TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Joseph DeFrancesco, Interim Public Works Director
Gilbert Gamboa, City Engineer
Marzena Laskowska, Principal Civil Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution Approving Amendment No. 3 to the Professional Services Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc. for $165,000 for the Voorhees Sewer Lift Station Improvements Project and the Pacific Sewer Lift Station Conversion to Gravity Line Project for a Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $791,358 and Re-Appropriating $75,000 in the Sewer Fund to the Voorhees Sewer Lift Station Improvements Project (No Budget Impact) (Interim Public Works Director DeFrancesco).
A) ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-0004
B) APPROVE CIP BUDGET RE-APPROPRIATION
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 26-0004:
a. Approving Amendment No. 3 to the Professional Services Agreement with Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering (PACE), Inc. for additional design and construction engineering support services in the amount of $75,000 for the Voorhees Sewer Lift Station Upgrades Project (Voorhees Project) and $90,000 for the Pacific Sewer Lift Station Conversion to Gravity Line Project (Pacific Project) for a total amendment amount of $165,000 for a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $791,358 and extends the term of the agreement from June 30, 2026 to December 31, 2027;
b. Approving re-appropriation of $75,000 in the Sewer Fund from the Annual Rehabilitation Gravity Sewer Mains Project to fully fund the Voorhees Project; and
c. Authorizing the City Manager and/or his/her designee to execute Amendment No. 3.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Amendment No. 3 authorizes an additional total amendment amount of $165,000 that consists of $75,000 for the Voorhees Project and $90,000 for the Pacific Project for a not-to-exceed agreement amount of $791,358 for design and construction engineering support services.
The Pacific Project budget consists of $10,440,000 within the Sewer Fund. Sufficient funds of $90,000 are currently available in the Pacific Project within the Sewer Fund.
The Voorhees Project budget consists of $5,601,000 within the Sewer Fund. An additional $75,000 appropriation is required to fully fund the project. Funds are available in the Annual Rehabilitation Gravity Sewer Mains project. Currently, $75,000 is available as a reappropriation from the funds allocated for the Annual Rehabilitation Gravity Sewer Mains Project within the Sewer Fund. A Project Budget and Expenditures Summary is attached.
BACKGROUND:
The City operates and maintains an extensive sanitary sewer system. The City’s existing wastewater collection system is comprised of a network of gravity sewer pipelines, lift (pump) stations, and force mains. The gravity system consists of approximately 81.6 miles (430,784 linear feet) of pipe and 2,086 manholes and cleanouts. It also includes eight pump stations and 5,114 linear feet of associated force mains to lift and convey wastewater from the lower elevation areas to the gravity system. The City’s local sewer system connects to the Los Angeles County Sanitation District system, which provides regional wastewater conveyance and treatment services to the City and neighboring agencies.
In October 2019, the City released a Request for Proposals concerning the Basis of Design Reports (BODRs) for the sewer lift stations located on Voorhees Avenue, Pacific Avenue, and Poinsettia Avenue, subsequently awarding a professional services agreement to PACE, Inc. These preliminary engineering studies identified improvements needed to provide greater emergency storage capacities, pumping capacities, and other enhancements for these three sewer facilities.
In June 2022, the City Council received the BODRs for these sewer lift stations and approved the professional services agreement to provide design services for the Voorhees Project and the Pacific Project.
On November 21, 2022, the City Manager signed Amendment No. 1 to the PACE, Inc. agreement, which raised the total compensation to $626,358. Subsequently, on November 4, 2024, the City Manager executed Amendment No. 2 to extend the agreement's term from December 31, 2024, to June 30, 2026.
In November 2024, the City Council awarded the construction contract to Myers & Sons Construction, LLC and approved a professional services agreement with Butier Engineering for construction management and inspection services for the Voorhees Project.
In June 2025, the City Council awarded the construction contract to Environmental Construction, Inc. and approved the professional services agreement with Butier Engineering for construction management and inspection services for the Pacific Project.
DISCUSSION:
The original professional services agreement with PACE, Inc. was executed on June 7, 2022, for $576,603. Amendment No. 1 increased the total compensation by $49,755, and Amendment No. 2 extended the term of the agreement. Amendment No. 3 will add $165,000, bringing the total not-to-exceed amount to $791,358 and extending the term of the agreement from June 30, 2026, to December 31, 2027. Approval from the City Council is required for Amendment No. 3, since the amount exceeds the awarding authority of the City Manager.
