Board authorizes GM to negotiate engineering contract for Monte Cristo Lane repaving

The Montecito Sanitary District on March 11 authorized the general manager to negotiate a contract with Encompass Consulting Group (ECG) to prepare engineering documents for the Monte Cristo Lane pavement replacement project, with authority to approve expenditures up to 10% above the negotiated amount.

General Manager Weigel told the board that ECG was the staff recommendation and that, "ECG will go off and develop a a plan for the roadway, and that'll take basically about 2 to 3 months." He and engineering manager Bryce said the board would receive an engineering scope that includes a probable construction-cost estimate to take to neighbors for a buy-in decision. Directors raised concerns about the draft estimate shown in the packet (approximately $118,000 for engineering in staff materials), whether optional scope would be negotiated down and how neighbor cost-sharing would be formalized.

Board discussion addressed procurement and timing: staff noted engineering contracts are procured under a qualifications-based process separate from the construction bidding rules; counsel confirmed that the district can secure a time-and-materials engineering contract and that no funds are expended until specific work orders are issued under the contract. President Rockenbach and several directors emphasized that neighbors would need written confirmation of any cost-sharing arrangement before work proceeds beyond preliminary engineering. The motion to authorize the GM to negotiate and approve up to 10% above the negotiated amount passed unanimously.