HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-21-26 EO&WR Committee Meeting Packet1
OTAY WATER DISTRICT
ENGINEERING, OPERATIONS, & WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEETING
and
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2554 SWEETWATER SPRINGS BOULEVARD
SPRING VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
BOARDROOM
TUESDAY
JULY 21, 2026
12:00 P.M.
This is a District Committee meeting. This meeting is being posted as a special meeting in order to comply with
the Brown Act (Government Code Section §54954.2) in the event that a quorum of the Board is present. Items
will be deliberated, however, no formal board actions will be taken at this meeting. The committee makes recom-
mendations to the full Board for its consideration and formal action.
AGENDA
1. ROLL CALL
2. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO
SPEAK TO THE BOARD ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER WITHIN THE BOARD’S JURIS-
DICTION INCLUDING AN ITEM ON TODAY’S AGENDA
DISCUSSION ITEMS
3. AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER TO
HAAKER EQUIPMENT FOR ONE (1) VACUUM HYDRO EXCAVATOR TRUCK IN AN
AMOUNT OF $756,819; ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER TO HAWTHORNE POWER
SYSTEMS FOR THREE (3) EMERGENCY STANDBY GENERATORS FOR THE 978-
1 PUMP STATION, 1004-1 PUMP STATION AND STEELE CANYON SEWER LIFT
STATION IN AN AMOUNT OF $347,314; AND TO DECLARE THE EXISTING UNITS
TO BE REPLACED AS SURPLUS (DANIEL STANLEY) [5 MINUTES]
4. AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER TO CS-
AMSCO FOR THE PURCHASE OF A 36-INCH CHECK VALVE IN AN AMOUNT NOT-
TO-EXCEED $125,674.15 (JEFF MARCHIORO) [5 MINUTES]
5. AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO AIRX UTILITY SURVEY-
ORS, INC. FOR AS-NEEDED UTILITY LOCATING CONSULTING SERVICES AND
AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT IN AN
AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $700,000 DURING FISCAL YEARS 2027-2029 (ENDING
JUNE 30, 2029) (MIKE O’DONNELL) [5 MINUTES]
6. ADJOURNMENT
2
BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDING:
Frank Rivera, Chair
Mark Robak
All items appearing on this agenda, whether or not expressly listed for action, may be deliber-
ated and may be subject to action by the Board.
The agenda, and any attachments containing written information, are available at the District’s
website at www.otaywater.gov. Written changes to any items to be considered at the open
meeting, or to any attachments, will be posted on the District’s website. Copies of the agenda
and all attachments are also available by contacting the District Secretary at (619) 670-2253.
If you have any disability which would require accommodation in order to enable you to partic-
ipate in this meeting, please call the District Secretary at 619-670-2253 at least 24 hours prior
to the meeting.
Certification of Posting
I certify that I posted a copy of the foregoing agenda near the regular meeting place of the
Board of Directors of Otay Water District, Spring Valley, California, said time being at least
24 hours in advance of the special meeting of the Board of Directors (Government Code
Section §54954.2).
/s/ Jenny Diaz, District Secretary
STAFF REPORT
TYPE MEETING: Regular Board MEETING DATE: August 5, 2026
SUBMITTED BY: Daniel Stanley, Fleet Maintenance Supervisor
PROJECTS:
P2282, P2688
S2080
DIV. NO. ALL
APPROVED BY: Jeff Marchioro, Utility Services Manager
Andrew Jackson, Chief of Water Operations
Jose Martinez, General Manager
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF A PURCHASE ORDER TO HAAKER EQUIPMENT FOR ONE (1) VACUUM HYDRO EXCAVATOR TRUCK IN AN AMOUNT OF $756,819 AND A PURCHASE ORDER TO HAWTHORNE POWER SYSTEMS FOR THREE (3) EMERGENCY STANDBY GENERATORS FOR THE 978-1 PUMP STATION, 1004-
1 PUMP STATION AND STEELE CANYON SEWER LIFT STATION IN AN AMOUNT OF $347,314, AND TO DECLARE EXISTING UNITS TO BE
REPLACED AS SURPLUS.
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION:
That the Otay Water District (District) Board of Directors (Board)
authorize the General Manager to issue a purchase order to Haaker
Equipment (Haaker) for the purchase of a vacuum hydro excavator truck
in an amount of $756,819; issue a purchase order to Hawthorne Power
Systems (Hawthorne) for the purchase of three emergency stand-by
generators in an amount of $347,314; and declare the existing units
to be replaced as surplus.
