the mayor to execute the proposed fifth amendment; the transcript does not show whether the council acted during the same meeting.