Voorhees Project
The Voorhees Project involves the rehabilitation of the existing sewer lift station located at the intersection of Voorhees and Rowell Avenues, directly adjacent to 1340 Voorhees Avenue. The Sewer Master Plan, due to its age, capacity improvements, and the need for system redundancy, prioritized this project for replacement. The major components of the project include:
• Construction of a new emergency generator with a block wall enclosure.
• Construction of a new storage wet well with submersible pumps.
• Construction of a new force main pipeline and manhole.
• Rehabilitation of existing force main.
• Rehabilitation of existing dry well with new control instrumentation, electrical, and mechanical appurtenances.
PACE, Inc. completed the Basis of Design Report for the Voorhees Project in 2022 and completed the design in early 2024. The Voorhees Project construction contract was awarded in November 2024. Project construction began in May 2025 with anticipated completion in Fall 2026. Due to the complexity of construction and the volume of submittals and requests for information (RFIs), ongoing construction engineering support from PACE, Inc. was requested until the completion of the project.
Pacific Project
The Pacific Project involves the demolition and removal of the existing sewer lift station at 2308 Pacific Avenue. The project will install approximately 800 feet of 12-inch vitrified clay pipe utilizing a No-Dig gravity pipeline trenchless technology from 2308 Pacific Avenue to the intersection of Ardmore and Pacific Avenues. The new gravity line will connect to the existing Los Angeles County Sanitation District gravity sewer trunk line. Five new manhole structures will be constructed. This sewer lift station replacement project was prioritized in the Sewer Master Plan due to its age and capacity deficiencies. The major components of the project include:
• Construction of a new 12-inch gravity line
• Construction of five new manholes
• 70-foot-deep excavation connection to the existing Los Angeles Sanitation District gravity sewer trunk line
• Demolition of existing sewer lift station and appurtenances.
PACE, Inc. completed the Basis of Design Report for the Pacific Project in 2022 and completed the design in late 2024. The Pacific Project construction contract was awarded in June 2025. The project is currently in the preconstruction and permitting phase, with construction anticipated to begin in early 2026 and completion in 2027. Due to the complexity of the project, continued construction engineering support from PACE, Inc. was requested until the completion of the project.
PACE Amendment No. 3
The Voorhees and Pacific Project are in construction and preconstruction phases that require additional design and construction engineering support services. Construction engineering support services include review of submittals, responding to RFIs, producing updated drawing sheets, attending meetings, and other engineering support. Staff recommends amending the existing Agreement with PACE, Inc. to provide additional design services and construction support services, including:
Voorhees Project Tasks:
1. Construction Engineering Support - continue tasks until fall 2026.
2. Record Drawings
Pacific Project Tasks:
1. Construction Engineering Support - continue tasks until 2027.
2. Record Drawings
The Amendment surpasses the City Manager's signing authority and requires authorization from the City Council for additional design services. The Amendment also extends the agreement's term to December 31, 2027.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
A community meeting for the Voorhees Project was held on October 24, 2023, at the Manhattan Heights Community Center. Additionally, the Project was presented to the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (PPIC) on March 28, 2024. Meeting notices were distributed throughout the surrounding neighborhood within a 500-foot radius of the project site. Direct outreach was made with the adjacent property owner at 1360 Voorhees Avenue and with the MBUSD staff.
A community meeting for the Pacific Project was held on December 20, 2023, at the Joslyn Community Center. Additionally, the Project was presented to the PPIC on March 28, 2024.
Furthermore, once the projects progress through the construction phase, public outreach will include construction update notices, coordination with MBUSD, message boards, social media coordination, and updates on the City’s website.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Environmental review was completed at the time each project was awarded. The City Council determined that the Pacific and Voorhees projects qualify for a Categorical Exemption under Section 15302 (Class 2) of the State CEQA Guidelines, as they involved the replacement or reconstruction of existing facilities within the same footprint, with the same use and capacity.
The request outlined in Resolution No. 26-0004 (Attachment) does not involve any change to the approved scope of each project and rather involves administrative and financial amendments to the projects. As such, this request does not constitute a “project” as defined in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines. Pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the financial request is not subject to CEQA, and no additional environmental review is required.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has approved the agreement as to form.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 26-0004
2. Amendment No. 3 - PACE, Inc.
3. Agreement and Amendment Nos. 1-2 - PACE, Inc.
4. Budget and Expenditure Summary
5. Location Map