17 - Laserfiche WebLink

BACKGROUND The Alameda County Public Works Department (County) oversees and administers the CSA water and sewer systems. Staff has met with the County and with the Castlewood Homeowners Association to discuss maintenance issues. Staff recommended that the County secure the services of a qualified consultant to evaluate the current and future needs of the system and to develop a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP would be used to help interested agencies fully understand short and long term system maintenance and improvement needs. The County agreed with this approach, secured the required services, and completed the final report in FY 12/13. In prior years, the County had contracted with a private contractor, most recently the California Water Service Company, for system operation and maintenance. However, this contract expired. The full scope of required and planned infrastructure improvements and related maintenance requirements has now fully been identified with completion of the above referenced study. The County, through an RFP, had implemented a short-term maintenance arrangement with the City with the understanding that a longer term arrangement would be implemented following completion of the study and a plan to upgrade the current infrastructure deficiencies. Staff had discussions with the County regarding the potential for a longer term agreement following this interim one year period and the implementation of a CIP to upgrade infrastructure. Completion of the CIP was delayed due to storm- related emergency repairs, and over $500,000 in unexpected costs. The County has made progress upgrading the system by allocating an additional $250,000 for upgrades to pumps, generators, valves, and problem sewer lines in the system. This work is ongoing now and will improve the reliability of the system. Based on the City's involvement over the past year, City staff has determined that we would require funding for an additional 1/2 FTE (full time employee equivalent) to cover the increased workload for an additional year's service July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. This extra 1/2 FTE remains for the proposed 1 year extension. There are advantages to having the City provide these services. First, and foremost, it assures that the system will be properly maintained. Second, it assures that the City will have input into service-related decisions pertaining to this particular County service area. In conjunction with the County, the City already operates the Castlewood sewer pump station for the service area, on a contract basis. This new agreement would give us better control over the entire system and reduce the potential for problems from the Castlewood system. Additionally, it provides valuable services to the residents of Castlewood. Disadvantages of providing the interim maintenance services include additional staff workload, particularly in the event of a major system issue. We worked with the County to provide the additional 1/2 FTE temporary, limited-term maintenance worker to offset anticipated ongoing service impacts to the Pleasanton system. The recommended contract provides for routine maintenance support during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., seven days a week. Any emergency work performed between Page 2 of 3