COMMITTEE ACTION:
See “Attachment A.”
PURPOSE:
To obtain Board authorization for the General Manager to issue a
purchase order to Haaker in the amount of $756,819 and Hawthorne in
AGENDA ITEM 3
the amount of $347,314 and declare existing units to be replaced as
surplus. ANALYSIS:
The District has routinely planned the replacement of vehicles and equipment as justified through cost benefit analysis considering life
expectancy, maintenance and replacement costs, and other factors. Capital Purchases to replace existing vehicles and equipment have
been planned and funded through Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) with expenses projected for six years in the future and adjusted annually. This staff report includes a portion of planned Fiscal Year 2027 purchases to replace units and equipment as described below (Attachment B).
• Unit #224 (2016 Kenworth T440 – 54,000 miles) this vehicle is
10 years old and in need of replacement. This Vactor Unit #224 will be replaced in kind with class 8 automatic transmission. This is subject to the State’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, which currently mandates a 50% Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) purchase share for applicable replacements.
However, staff will apply for a ZEV purchase exemption to purchase a new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle because a ZEV, or near-zero emission vehicle (NZEV), is unavailable in the configuration needed for the vacuum hydro excavator truck. The application for purchase exemption will be submitted to the
California Air Resources Board (CARB) for approval.
• The 978-1 Pump Station Emergency Generator is a 1991 Caterpillar unit operating at TIER 0 emissions level, which reflects an outdated standard without modern emissions controls. The
generator has exceeded its expected service life and no longer aligns with current regulatory, reliability, or operational expectations for critical pumping infrastructure.
• The emergency standby generator at the 1004-2 Pump Station is
a 1998 Caterpillar unit operating at TIER 0 emissions level, which reflects an outdated standard without modern emissions controls. The generator has exceeded its expected service life and no longer aligns with current regulatory, reliability, or operational expectations for critical pumping infrastructure.
• The emergency standby generator at the Steele Canyon Lift Station is a 1993 Olympian unit operating at TIER 0 emissions
level, which reflects an outdated standard without modern emissions controls. The generator has exceeded its expected
service life and no longer aligns with current regulatory,
reliability, or operational expectations for critical pumping
infrastructure. Vehicles and equipment will be purchased through Sourcewell
Cooperative Agreements, either with National Auto Fleet Group (NAFG), Hawthorne Equipment Company or with specialized body equipment
manufacturers that specialize in building certain vehicles, such as the hydro excavator vacuum trucks. Cooperative/Joint Purchases are authorized under Section 6.2.3 of the Purchasing Manual. These
purchases are exempt from the District’s competitive solicitation requirements so long as the contracts, schedules, and agreements are
solicited in a manner consistent with the District’s purchasing policies. The District and neighboring agencies have used Sourcewell in the past. Sourcewell is a State of Minnesota’s local government
unit and service cooperative created under the laws of the State of Minnesota that offers cooperative procurement solutions to government
entities. While Sourcewell is a Minnesota-based government entity, it functions as a national cooperative procurement platform. Staff solicited Sourcewell pricing quotes from Haaker for the vacuum hydro excavator vehicle and Hawthorne for the three generators with
the following results less than budgeted amounts listed above. Hawthorne’s quote includes San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) permitting assistance.
• Class 8 Vactor TRUVAC Hydro Excavator Sourcewell pricing
through Haaker $756,819 (CIP P2282)
• Stand-by generator for the 978-1 Pump Station Sourcewell
pricing through Hawthorne $120,527 (CIP P2688)
• Stand-by generator for the 1004-1 Pump Station Sourcewell pricing through Hawthorne $157,425 (CIP P2688)
• Stand-by generator for the Steele Canyon Sewer Lift Station Sourcewell pricing through Hawthorne $69,362 (CIP S2082)
The three new generators will be individually permitted through San Diego County APCD.
FISCAL IMPACT: Joe Beachem, Chief Financial Officer
Based on a review of the financial budgets, the Project Manager
anticipates that the budget for CIP P2282 (Vehicle Capital Purchases), CIP P2688 (Standby Power Renovations - Potable Water), and CIP S2080
(Standby Power Renovations – Sewer) is sufficient to support the
purchase. The Finance Department has determined that, under the current rate
model, 100% of the funding will be available from the Replacement Fund. STRATEGIC GOAL:
This project supports the District’s Mission statement, “To provide exceptional water and wastewater service to its customers, and to
manage District resources in a transparent and fiscally responsible manner” and the General Manager’s Vision, "To be a model water agency by providing stellar service, achieving measurable results, and
continuously improving operational practices." LEGAL IMPACT: None. Attachments: Attachment A – Committee Action
Attachment B – Photos of Vehicles and Equipment Attachment C – CARB Certificate of Compliance Attachment D – CARB Comment Letter
ATTACHMENT A
SUBJECT/PROJECT: P2282, P2688 S2080
APPROVAL OF A PURCHASE ORDER TO HAAKER EQUIPMENT FOR ONE
(1) VACUUM HYDRO EXCAVATOR TRUCK IN AN AMOUNT OF $756,819
AND A PURCHASE ORDER TO HAWTHORNE POWER SYSTEMS FOR THREE
(3) EMERGENCY STANDBY GENERATORS FOR THE 978-1 PUMP
STATION, 1004-1 PUMP STATION AND STEELE CANYON SEWER LIFT
STATION IN AN AMOUNT OF $347,314, AND TO DECLARE EXISTING
UNITS TO BE REPLACED AS SURPLUS.
COMMITTEE ACTION: The Engineering, Operations, and Water Resources Committee reviewed this item at a meeting held on July 21, 2026, and the following comments were
made: NOTE:
The “Committee Action” is written in anticipation of the Committee moving
the item forward for board approval. This report will be sent to the Board as a committee approved item, or modified to reflect any discussion or changes as directed by the committee prior to presentation to the
full board.
Emergency Standby Generator
978-1 Pump Station with 202 Hours
ATTACHMENT B
Emergency Standby Generator
1004-1 Pump Station with 4002 Hours
Emergency Standby Generator
Steele Canyon Sewer Lift Station with 470 Hours
Unit 224, 2016 T440 Potable Water Hydro Excavator with 54,000 Miles
ATTACHMENT C
Page 1 of 4
June 16, 2026 Comment letter submitted via electronic commenting system
Clerk of the Board
California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Subject: Comment Letter – Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation Amendments/Additional 15-Day
Changes
Chair Lauren Sanchez and Members of the California Air Resources Board:
We greatly appreciate the time and effort that have gone into the amended 15-day comment draft,
which was published for public comment on June 1, 2026. While the goals of these regulations are
commendable, the reality remains that we cannot safely serve our communities unless specialized
water and wastewater utility vehicles, along with support vehicles used for emergency response,
are excluded from the regulation.
At the Otay Water District, we provide essential potable, recycled, and sewer water services to a
population of more than 242,000 residents across approximately 125.5 square miles of
southeastern San Diego County, including eastern Chula Vista, Bonita, Jamul, Spring Valley,
Rancho San Diego, unincorporated areas of El Cajon and La Mesa, and eastern Otay Mesa along
the international border with Mexico. Because of the size and geography of our service area,
District vehicles travel thousands of miles each day across varied terrain to reach District assets.
During emergencies, our vehicles must operate for extended hours and under challenging
conditions to help meet our community’s critical needs.
Additionally, Otay owns and operates a wastewater collection system that provides public sewer
services to homes and businesses within the Jamacha drainage basin.
Otay manages 98 public fleet vehicles, including construction, utility repair, utility monitoring, and
customer service vehicles. These vehicles operate around the clock—24/7—to prepare for and
respond to emergencies such as wildfires, flooding, and infrastructure failures. For instance, Otay’s
water and wastewater specialty emergency vehicles are frequently dispatched to wildfire-prone
areas to support firefighting efforts, including restoring fire flows and maintaining critical water
pressures for fire protection. The fleet also transports construction vehicles, emergency mobile
pumps, and generators to sites experiencing power outages or water main breaks, ensuring
continued service and quick recovery. These specialty vehicles are designed to travel long
distances, navigate rough, unpredictable terrain, and operate auxiliary equipment via power-take-
off devices at project sites. Their extended duty cycles and specialized features enable them to
serve as shelters and operate auxiliary equipment during extreme weather conditions, allowing
staff to work safely in remote areas of the District and maintain essential services for the
community. Otay’s fleet is vital for emergency preparedness, response, and ongoing support as it
adapts to the increasing challenges of climate change and ensures resilient service delivery.
ATTACHMENT D
Page 2 of 4
The comments provided below respond directly to the 15-day changes to: (1) concern about the
treatment of contracts regardless of length, (2) need for additional guidance to fleets on how leases
and contracts fit within larger fleet compliance (3) amendments still do not adequately address
exempting vehicles used in emergency response, and (4) restating additional work that needs to
be undertaken beyond these 15-day changes.
1. Express concern with the latest interpretation of fleet contracts included in ACF
compliance.
The District is concerned about the latest interpretation of contract agreements that will be included
in ACF compliance. As proposed in the latest 15-Day Changes, ACF applies to all contract
agreements regardless of length as a part of the public agency fleet, including short-term rentals.
This interpretation is concerning and problematic administratively because short-term rentals are
not planned for in the same way as longer contracts are and often are used to fulfill immediate fleet
needs during emergencies. Consider the following scenario to describe this concern: A public
agency contracts 20 heavy-duty vehicles in year 2027, for two weeks only to deal with a fire. Would
this equate to the public agency contracting for 20 internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles into
its 2027 fleet, and thereby necessitating the addition of 10 ZEVs to offset the ICE vehicles under
the 50% rule?
This latest interpretation of contracted vehicles poses a challenge for small and large agencies
alike. During emergencies, public fleets are prioritizing public health to respond to floods, fires,
earthquakes, and other natural disasters. Unsurprisingly, public fleets are desperately seeking any
and all vehicles to immediately meet their needs. Despite best efforts to plan for ACF compliance
under the current 50/50 requirements that will be in place through 2030 (pending approval of the
current amendments), including all short-term rentals in ACF runs the risk of putting even the most
proactive public agencies out of compliance with ACF. This challenge would only become more
problematic after 2030 when all new purchases, leases, and contracts would need to be ZEVs for
fleets to comply with ACF.
We offer a few options for how CARB can address this situation:
Define “major contracts” and “short-term contracts” in 15-day changes clearly to avoid
ambiguity
o Specify that “short-term contracts” identified to deal with emergencies are not part
of ACF compliance, and “short-term contracts” are those that last less than 12
months.
o Hold off on the enforcement of “short-term contracts” as part of ACF compliance
until further dialogue is held to appropriately administer rentals.
Rescind the current June 1, 2026, second 15-day rulemaking draft and return to the
changes from the initial 15-day draft, dated April 2, 2026.
Develop a guidance document that separates major contracts from short-term contracts
and work with public agencies on case-by-case scenarios.
Prioritize how to appropriately identify short-term contracts in future amendment
discussions, after this amendment process (2025-26) is closed.
2. Further guidance for fleets on how lease and contract agreements fit within a public
fleet.
Page 3 of 4
The posted Guidance Document raises additional questions for public fleets to consider, which
must be made clear moving forward. These include:
How lease and contract agreements are viewed as part of a public fleet?
Are public fleets allowed to treat rental and contract agreements as a separate fleet from
their internal fleet for ACF compliance? If so, can the separate fleet follow the Milestone
pathway?
What is a fleet to do if the only vehicles available for short-term rentals are not ZEVs?
Retroactive requirements: The applicability is stated to have begun January 1, 2024.
Adding all contracted vehicles to Otay’s fleet now would place a significant burden on us
for ZEV procurement.
3. The amendments do not adequately address exempting vehicles that support
emergency response.
As currently designed, the proposed ACF modifications do not adequately address the operational
realities of Otay’s scale, geography, and service requirements, particularly in the context of
emergency response. Emergency response to wildfires, earthquakes, or other disasters requires
vehicles that can travel long distances, remain ready at a moment’s notice, and operate
continuously. There are currently no zero-emission alternatives that can provide the immediate
readiness and operational dependability that ICE vehicles offer, especially when power is shut off
as part of an SDG&E response to dangerous situations.
The current CARB proposal places an artificial cap on resilience, allowing no more than 25% of our
fleet to be exempt from conversion to ZEV. To serve our more than 242,000 customers, Otay
operates 29 medium/heavy-duty vehicles, but a 25% exemption limits us to only seven vehicles
that we can rely on during emergencies and power outages. This dangerous cap ignores the
realities we face. Emergencies do not wait for regulations, and they do not scale to fit an arbitrary
percentage of the fleet. Reducing our usable emergency vehicles by 75% would endanger the
communities we serve. California has already experienced devastating wildfires and extreme
weather. With constraints like this, future disasters will be dramatically magnified.
