That the City Council:
A. Authorize staff to issue a purchase order to Mike Bubalo Construction Company, Inc. in an amount not-to-exceed $75,889.42 for emergency storm drain repairs on Imperial Highway; and,

B. Appropriate $75,889.42 of available unencumbered General Capital Projects fund balance to pay for the emergency storm drain repairs.

On Thursday, December 12, 2024, City staff were notified of heavy smoke coming out of a storm drain manhole on Imperial Highway. The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) responded to the call to assess the situation. LACoFD determined the 48-inch underground corrugated metal storm drain pipe had caught on fire. After the fire was extinguished, staff conducted an assessment of the damage and determined that the plastic liner coating on the storm drain pipe underneath Imperial Highway had burned. In addition, staff identified other areas in the storm drain pipe in that area that required immediate repairs.

In order to ensure the proper flow of storm water during the rainy season, and to protect the bridge on Imperial Highway from damage staff determined that emergency repairs were required and received authorization from the City Manager to retain Mike Bubalo Construction Company, Inc. (Bubalo) to perform such repairs. Bubalo was onsite the day of the incident and initiated repairs the next day. The contractor removed all the burned liner and debris, filled numerous voids found in the pipe with mortar mix and epoxy, and cleaned the storm drain pipe. The emergency repairs began on Friday, December 13, 2024, and work was completed on Monday, December 30, 2024. 

Staff is requesting an appropriation in the amount of $75,889.42 of available unencumbered General Capital Projects fund balance to pay Mike Bubalo Construction Company, Inc. for the emergency storm drain repairs performed on Imperial Highway.