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Council authorizes emergency well repairs if staff cannot obtain additional bids
Summary
Council authorized repairs to two troubled production wells, contingent on staff making good‑faith efforts to obtain two additional bids; if additional bids are unavailable within the short window, council directed staff to proceed to avoid water‑service risks to residents.
City staff told the council that California City’s water production had fallen to just two operable wells and that repairing Well 15 (replace casing) and designing a system improvement would restore capacity and reduce the risk of service interruptions.
Public Works staff described the technical work required and presented cost estimates: casing replacement and pump work for Well 15 (approximately $124,981) and a design task order to the city engineer (about $53,950) to re‑tie wells and prevent blowouts. Staff said they had already engaged a well contractor for an investigative pull and received a single firm’s repair estimate but that it is difficult to attract well contractors to bid on local work, given location and speciality scope.
Given the operational risk of running two wells 24/7 heading into summer, council members asked staff to solicit at least two additional bids. The council approved repairs on the condition staff first sought the additional bids; if staff cannot obtain them within the brief outreach window, council authorized proceeding with the recommended contracts to prevent potential water‑service failures. The motion passed 4–0. Staff will report back to council about outreach results and the awarded contract.
What’s next: Staff will pursue additional bids, report back at the next meeting with results, and proceed with the repair contracts if additional bids are not available in time to avoid operational risk.
