Adopt the plans and specifications for the DSID 19516 Pipe Removal Project, determine the Project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), and approve the Project; authorize the Director of General Services, or the Director's designee, to file the CEQA NOE and advertise the Project for competitive bids; further authorize the Director of General Services, or the Director's designee, to award and execute a construction contract with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, provided the contract amount does not exceed available budgeted funds, or to reject all bids; and authorize the Director of General Services, or the Director's designee, to approve change orders or amendments to the construction contract consistent with the applicable change order limits established in State law, but not to exceed a cumulative total of ten percent (10%) of the total original contract price.  (No general fund impact) (Pistochini)

On May 20, 2025, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors approved, via Minute Order No. 25-35 (Item No. 7), a Deferred Maintenance Program Project Agreement (Yolo County Agreement No. 25-89; “DMP Agreement”) with the California Department of Water Resources for the DSID 19516 Pipe Removal Project (“Project”).  The Project involves the removal of a 48-inch corrugated metal gravity flow pipe (identification no. DSID 19516) that is penetrating through the County Service Area No. 6 (“CSA-6”) levee near State Route 45 (“SR 45”).  The subject pipe has exceeded its useful life and is an eminent levee safety risk, necessitating its removal.  In addition to removing the pipe, the CSA-6 levee driveway and ramp access at SR 45 will be widened to support an adequate turn radius for construction equipment to support future operations and maintenance (“O&M”) of the levee embankment.

The Project’s plans and specifications have been completed and are ready for Board approval, as required by Public Contract Code §20150.12. These documents are included as Attachment A and Attachment B. Upon Board approval, Staff will advertise the Project and solicit construction bids.  The competitive solicitation process is anticipated to occur in the first quarter of 2026, with construction anticipated to begin in the second quarter of 2026.

Staff has determined that the Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15061. The Project qualifies for the Class 1 categorical exemption – known as the “Existing Facilities” exemption – set forth in CEQA Guidelines §15301, which exempts projects involving the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing structures or facilities from the requirement to conduct a full environmental review.  Further, none of the exceptions to the exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines §15300.2 apply. Attached is the CEQA Notice of Exemption (NOE) for the Board's approval (see Attachment C). Following Board approval of the plans and specifications, staff will file the NOE.

Staff also request that the Board authorize the Director of General Services, or the Director's designee, to execute the resulting construction contract with the lowest-cost responsive and responsible bidder, provided that the contract amount does not exceed the budgeted funds available under the associated DMP Agreement. The agreement has an overall budget of $450,000, of which $260,000 has been allocated for Project construction. The construction budget may be increased to the extent that actual costs for other Project tasks (e.g., permitting coordination, real estate coordination, and engineer’s estimate and bid coordination, etc.) are realized under budget.  The current engineer’s estimate for the Project is $236,550. 

Granting the contract approval authorization at this time will ensure that the contract can be executed promptly, allowing construction to proceed as quickly as possible in the next construction season without administrative delays.  The resulting construction contract must be approved as to form by County Counsel.

CSA-6 Background

The Knights Landing Levee System (“KLLS”) is part of the Sacramento River Flood Control Project (“SRFCP”). The SRFCP was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1917 (Public Law 367, 64th Congress) and subsequently modified in 1928, 1937, and 1941. The KLLS comprises three levee segments totaling approximately 15.19 miles.

CSA-6 was established in 1975 and is governed by the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. CSA-6 serves as the local maintaining agency responsible for the O&M of 5.97 miles in the middle portion of the KLLS. CSA-6’s jurisdiction extends along the Sacramento River’s right bank, from the Knights Landing Outfall Gates downstream to the Fremont Weir. This levee segment is part of Unit No. 127 of the SRFCP, with O&M standards prescribed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

The County Counsel's Office and Department of Community Services collaborated with this department on this item.

Not applicable for this action. The competitive solicitation will be conducted after the approval of the plans and specifications. Staff intend to award the resulting construction contract to the lowest-cost responsive and responsible bidder, provided the bid does not exceed available DMP Agreement funding.