Yuba City Public Works assistant civil engineer Nick Menezes explains to City Council members the need to replace water mains along Richland Road at the July 16 meeting. Photo by Angela Underwood

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Elected officials approved more than $1.3 million to start the Richland Waterline Extension Project.

At the last regularly scheduled meeting on July 16, Yuba City City Council members unanimously voted to approve the deal without question. Before the presentation, Councilmember Wade Kirchner returned to the dais after removing himself due to what he called "a property challenge."

Public Works Department associate civil engineer Nick Menezes pointed out the general location of project limits extending from Richland Road to Camion Cortez and the portion of Littlejohn Road and Cortez Court.

Maintenance and Engineering divisions maintain a priority list of water mains requiring major improvements or total replacement. Preferences include age, maintenance call-out frequency, pipeline material and access.

"Some of these water mains are in back lots or fronting the properties on the road," Menezes said, showing a picture of a residence where a tree and shed block the water main, making it "very difficult for maintenance crews" to access.

Additionally, systems are rated from lowest to highest risk, 1 to 5, based on the Water Master Plan Risk Rating. 

"All the water mains on Richland are high priority based on the high ratings and metrics I just listed above," Menezes said.

The civil engineer detailed the exact locations and lengths of Richland and Littlejohn Roads, Camino Cortez and Cortez Court, which include 10 and six-inch water mains extending more than 900 feet.

Three new fire hydrants will also be in the project, which went to bid in May.

"We received nine bids, which is a perfect number," Menezes said, noting Newland Entities at the lowest bid of $990,000 and JPB Designs at $2.4 million. "The engineer's estimate is nestled somewhere in the middle at $1.48 million."

Menezes said that Newland Entities withdrew their bid five days after the bid opening. According to the civil engineer, the council had two options: the city could reject all bids or reward the next low bidder.

Menezes recommended going with the lowest bidder since delaying the project could cost Dixon due to "inflationary pressures and ongoing supply chain distributions."

"Rebidding the project may also cause construction conditions as we enter the fall and winter, and delaying the project could possibly risk further deterioration of the water mains in the area," he said.

The estimated total construction cost, including a 15% contingency fee and inspection, is just over $1,531 million for the project, which will occur in front and rear of homes.

"That creates unforeseen conditions we want to stay ahead of," Menezes said.

Funding for the project is available from two water accounts that cover all costs for the lowest bidder, LaFleur Engineering, approximately $1.3 million.