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Yuba City council authorizes $613,883 amendment for outfall diffuser bid services
Summary
Council approved Amendment 6 to the professional services agreement with CH2M Hill/Jacobs to add bid‑phase services and a contractor prequalification process for the long‑running wastewater outfall diffuser project, and authorized a transfer of $613,883 from unallocated wastewater funds to CIP account 981156. Staff said a $50M SRF loan is anticipated but not yet secured.
YUBA CITY — The Yuba City Council voted unanimously on June 16 to authorize an amendment to the professional services agreement for the city’s wastewater outfall diffuser project, adding bid‑phase services and contractor prequalification steps ahead of advertising for construction bids.
Deputy Public Works Director Kevin Bradford told the council Amendment 6 is approximately $614,000 (staff later specified $613,883) and would raise the professional‑services total for design, permitting and bid support to about $5.3 million. "Bringing the revised contract to about 5.3 million. And if you're like me, you kind of gag on that number a little bit," Bradford said of the cumulative design‑phase costs.
Background and scope
Bradford reviewed the project's history, noting emergency work after riverbank erosion in 2011–12, an original design contract (approximately $2.8 million in 2018 with CH2M Hill, since acquired by Jacobs), and five previous amendments totaling about $1.9 million. Amendment 6 primarily funds contractor prequalification — intended to ensure a bidder pool with demonstrated marine‑environment safety experience and regulatory‑permit compliance — plus other bid‑phase activities and updated river channel surveys.
Funding and schedule
Staff said the city expects a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan agreement of about $50 million by November 2026, which could substantially offset construction costs if finalized. Bradford described a one‑year‑old construction estimate of roughly $41 million and an upper‑range scenario (including contingency and soft costs) that some discussions have put near $60 million.
To cover the professional‑services amendment, staff recommended and the council approved a transfer of $613,883 from unallocated wastewater funds to CIP account 981156. Bradford emphasized council controls remain at two points: authorization to advertise for bids and final contract award, both of which may be delayed if SRF funding is not in hand.
Council action and next steps
Council Member Kchner moved and Council Member Dave Shaw seconded the motion to authorize Amendment 6 and the related fund transfer; the council voted 5–0 to approve the recommendation. Staff said they plan to finish easement acquisition, permitting and bid documents by November and, if funding permits, advertise over winter with an anticipated award in March, followed by construction beginning in 2027 and completion in 2029.
Ending
The amendment advances a long‑running infrastructure project that city staff say is necessary to maintain compliant effluent discharge. The council approved the amendment and directed staff to proceed with the prequalification and bid‑phase steps as described, subject to later funding confirmation.
