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Turlock council approves $1.6 million contract for first phase of water‑meter modernization
Summary
The council unanimously approved phase 1 of a multi‑phase program to replace aging meters, awarding a $1,603,290 construction contract and $317,713 in construction management, with phase‑1 costs and prior approvals bringing the total to about $3.85 million.
Director Fisher told the council the city is moving from an aging AMR system to an advanced metering infrastructure to improve billing accuracy, leak detection and customer access to usage data. He said staff received eight bids and identified Ensure Utility (doing business as Phoenix Water Solutions) as the lowest responsive bidder for the construction contract at $1,603,290 and recommended awarding construction‑management services to Willdan Engineering for $317,713.
The project covers 4,293 residential meters — mainly 1‑inch meters — and targets meters with known reading problems. Fisher said the city previously approved roughly $1,770,000 for meters, bringing the phase‑1 total to approximately $3,850,000. He estimated installations would take about 100 working days and that most service interruptions would be about 15–30 minutes per customer.
Council members asked for clarity on scope and phasing. One council member noted that 4,293 meters represent roughly 20% of the city’s ~20,000 utility connections and asked what would prevent the same reading problems from recurring in phase 2. Fisher said staff had reviewed accounts, prioritized problematic meters for phase 1, and will competitively bid phase 2; he added that the existing AMR system issued an end‑of‑life notice and vendor support is ending within about 18 months.
Two residents asked whether crews would group installations geographically to increase efficiency and whether later phases would be competitively bid; staff confirmed phase 2 will be bid and that crews will be organized geographically when practical. The council moved, seconded, and approved the contract awards and related actions on a 5‑0 roll call.
The approval authorizes the construction contract to Ensure Utility (Phoenix Water Solutions), authorization of a 10% contingency, award of construction management to Willdan Engineering, and adoption of the CEQA Class 2 exemption noted in staff materials. The project timeline anticipates starting work promptly to complete phase 1 before year's end and proceed to phase 2 thereafter.
