TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Ramzi Awwad, Public Works Director
Jeff Page, Utilities Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Accepting as Complete Emergency Sewer Main Repair at 400 N. Sepulveda Boulevard Project by W.A. Rasic Construction Company, Inc.; Authorize Filing Notice of Completion with the County Recorder; and Release Retention Amount of $5,629.29 (No Budget Impact) (Public Works Director Awwad).
A) ACCEPT
B) AUTHORIZE
Body
_________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Formally accept as complete the Emergency Sewer Main Repair at 400 N. Sepulveda Boulevard Project (Project) by W.A. Rasic Construction Company, Inc. (Rasic);
2. Authorize filing a notice of completion with the County Recorder; and
3. Release retention in the amount of $5,629.29 to Rasic, upon expiration of the 35-day claims period.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
If filing the notice of completion is approved, the five percent retention withheld from each invoice, totaling $5,629.29, will be released to the contractor contingent upon expiration of the statutory 35-day claims period.
BACKGROUND:
The City's wastewater collection system consists of approximately 86 miles of gravity sewer mains, six sewer lift stations, and associated appurtenances that convey wastewater to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts for treatment. The City maintains and rehabilitates this infrastructure in accordance with its Sewer System Management Plan, Wastewater Master Plan, and Capital Improvement Program.
In early February 2026, Utilities Division staff discovered that an existing sewer main in front of 400 N. Sepulveda Boulevard had become nearly filled with cement. This created an obstruction that significantly reduced the capacity of the sewer main and created the potential for a sanitary sewer overflow.
City staff made several attempts to remove the obstruction using available maintenance equipment, including mechanical cutting methods. Due to the severity of the blockage and the immediate threat to reliable wastewater service, the City engaged W.A. Rasic Construction Company, Inc. under its existing on-call agreement, as amended on May 19, 2026, to perform the emergency repair.
The repair included excavation, removal of the damaged sewer main, replacement of the affected pipeline segment, reconnection to the existing sewer system, testing, backfill, pavement restoration, and restoration of sewer service.
DISCUSSION:
Construction activities commenced shortly after contractor mobilization and were completed successfully over approximately one week at a total cost of $112,586.
Throughout construction, City Utilities staff monitored the work to verify compliance with City standards and project requirements. The completed repair restored the structural integrity and hydraulic capacity of the sewer main, eliminating the immediate risk of sewer system overflow and returning the facility to reliable operation.
Based on field observations made during the repair, staff deduced that the cement obstruction originated from nearby development activity. As such, staff is actively pursuing cost recovery from responsible parties, as appropriate.
Rasic has completed all contract work and is requesting formal acceptance of the project. The five percent retention withheld from each invoice, totaling $5,629.29, will be released 35 days following recordation of the notice of completion with the Los Angeles County Recorder, contingent upon no claims being filed.
The work was inspected by the Public Works Department and was found to conform to the requirements in the contract documents. The work will remain subject to the contractor's one-year warranty period from the project’s completion date, during which any deficiencies resulting from defective workmanship or materials will be corrected by the contractor in accordance with the contract documents.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Due to the emergency nature of the repair, public outreach was limited to notifications necessary to facilitate construction activities and maintain public safety. The work was completed with minimal disruption to adjacent businesses and the traveling public.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed Project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the Project qualifies for a Class 1(c) categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the State CEQA Guidelines, since the Project focuses on the repair of existing sanitary sewer system infrastructure, involving no expansion of public facilities. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Location Map
2. Agreement and Amendment No. 1 - W.A. Rasic Construction Company, Inc.