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Lemon Grove council authorizes emergency repairs to failing 72‑inch storm drain near College Place
Summary
Council unanimously approved an emergency resolution to suspend bidding and authorize immediate repairs to a compromised 72‑inch storm drain trunk near 3281 College Place, approving a mobilization plan and estimated rough cost of about $1,000,000 funded from existing project savings and storm drainage funds.
The Lemon Grove City Council on April 7 authorized emergency storm‑drain repairs near 3281 College Place after staff presented evidence that a 72‑inch corrugated metal trunk line had failed and created a sinkhole in a residential parking area.
Public Works Director Izzy Murguia described televised inspection footage showing eroded sidewalls, collapsed invert and boulders protruding from the pipe. Staff measured the sinkhole at about 16 feet long by 6 feet wide and likely 15–20 feet deep and concluded the compromised pipe presented an immediate risk to life, property and stormwater conveyance. “The pipe is elliptical where it should be circular — it’s crushing and will create sinkholes if not addressed,” Murguia said.
Staff recommended abandoning the existing alignment and routing roughly 246 linear feet of 72‑inch reinforced concrete pipe through an alternate alignment inside a private parking lot, with construction requiring confined‑space procedures, crane work and significant concrete backfill to abandon the old line. Staff presented a rough‑order‑of‑magnitude cost estimate of approximately $1,000,000 and described a funding plan that reallocates savings from completed or underbudget projects (Westview Place, Davidson Avenue and Haven Drive) and uses storm‑drainage funds to cover the remainder.
Because the work is an emergency under Lemon Grove Municipal Code, staff asked the council to suspend competitive bidding and authorize the city manager to execute time‑and‑materials contracts not to exceed an amount set by staff. Councilmember Heredia moved to adopt the emergency resolution; the motion passed 5–0. Murguia said the contractor estimated roughly six weeks of field construction once mobilized; bidding publicly would add another four to six weeks.
The council directed staff to provide ongoing updates about costs and scheduling as the work proceeds. Staff said MJC Construction is the selected emergency contractor on the shortlist and that material availability (72‑inch concrete pipe) and the requirement to abandon the existing line by pumping concrete into it are key cost drivers.
Authorities and procedure: staff cited Lemon Grove Municipal Code section 3.24.14 and relevant California Public Contract Code provisions allowing emergency contracting and an exemption under CEQA for existing facilities (CEQA §15301).
