DATE: September 3, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Water Utilities Department
TITLE: APPROVE CONTINUATION OF EMERGENCY WORK TO REPAIR THE 18-INCH MESA LOMA WATER MAIN AT LOMA ALTA CREEK
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council determine there remains a need to continue emergency work on the 18-inch Mesa Loma Water Main.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
In January 2024, Water Utilities staff identified a potential leak in the 18-inch Mesa Loma Water Main near Loma Alta Creek and the North County Transit District (NCTD) railroad crossing. Staff isolated the segment and activated the Mesa Loma Pump Station in order to maintain water service to customers in the area until the water main is repaired.
By early 2025, the City completed environmental assessments, permitting, and internal inspections of the pipeline which initially revealed two critical pipeline defects requiring immediate repair. Given the estimated 9 to 12 months for standard CEQA processing, staff obtained emergency permitting from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and NCTD. Emergency repairs began in April 2025 under the City’s emergency procurement policy.
The City’s emergency contractor, Cass Arrieta, identified three areas of concern with the water main 1) Significant damage to a section near the creek which was immediately repaired 2) corrosion inside pipe at top of slope near the commercial center was deferred due to nested birds that fledged in July and 3) corrosion-related deterioration at multiple joints along 300 feet of existing pipeline was assessed and evaluated for rehabilitation.
In light of these findings, staff revised the repair strategy to address the two remaining pipe deficiencies with a trenchless, high-pressure liner. This offered the most reliable and environmentally sensitive solution. It minimizes excavation impacts, restores structural integrity, and allows work to be completed within the timeline of the existing emergency permits. Regulatory agencies and NCTD were notified of change and approved an extension of the emergency permits for this work.
The pipe liner installation will be completed under a separate contract with the specialized pipe rehabilitation contractor, Advantage Reline, Inc. In accordance with the City’s emergency procurement policy, staff obtained City Manager approval for Advantage Reline, Inc. to perform this work, in the amount of $155,570, as outlined in its Public Works Agreement (Attachment 2), The contractor commenced work at the end of August 2025.
Cass Arrieta re-mobilized on August 25, 2025 to prepare entry and exit pits for the lining contractor. They will continue providing trench support, flushing and testing of the pipeline, and final tie-ins once the lining is complete. The total estimated cost for Cass Arrieta’s emergency scope is $982,577, including $699,612 in support of the liner installation. All repair and rehabilitation work is anticipated to be completed by the end of September 2025.
Change Order No. 1 (Attachment 3), in the amount of $182,966, increased Cass-Arrieta’s original $100,000 emergency contract to $282,966. Change Order No. 2 (Attachment 4), in the amount of $699,612, covers additional work associated with the liner installation. Both change orders were approved by the City Manager under the City’s emergency procurement policy.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the emergency repair will be sourced from the Water Fixed Asset Replacement Fund (712) that is obtained from water meter and service charges. The emergency repair work performed by Cass Arrieta is for a total estimated cost of $982,577, which includes the original contract amount plus the two previously mentioned change orders.
The total estimated cost for all construction, rehabilitation, engineering, and permitting services associated with the Project is $1,528,872. A detailed breakdown is provided in Table 1 below. Final construction costs will be confirmed upon completion of the work.
The Project is funded under the Water Pipeline Replacement Account 908163620712, one of several accounts the Water Utilities Department maintains to mobilize prequalified contractors in the event of an emergency. Contractors were competitively selected through a Request for Proposals process and are committed to providing rapid response to emergency situations.
Upon completion of the current emergency, staff will recommend Council authorize an additional $100,000 be added to the Cass Arrieta purchase order to replenish the account for future emergency needs.
Table 1.
|
Water Pipeline Replacement
Project Account No. 908163620712 |
|
Available Balance |
$1,936,795 |
|
Emergency Construction Costs (5703.10600) |
|
|
|
Cass Arrieta Estimated Cost |
982,577 |
|
|
Permit Costs |
6,225 |
|
|
NCTD Flagging Services During Construction |
121,500 |
|
|
Pipe Rehabilitation/Lining |
155,570 |
|
|
Subtotal |
1,265,872 |
|
Engineering Services (As-Needed Contracts) 5305.10600 and 5305.10800 |
|
|
|
Helix Environmental |
36,300 |
|
|
Environmental Monitoring |
75,700 |
|
|
LGC Geotechnical Engineering |
23,000 |
|
|
Guida Surveying |
23,000 |
|
|
HDR Corrosion/Televising Video |
45,000 |
|
|
Project Management & Administrative Support |
60,000 |
|
|
Subtotal |
263,000 |
|
Total Estimated Emergency Repair & Lining Cost |
$1,528,872 |
|
Replenish Emergency Account (Cass Arrieta) |
100,000 |
|
Remaining Project Account Balance |
$ 307,923 |
There is sufficient funding in the current project budget to complete this work. However, should a significant water main break occur during FY 2025-26, staff may need to request from the City Council additional appropriation. A full accounting of actual costs will be provided upon project completion.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The Mesa Loma Water Main is located within an environmentally sensitive area, requiring multiple permits prior to construction. The City obtained authorization from the RWQCB and the USACE under Regional General Permit 63. In addition, a California Department of Fish and Wildlife 1610 Notification was submitted prior to the start of construction, ensuring compliance with state requirements.
The City is working closely with environmental consultants to ensure all regulatory conditions are met, minimize environmental impacts, and maintain regular communication with permitting agencies throughout construction.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
The Utilities Commission will be apprised of the project update at its regularly scheduled meeting on September 16, 2025.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
Emergency procurements for public projects without competitive bidding are authorized according to the provisions of Section 28A.24 of the Oceanside City Code and California Public Contract Code Section 22050. The emergency action should be terminated at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant so that the remainder of the work, if any, may be completed pursuant to the City’s regular competitive bidding process.
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Prepared by: Mabel Uyeda, Water Engineering Manager
Reviewed by: Michael Gossman, Assistant City Manager
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. ADV Reline Inc. Public Works Agreement
3. Cass Arrieta Change Order 1
4. Cass Arrieta Change Order 2