DATE: May 21, 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
title
Staff recommends that the City Council determine there remains a need to continue emergency work on the 18-inch Mesa Loma Water Main.
body
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Water Utilities staff detected decreased water pressure on January 18, 2024, and identified a potential leak in the 18-inch Mesa Loma Water Main near Loma Alta Creek and the NCTD railroad crossing. Due to the pipeline’s location within environmentally sensitive areas, and the complexity of internal pipe access to pinpoint leak, it took several months to complete field investigations, internal inspections, permitting, and environmental assessments necessary to locate the leak and develop a repair approach.
By early 2025, the City confirmed two 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 and Regional Water Quality Control Board. Emergency repairs began in April 2025 under the City’s emergency procurement policy.
Initial excavation revealed no damage at the first suspected site, but further pressurization tests and video inspections uncovered multiple corrosion-related defects along the pipe, including a significant breach near the second repair location. Work at Repair Location No. 2 was paused on April 21 due to the identification of an active bird nest in the area which must be protected in compliance with environmental protections.
Staff is now evaluating the cost and schedule implications of rehabilitating a 400-foot pipeline segment under the current emergency permits. A decision is expected by May 23, 2025. In the interim, the contractor has backfilled and demobilized to minimize environmental impact and cost.
Staff will return with an update at the next scheduled City Council meeting, based on the rehabilitation determination.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated construction cost is currently being finalized. Funding for the emergency repair will be sourced from the Water Fixed Asset Replacement Fund that is obtained from water meter and service charges. Since the repair work is being performed on a time and materials basis, the final cost will not be known until completion of work in June 2025. The total construction cost will be finalized following the completion of the work.
The repair will be funded under the Water Pipeline Replacement account 908163620712.5703.10600. The total estimated expenses for construction are $383,500 until actual costs are provided by the Contractor. Depending on City’s decision to perform pipelining repair to address multiple corrosion areas, then cost will increase. An additional $100,000 will be added to replenish the account for a future emergency.
Expenses for engineering support services under already approved as-needed services contracts include $111,000 for Helix Environmental, $23,000 for LGC Geotechnical, $23,000 for Guida Surveying, and $45,000 for HDR corrosion services. Once final costs are known, staff will request an appropriation from the Water Fixed Asset Replacement reserves unrestricted fund balance account 712.3100.0002 to cover these costs. This account has an available balance of $72.2M; therefore, sufficient funds are available. A full accounting will be provided to Council after the work is completed along with any appropriation of funds, if needed.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Due to the location of the pipeline within an environmentally sensitive area, the project required multiple environmental permits prior to construction. The City obtained the necessary permits from the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) under RGP 63 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under RGP 63, both of which were issued before construction commenced. Additionally, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife 1610 notification was submitted within 14 days of the start of construction, in compliance with regulatory requirements. The City is working closely with environmental consultants to ensure all necessary environmental approvals are in place and that impacts to the surrounding ecosystem are minimized and agencies kept apprised of any changes during construction.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
The Utilities Commission will receive a project update at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 20, 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.
end
Prepared by: Mabel Uyeda, Water Engineering Manager
Reviewed by: Michael Gossman, Assistant City Manager
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager