Council approves up to $3 million unit-price contract with Lopez Utility Construction for sewer rehabilitation

City staff presented and council approved a multi-year unit-price contract with Lopez Utility Construction LLC for sanitary sewer rehabilitation services, authorizing up to $3,000,000 of initial expenditures and an initial term through Sept. 30, 2027.

Staff said the procurement used a competitive sealed proposal process that weighted qualifications (60%) and price (40%), and that Lopez ranked highest on both metrics. The contract includes a detailed schedule of unit prices for repairs (for example, price bands by linear footage and manhole depth) and adds smoke testing to help identify illegal residential connections that drain stormwater into sanitary lines.

“If we do expend the $3,000,000...depending on funding we have available at the time, we will come back for more,” a staff presenter said, noting the contract is intended to prolong the life of the city’s collection system and reduce sanitary sewer overflows by addressing infiltration and inflow.

Council moved, seconded and approved the contract by voice vote. Staff said the initial $3,000,000 should cover several miles of rehabilitation depending on technique used and that the city will prioritize the oldest and most brittle pipe sections.