Local agencies cannot have their ability to respond capped, especially when major incidents
require regionwide support. Fire trucks, ambulances, and police vehicles are exempt, but the water
and wastewater vehicles that enable this emergency response, such as trucks that tow fuel to
water pumps, are not. This directly impacts firefighters' ability to do their jobs.
The proposed ACF mandates are creating unnecessary challenges for local agencies in upholding
essential services that Californians depend upon for their essential daily needs, as well as during
emergencies and disasters. Vehicles that are categorically exempted from the regulations, similar
to those specified in Part (c) of §2013 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations, must
include support vehicles that respond to, assist in, and recover from disasters and emergencies,
including water and sewer utility vehicles. These vehicles should be included without an arbitrary
25% cap. Emergencies do not conform to percentage-based limitation.
4. Significant work remains for CARB and public fleets to address in ACF
implementation.
Page 4 of 4
We can appreciate that a lot of work remains following this 15-day period and following the
conclusion of this process that began in 2025. We encourage CARB to pick this up immediately
following the administrative close of this proceeding. Otay retains significant concerns about
successful ACF implementation and is motivated, beyond the adoption of the 15-day changes, to
continue substantive dialogue with CARB to identify ongoing challenges and clarifications that will
need to be addressed in future regulatory efforts. We encourage CARB to take up a new
amendment process to address:
Broad Issues:
ZEV Market Uncertainty
ZEV Market Affordability
Grid Reliability
Specific Issues within ACF Language:
Fleet owner definition rental and lease language
Early or Excess ZEV Purchases
Fleet Resilience Exemption capped at 25% of fleet and subtracted by other exemptions
Increased Requirements to apply for ZEV Purchase and Daily Usage Exemptions
Future Mobile Fueling Requirements to be reviewed for use in 2030
Hiring Compliant Fleet
Emergency Response Support
ACF remains a priority issue for the Otay Water District, and we will continue to actively engage in
its implementation. As a local retail agency, Otay is committed to doing its part in achieving the
state’s climate and emissions goals; however, the current ACF mandates are creating significant
challenges to compliance while maintaining the critical services our community relies on every day,
including during emergencies and disasters. Our proposed changes to contracted vehicle reporting
would better position Otay to meet these ambitious requirements while navigating real-world
operational constraints.
Otay will continue to identify and implement best practices for ACF compliance and maintain open
communication with the CARB board and staff to highlight areas where compliance challenges
arise. This ongoing dialogue is essential for a landmark regulation like ACF, which is fundamentally
changing how we manage medium- and heavy-duty fleet operations while continuing to deliver
essential public services. Otay appreciates CARB’s consideration of these comments and looks
forward to continuing this important engagement.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at (619) 670-2210 or
jose.martinez@otaywater.gov. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jose Martinez
General Manager
Otay Water District
STAFF REPORT
TYPE MEETING: Regular Board MEETING DATE: August 5, 2026
SUBMITTED BY: Jeff Marchioro Utility Services Manager
PROJECT: P2697 DIV. NO. 3
APPROVED BY: Andrew Jackson, Chief of Water Operations
Jose Martinez, General Manager
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF A PURCHASE ORDER TO CS-AMSCO IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,674.15 FOR A 36-INCH CHECK VALVE
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION:
That the Otay Water District (District) Board of Directors (Board) authorize the General Manager to issue a purchase order to CS-Amsco for the purchase of a 36-inch check valve in the amount of $125,674.15 (see Exhibit A for Project Location).
COMMITTEE ACTION:
See “Attachment A.”
PURPOSE:
To obtain Board authorization for the General Manager to issue a purchase order to CS-Amsco for the purchase of a 36-inch Check Valve in the amount of $125,674.15.
ANALYSIS:
The District’s Regulatory Site is a major hub within the northern portion of the District which includes the 520 Reservoirs, 640
Reservoirs, 803 Pump Station, 850 Pump Station, and other facilities. The Regulatory Site receives supply from the older SDCWA Flow Control
AGENDA ITEM 4
Facility (FCF) 11 and newer SDCWA/Helix FCF 14. During construction of
FCF 14 in the approximate 2007-2008 timeframe, complex large diameter valves were constructed to toggle the supply between FCF 11 and FCF 14 including three specialized APCO Slanting Disc check valves. One of the
three APCO valves, which is a 36-inch nominal size, was manufactured with a “hold open device” to allow water system operators with the
ability to reverse the flow through the check valve during transitional phases of construction.
