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DATE: |
August 27, 2025 |
SA01 |
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TO: |
Board of Directors, San Diego County Sanitation District |
SUBJECT
Title
ADVERTISE AND AWARD A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR LAKESIDE SMALL DIAMETER SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (DISTRICT: 2)
Body
OVERVIEW
The Department of Public Works (DPW) manages a sewer system for communities that are within the jurisdiction of the San Diego County Sanitation District (District). The District’s service area encompasses unincorporated communities within Supervisorial Districts 1, and 2 and 4, The District sewer system is comprised of approximately 432 miles of sewer lines, 8,200 maintenance holes, eight pump stations, several pressurized force mains, and three wastewater treatment plants.
The District completed a condition assessment of its entire sewer system in 2021 using closed-circuit television inspections and identified sewer segments that need to be rehabilitated based on consequence and risk of failure. The prioritized list of sewers to be rehabilitated includes various locations in the communities of Lakeside and Alpine. Rehabilitating identified sewer segments will help prevent interruption of sewer service for important daily activities for the community such as taking a shower, flushing toilets, and/or draining a sink. Additionally, it will minimize the likelihood of sewer spills and will allow for efficient transport of wastewater. While rehabilitating sewer segments, sewer service laterals will not be disconnected from the sewer main for more than one workday and the laterals will be monitored to prevent sewage backup. Notices will be sent to property owners in advance for all construction activities. The engineering plans and specifications to rehabilitate identified sewer segments in Lakeside and Alpine are complete and the project is ready to be advertised.
This is a request to approve the advertisement and subsequent award of a construction contract for the Lakeside Small Diameter Sewer Improvements Project. Construction is scheduled to begin fall 2025 and be completed by fall 2026. The estimated construction cost is $2,800,000 including contingency. Total project costs, which include staff time and design, are estimated to be $4,400,000. Funding for this project is included in Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operational Plan for the District.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find in accordance with Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that the Lakeside Small Diameter Sewer Improvements Project is categorically exempt from CEQA review because it involves the maintenance of existing public sewer lines involving no or negligible expansion of existing use.
2. Authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, to take any action necessary to advertise and award a contract and to take other action authorized by Section 401 et seq., of the Administrative Code with respect to contracting for the Construction Contract for the Lakeside Small Diameter Sewer Improvements Project.
3. Designate the Director, Department of Public Works, as County Officer responsible for administering the construction contract, in accordance with Board Policy F-41, Public Works Construction Projects.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The San Diego County Sanitation District strives to preserve, enhance, and promote quality of life and environmental resources through the implementation of programs and projects that improve regional community health and environmental quality, while also complying with mandatory federal and state regulations governing sewer discharges. The infrastructure enhancements realized through the completion of this project will benefit the surrounding communities by reducing the risk of sewage spills and adverse impacts to water quality.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Today’s action supports the San Diego County Sanitation District’s (District) focus on the safe collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater and contributes to environmental, social, and health and well-being sustainability benefits of the County of San Diego. By staying in compliance with the State Water Resource Control Board’s regulation, the District can maintain a well-kept sewer system that protects the health and well-being of the communities it serves and helps protect water quality, both of which are key sustainability goals for the County.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operational Plan in the San Diego
County Sanitation District. If approved, construction costs for the Lakeside Small Diameter Sewer Improvements Project are estimated to be $2,800,000 including contingency. Total project costs, which include staff time and design, are estimated to be $4,400,000. The funding source is San Diego County Sanitation District funds. After the project is completed, these sewers will be routinely maintained as a part of the entire sewer system maintained for $3,900,000 per year. The funding source for the routine maintenance is the San Diego County Sanitation District funds. There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
When approved by the Board of Directors for advertising and award, this San Diego County Sanitation District construction contract will be competitively and publicly bid and help stimulate the local economy by creating primarily construction related employment opportunities. All workers employed on public works projects must be paid the prevailing wages determined by the California Department of Industrial Relations, according to the type of work and location of the project. The prevailing wage rates are usually based on rates specified in collective bargaining agreements.
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The San Diego County Sanitation District (District) provides sewer service to nearly 37,000 customers in communities that are under the jurisdiction of the District. The District’s service area encompasses unincorporated communities within Supervisorial Districts 1, 2 and 4, such as Alpine, Lakeside, Winter Gardens, Spring Valley and Bonita, East Otay Mesa, Julian, Campo, and Pine Valley. The District’s sanitary sewer system is comprised of approximately 432 miles of sewer lines, 8,200 maintenance holes, eight pump stations, several pressurized pipelines, and three wastewater treatment plants. The District collects flows from the District’s service areas, as well as from multiple other sewer agencies, including Otay Water District, City of La Mesa, City of Lemon Grove, City of Chula Vista, National City, and the City of San Diego. Portions of the sewer system also reside in District-owned easements outside of the unincorporated region.
The District was formed in 2010 and operates under the County Sanitation District Act, Health and Safety Code Section 4700, et seq. The County Sanitation District Act authorizes a sanitation district to complete construction necessary or convenient for sewage collection, treatment, and disposal, as approved by its own governing board. The District is an independent special district governed by the County Board of Supervisors, who serve as the District’s Board of Directors and is funded almost entirely through service charges collected from ratepayers.
The District completed a condition assessment of its entire sewer system as a good system management practice to ensure that the sewer system is in good working condition to protect the environment, public health and private property. The District’s condition assessment identified high priority sewer segments for rehabilitation. These segments were categorized high priority because of the high likelihood of failure potentially resulting in sewage spills or service interruptions for District’s customers. This project will rehabilitate 67 high priority sewer segments in Lakeside and Alpine service areas: 62 segments are in Lakeside and five segments are in Alpine. There will be minimal service disruptions to the customers during the rehabilitation of these sewer segments. Customers serviced by sewer segments in this project will be notified in advance of all construction activities.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) manages the sewer system maintenance program for the District. State of California law allows the District to use County staff to provide these services. The District uses County procurement practices such as those identified in Admin. Code 401 and Board Policy F-41.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines exempts from CEQA review the “operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination.” This includes publicly owned existing facilities used to provide sewer service. The key consideration in determining whether this exemption applies is whether the project involves “negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination”. The proposed project consists of the award of a construction contract to allow for rehabilitation and replacement of deteriorating sewer pipeline. Therefore, the project is categorically exempt in accordance with Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines because it involves the maintenance of existing public facilities involving no or negligible expansion of existing use.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions to approve the advertisement and subsequent award of construction
contract for the Lakeside Small Diameter Sewer Improvements Project support the Sustainable Environments/Thriving and Living Safely Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s Strategic Plan 2025-2030 by providing infrastructure that significantly reduces the chance of sewer spills and improves the quality of life for all residents.
Respectfully submitted,
DAHVIA LYNCH
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A: Lakeside Small Diameter Sewer Improvements Project Vicinity Map with List of Maintenance Locations