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Riverbank council accepts Blackwater proposal for wastewater feasibility study amid debate over single bid
Summary
After hearing that only one firm responded to the city's RFP, Riverbank City Council voted 4–1 to authorize staff to negotiate with Blackwater Consulting for an 8‑month wastewater treatment plant feasibility study estimated at about $201,000. Council members debated whether to reissue the RFP to seek more proposals.
Riverbank City Council on Oct. 28 voted to accept a single proposal from Blackwater Consulting Engineers to perform a feasibility study for expanding the wastewater treatment plant and evaluating water‑reuse options.
City staff told the council that the Riverbank Regional Recycled Water Project has prior environmental review and that earlier design estimates put phase 1 costs at about $90.4 million; a more recent 60% design estimate rises to $136 million. Staff reported that the city has applications and partial financing in process through the State Water Resources Control Board, including a $50,000,000 SRF loan and a $19.2 million water‑recycling loan, and listed potential additional funding from a Proposition 4 grant and the EPA WIFIA program. The feasibility‑study RFP was issued Aug. 18 and closed Oct. 3; staff said only one responsive proposal was received.
“We did receive 1 proposal and that was from Blackwater Consulting Engineers,” city staff said. Staff summarized Blackwater’s proposal as an approximately eight‑month study at an estimated cost of $201,000.
Councilmembers expressed mixed views about proceeding with a single bid. Vice Mayor Fosse and others raised concerns the single response did not provide a competitive comparison. One councilmember urged reissuing the RFP to ensure “we get a better understanding of what different firms can do for us,” while other members warned reissuing could introduce months of delay and only modest savings.
A representative from Blackwater, Jeff Black, told the council his firm is local and would re‑propose if the city reissued the solicitation. “We would,” he said when asked if Blackwater would respond to a second RFP.
After discussion, a motion to reject the proposal and reissue the RFP died for lack of a second. A subsequent motion to accept Blackwater’s proposal passed in a roll‑call vote: Council member Oribe — Yes; Council member Pimentel — Yes; Council member Cole — Yes; Vice Mayor Fosse — No; Mayor Hernandez — Yes.
Votes at a glance: the council also approved a consent calendar (items 9.1–9.5) by 5–0 and unanimously approved a clerical amendment to the consultant services agreement with Jane Media Services (item 11.1).
Next steps: Council authorized staff to negotiate an agreement with Blackwater and directed staff to return at the Nov. 25 meeting to finalize contract award and establish the study budget.