Staff recommends replacing the entire 36-inch main valve in-kind without the “hold open device” so that the new valve will operate as a regular
check valve. The existing “hold open device” prevents the check valve from operating as a regular check valve. Standard operating procedures for manipulating the existing “hold open device” have become unreliable.
The “hold open device” appears unserviceable. The existing valve manufacturer representative (CS-Amsco) reported that the “hold open
device” optional feature was discontinued 10-20 years ago and parts and related documents (e.g., parts drawings, machining drawings) are no longer available.
Staff contemplated removing the “hold open device” from the existing
main check valve to possibly extend the life of the existing 20-year-old valve approximately another 10 years but CS-Amsco could not guarantee that parts to eliminate the hold open device would fit. Furthermore, the expense to attempt to remove the “hold open device” would be a substantial and a poor value with no guarantee of success.
Alternatives to the existing specialized APCO Slanting Disc check valve were ruled out. The existing valve is unique and known for high quality and exceptionally low hydraulic friction loss. Replacing in-kind matches the other two valves installed in the approximate 2007-2008
timeframe to toggle the supply between FCF 11 and FCF 14 such that all valves match with similar dimensions and hydraulic characteristics.
Staff obtained a quote from the sole authorized sales representative (CS-Amsco, located in Southern California) in the amount of $125,674.15
including sales tax, shipping, and startup/training services.
District in-house forces, or the District’s On-Call Supplemental Water/Sewer/Recycled General Infrastructure Maintenance and Repair Services contractor (Filanc or HPS Mechanical) will replace the valve
when it is anticipated to arrive in Fiscal Year 2028 considering the long lead time estimated at 52-54 weeks.
FISCAL IMPACT: Joe Beachem, Chief Financial Officer
Based on a review of the financial budgets, the Project Manager
anticipates that the budget for P2697 (Valve Replacement Program - Phase
2) is sufficient to support the purchase.
The Finance Department has determined that, under the current rate
model, 100% of the funding will be available from the Replacement Fund.
STRATEGIC GOAL:
This project supports the District’s Mission statement, “To provide
exceptional water and wastewater service to its customers, and to manage District resources in a transparent and fiscally responsible manner”
and the General Manager’s Vision, "To be a model water agency by providing stellar service, achieving measurable results, and continuously improving operational practices."
LEGAL IMPACT:
None.
Attachments: Attachment A – Committee Action Exhibit A – Location Map
Exhibit B – CS-Amsco letter regarding exclusive representation of DeZURIK/APCO products
ATTACHMENT A
SUBJECT/PROJECT: P2697 APPROVAL OF A PURCHASE ORDER TO CS-AMSCO IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,674.15 FOR A 36-INCH CHECK VALVE
COMMITTEE ACTION:
The Engineering, Operations, and Water Resources Committee reviewed this
item at a meeting held on July 21, 2026, and the following comments were made:
NOTE:
The “Committee Action” is written in anticipation of the Committee
moving the item forward for board approval. This report will be sent to the Board as a committee approved item, or modified to reflect any
discussion or changes as directed from the committee prior to presentation to the full board.
Dec 19th, 2025
To: Otay Water District
Attn: Juan Tamayo
RE: Exclusive Representation of DeZURIK, Inc. Products
Dear Juan,
CS-amsco is the sole authorized sales representative in the Municipal Water and Wastewater Industry for DeZURIK / APCO / Hilton /Red Valve in Southern California and Southern Nevada.
DeZURIK / APCO / Hilton / Red valve markets their products through exclusive technical representation only. Please contact CS-amsco regarding any inquiries regarding our entire line
of valves and controls.
