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Guadalupe council approves repairs, dredging contracts for proprietary VioLac wastewater system
Summary
The Guadalupe City Council adopted two resolutions authorizing repairs to the city’s proprietary VioLac wastewater treatment equipment and a $182,900 contract with Midcal Dredging for sludge removal, with the city administrator authorized to approve change orders up to 15%. Funding will come from a previously allocated CIP balance.
Guadalupe’s City Council on Sept. 24 approved two linked actions to address chronic maintenance problems at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Council adopted Resolution 2024-58 approving repair work on the plant’s proprietary VioLac system and later approved Resolution 2024-59, awarding a $182,900 contract to Midcal Dredging for removal of grit and sludge that has built up in the system.
City staff told the council the VioLac unit has not been maintained on the schedule it requires, allowing grit and compacted sludge to wear critical components. “The existing system has not been maintained like it should be,” said Jennifer, a city staff presenter, explaining the grit buildup has worn the bottom of the rotating unit and necessitated repairs and concurrent dredging.
Staff said the company known as Combs — the only vendor the city identified as servicing this proprietary equipment in California — would remove, repair, and reinstall the unit while dredging is performed. That sole‑source element drew questions from council members about future reliance on a single vendor. “I’m just worried about sole source at that amount,” said a council member during the hearing, asking whether alternatives or longer‑term maintenance plans could reduce future costs.
A technical speaker explained the dredging is needed because a grit‑removal system that had been taken offline in the early 2000s no longer captures sand and rags, allowing grit to collect in sludge beds; bringing the grit removal equipment back online should reduce the need for repeated dredging, staff said.
Council voted by roll call for both resolutions. For Resolution 2024‑59, staff asked the council to authorize the city administrator to approve contract change orders of up to 15% if necessary. Finance staff said the work will be paid from a capital improvements allocation: the city had reallocated $1.8 million in CIP funds earlier in the year and expects to retain roughly $1.4 million after the two wastewater items are funded.
The council approved the repairs and the Midcal Dredging contract unanimously. Staff said the work will be scheduled so that citizens’ service is not disrupted and that basic household services — for example, flushing toilets — will remain available during the work.
Next steps: staff will finalize the Midcal contract and coordinate Combs’ work to remove, service and reinstall the VioLac unit concurrent with the dredging.
