Agenda

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City Council Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:

09/24/2019

BACKGROUND

Currently, the City of Schertz receives its water supply from Schertz Seguin Local Government Corporation (SSLGC). The water is delivered to our East Live Oak water plant site into our ground storage tanks. It is then pumped into an elevated storage tank on site and out into the distribution system through a bank of pumps. The city is broken into two pressure plains with the dividing line being near Live Oak road. We have one bank of pumps that pump into our northern zone and the other bank of pumps that pump towards the south zone. In the past several years we have begun having pump and motor failures that result in having to pull the pump and/or motors and send them off for repairs. Depending upon the complexity of the failure, these repairs can take from a few weeks to several months to complete. As our pumping system continues to age, pump failures will continue to occur and as our system grows, multiple pump failures could lead to a situation where we would be unable to appropriately distribute the water supply.

The goal of this engineering project is to design a redundant pump system to be able to alternate between banks of pumps to limit run time on existing pumps prolonging their life and to provide back-up pumps when maintenance is needed.
The original project estimate included $120,714 for engineering services. Due to increased pump costs, it is no longer feasible to install variable drive pumps with this project. Variable drive pumps must be installed in an air-conditioned structure in order to keep the equipment cool while operating. Because the variable drive pumps are no longer being used, the plans can be modified in order to remove the air-conditioned masonry building in favor of a metal canopy. Services include changes to electric to accommodate the new layout, a new structural foundation plan for metal canopy, design for a metal canopy building and preparation of plans for inclusion in bid documents. In order to make these modifications to the design, Ford Engineering has requested an additional $13,580 in design fees. This change is expected to save approximately $60,000 in construction costs.

Staff is requesting an additional $13,580 to be added to pay Ford Engineering for the changes in the scope of the project. Staff would also like to request a 10% contingency for any further unseen circumstances or changes in the project with a not to exceed amount of $147,724.00.

GOAL

Provide redundant pump capacity to avoid possible interrupted water service caused by pump and motor failures.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

Provide redundant pump capacity to avoid possible interrupted water service caused by pump and motor failures.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION

Staff recommends that the City Council approve Resolution 19-R-133 authorizing additional expenditures with Ford Engineering, Inc., in a total project amount not to exceed $147,724.00 for design, bid, and construction phase engineering services for the East Live Oak Pump Additions Project, and other matters in connection therewith.

FISCAL IMPACT

Funding for engineering services is available in Water & Sewer Reserves.
Authorization of an additional $27,010.00 brings the authorized not-to-exceed amount to $147,724.00.
Estimated $60,000 in savings to the Construction costs of the project.

RECOMMENDATION

Attachments
Resolution
Quote for additional services