Purchase Orders shall be written to DeZURIK, Inc., c/o CS-amsco or direct to CS-amsco for all
items. Their contact information is as follows:
CS-AMSCO
15842 Chemical Lane Huntington Beach, California 92649 Tel: 714-892-4200 Fax: 714-892-4266 Email: customerservice@csamsco.com Webpage: www.csamsco.com
Sincerely,
Nick Krippner
Regional Sales Manager - Municipal
EXHIBIT B
STAFF REPORT
TYPE MEETING: Regular Board MEETING DATE: August 5, 2026
SUBMITTED BY: Michael O’Donnell
Supervising Land Surveyor
PROJECT: VARIOUS DIV. NO ALL
APPROVED BY: ☒ Kevin Cameron, Engineering Manager
☒Michael Long, Chief, Engineering
☒Jose Martinez, General Manager
SUBJECT: Award of As-Needed Utility Locating Services Agreement to AirX for Fiscal Years 2027-2029
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION:
That the Otay Water District (District) Board of Directors (Board)
award a professional service agreement for As-Needed Utility Locating Services and authorize the General Manager to execute the agreement
with AirX Utility Surveyors, Inc. (AirX), in an amount not-to-exceed $700,000 during Fiscal Years 2027-2029 (ending June 30, 2029).
COMMITTEE ACTION:
Please see Attachment A.
PURPOSE:
To obtain Board authorization for the General Manager to enter into
a professional services agreement for As-Needed Utility Locating Services with AirX in an amount not-to-exceed $700,000 for Fiscal Years 2027-2029 (ending June 30, 2029).
AGENDA ITEM 5
2
ANALYSIS:
California Government Code 4216 requires operators of subsurface installations (including water and sewer facilities) to be a member
of the Dig Alert Regional Notification Center, which includes the District’s Underground Service Alert (USA) of Southern California
program. As a member, operators are required to locate and field mark their subsurface installations within two (2) days of receiving timely notification. To meet this legal requirement and
support the District’s USA program, the District will require the services of a professional utility locating services consultant for
three (3) fiscal years, FY 2027 through FY 2029 (ending June 30, 2029). It is more efficient and cost-effective to augment District staff by issuing an as-needed agreement for utility locating
services, which will provide the District with the ability to obtain consulting services in a timely and efficient manner. This
concept has also been used in the past with other disciplines such as engineering design, construction management, electrical, and environmental services.
The District has used an as-needed agreement for utility locating services over the previous fourteen (14) fiscal years. An analysis of the USA workload for FY 2027 through FY 2029 indicates a steadily
increasing level of effort from prior years will be needed for utility locating services.
The District will issue task orders to the consultant for specific projects during the agreement period based on a detailed scope of
work. The consultant will then prepare a schedule and fee estimate for each task order assigned under the agreement. Upon written task
order authorization from the District, the consultant shall then proceed with the project, as described in the scope of work.
This As-Needed Utility Locating Services agreement does not commit the District to any expenditure until a task order is approved to
perform work on a USA project. The District does not guarantee work to the consultant, nor does the District guarantee that it will expend all the funds authorized by the agreement for professional
services.
The District solicited for utility locating services by placing an
advertisement on the Otay Water District’s website and PlanetBids, the District’s online bid solicitation website, on March 30, 2026.
The advertisement was also placed in The Daily Transcript. Eight (8) firms submitted a Letter of Interest (LOI) and a Statement ofQualifications (SOQ). The Request for Proposal (RFP) for As-Needed
3
Utility Locating Services was sent to the eight (8) firms, resulting
in five (5) proposals received by May 4, 2026. They are as follows:
•AirX Utility Surveyors, Inc. – Escondido, CA
•Alisto Engineering Group – Walnut Creek, CA
•KPFF – San Diego, CA
•KSE - Riverside, CA
•Underground Solutions – Escondido, CA
Firms that submitted a LOI, but did not propose were MS Scanning, Pipe and Plant Solutions Inc., and PSOMAS.
In accordance with the District’s Policy 21, staff evaluated, scored all written proposals, and interviewed three firms on June 10, 2026. AirX received the highest score for their services based on their
experience, understanding of the scope of work, proposed method to accomplish the work, and their composite hourly rate. AirX was the
most qualified consultant with the best overall rating or ranking scores. A summary of the complete evaluation is shown in Attachment
B.
AirX submitted the Company Background Questionnaire as required by
the RFP, and staff did not find any outstanding issues. In addition, staff checked their references and conducted an internet search on the company. Staff found the references to be excellent and did not find any outstanding issues with the internet search.
FISCAL IMPACT: Joe Beachem, Chief Financial Officer
The funds for this agreement will be expended from Fiscal Years 2027, 2028, and 2029 budgets for various CIP and developer projects or programs. This agreement is for professional As-Needed Utility
Locating Services based on the District's needs and schedule, and expenditures will not be made until a task order is approved by the
District for the consultant's services.
Based on a review of the financial budgets, the Project Manager
anticipates that the budgets will be sufficient to support the professional as-needed consulting services required for the projects
or programs.
The Finance Department has determined that the funds to cover this agreement will be available as budgeted for these projects.
4
GRANTS/LOANS:
Engineering staff researched and explored grants and loans and found none available for this Project.
STRATEGIC GOAL:
This Project supports the District’s Mission statement, “To provide exceptional water and wastewater service to its customers, and to
manage District resources in a transparent and fiscally responsible manner” and the General Manager’s Vision, "To be a model water
agency by providing stellar service, achieving measurable results, and continuously improving operational practices."
LEGAL IMPACT:
None.
MO/KC/ML:jf Attachments: Attachment A – Committee Action
Attachment B – Summary of Proposal Rankings
ATTACHMENT A
SUBJECT/PROJECT:
VARIOUS
Award of As-Needed Utility Locating Services Agreement to AirX for Fiscal Years 2027-2029
COMMITTEE ACTION:
The Engineering, Operations, and Water Resources Committee (Committee) reviewed this item at a meeting held on July 21, 2026.
The Committee supported the staff’s recommendation.
NOTE:
The “Committee Action” is written in anticipation of the Committee
moving the item forward for Board approval. This report will be sent to the Board as a Committee approved item or modified to reflect any discussion or changes as directed by the Committee
prior to presentation to the full Board.
Qualifications of
Team
Responsiveness
and Project
Understanding
Technical and
Management
Approach
INDIVIDUAL
TOTAL -
WRITTEN
AVERAGE
WRITTEN
TOTAL
Consultant's
Commitment to
DBE
Additional
Creativity and
Insight
Strength of
Project Manager
Presentation &
Communication
Skills
Responses to
Questions
INDIVIDUAL
TOTAL - ORAL
AVERAGE
ORAL TOTAL
TOTAL SCORE
WITHOUT FEE Proposed Fee TOTAL
SCORE
30 25 30 85 85 Y/N 15 15 10 10 50 50 135 15 150
Poor/Good/
Excellent
Aaron Hazard 20 20 25 65 10 13 9 8 40
Brandon DiPietro 28 24 28 80 15 14 9 8 46
Damon Newman 26 22 26 74 14 13 10 10 47
Juliana Luengas 23 21 23 67 13 14 9 9 45
Michael O'Donnell 27 23 27 77 13 13 9 9 44
Aaron Hazard 20 15 20 55
Brandon DiPietro 21 20 20 61
Damon Newman 24 20 23 67
Juliana Luengas 21 17 21 59
Michael O'Donnell 20 20 21 61
Aaron Hazard 15 18 20 53
Brandon DiPietro 20 21 23 64
Damon Newman 20 21 23 64
Juliana Luengas 19 18 20 57
Michael O'Donnell 20 20 22 62
Aaron Hazard 25 20 18 63 12 13 9 7 41
Brandon DiPietro 24 21 22 67 12 11 6 7 36
Damon Newman 24 21 23 68 10 11 7 7 35
Juliana Luengas 24 22 23 69 11 12 8 7 38
Michael O'Donnell 24 22 23 69 11 13 8 7 39
Aaron Hazard 25 20 20 65 10 11 6 7 34
Brandon DiPietro 24 23 25 72 13 12 6 7 38
Damon Newman 25 22 25 72 13 12 7 9 41
Juliana Luengas 26 20 24 70 11 12 8 8 39
Michael O'Donnell 27 22 26 75 12 12 7 7 38
Notes:
Consultant Fee Score 1. Review Panel does not see or consider proposed fee when scoring other categories. The proposed fee is scored by Engineering staff not on the Review Panel.
AIRX $1,215 14 2. The fees were evaluated by comparing rates for four catagories. The sum of these 4 rates are noted on the table to the left.
ALISTO $1,150 14
KPFF $815 15
KSE $3,332 10
USI $7,894 1
117
MAXIMUM POINTS
ALISTO
ATTACHMENT B
SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL RANKINGS
As-Needed Utility Locating Services - Fiscal Years 2027 - 2029
WRITTEN ORAL
44
FEE SCORING CHART
REFERENCES
61 Y
ExcellentAIRX73Y14 131
6161
KPFF 60 Y 60 60
KSE 67 Y 38 105 10 115
FIRM NOT INTERVIEWED
FIRM NOT INTERVIEWED
110USI71Y38 109 1