Visalia City Council - File #: 25-0716

• File #: 25-0716
• Version: 1
• Type: Consent Item
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 3/6/2026
• In control: Visalia City Council
• On agenda: 3/16/2026
• Title: Award contract for emergency culvert replacement - Authorize the City Manager to award an emergency construction contract to Dawson-Mauldin, LLC for the Evans Ditch culvert replacement on Conyer Street project, in the amount of $435,070 and authorize the appropriation of $590,000 from the Gas Tax (111) fund.

 Agenda Item Wording:

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Award contract for emergency culvert replacement - Authorize the City Manager to award an emergency construction contract to Dawson-Mauldin, LLC for the Evans Ditch culvert replacement on Conyer Street project, in the amount of $435,070 and authorize the appropriation of $590,000 from the Gas Tax (111) fund.

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Agenda Date:  03/16/2026

Prepared by:

Jonathan Frausto, Associate Engineer, jonathan.frausto@visalia.gov, 713-4369

Chris Crawford, City Engineer, chris.crawford@visalia.gov, 713-4331

Jason Huckleberry, Engineering and Building Department Director, Jason.huckleberry@visalia.gov, 713-4495

Department Recommendation:

Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to award an emergency construction contract to Dawson-Mauldin, LLC for the Evans Ditch culvert replacement on Conyer Street, in the amount of $435,070 and appropriate $590,000 from the Gas Tax (111) fund.

Summary:

The project will replace the existing Evans Ditch culvert in Conyer Street between Howard Avenue and Feemster Avenue. The existing culvert is estimated to be over 100 years old and in need of immediate replacement. The road section around this culvert started to cave in on Wednesday March 4, 2026 while irrigation flows were present in the ditch. Upon investigation, water had significantly undercut the existing structure and there was significant damage to the top of the existing culvert. The Tulare Irrigation District (TID) stopped the water flow on Wednesday March 4^th to prevent additional damage. However, TID needs to utilize the ditch for irrigation flows again in early May. City staff has been working to coordinate the replacement so that it can be completed before early May.

City staff worked quickly to prepare a set of plans for the replacement and coordinated with contractor Dawson-Mauldin to provide a bid to complete this work. Dawson-Mauldin has capacity in their schedule to do this work right now and it is expected to take 4 weeks to complete the work. Dawson-Mauldin is the contractor that is finishing up the work on the Mill Creek at Giddings replacement project. Their work on the current culvert project has been excellent, their references have been exemplary, and they have a history of successful projects with the city.       

Background Discussion:

The Central Valley is the heart of agriculture within the State of California. Due to this economic sector, many service line ditches were created off major bodies of water to help facilitate water deliveries throughout the Tulare County area. Evans Ditch in the City of Visalia is one of many service line canals. As natural growth occurred and city limits expanded, many roadways were constructed over existing canals utilizing culvert crossings typical of construction practices of that era.

This typical culvert design, which can be seen throughout the City of Visalia, consists of two sidewalls and a top slab. This simple construction method allowed culverts to be installed efficiently while allowing water to flow freely along the natural soil. However, over time this condition can lead to erosion of the underlying material, particularly when water infiltrates or “washes out” the surrounding soil material.

On March 4, 2026, the City of Visalia Public Works Department was called to investigate a possible sinkhole near the Evan’s Ditch culvert on Conyer Street between Howard Avenue and Feemster Avenue. Upon investigation, it was determined that, due to the construction and design of the culvert, water infiltration along the sidewalls had caused the roadway structural section to fail. Figure 1 shows the initial erosion caused by the absence of a bottom slab.

Figure 1: photo of bottom of Evans Culvert

As mentioned earlier in the report, this initial erosion, over time, can cause more of the surrounding soil to be impacted and washed out. Figure 2 shows the effects of prolonged erosion along the exterior sidewall and, ultimately, the failure of the adjacent pavement section.

Figure 2: photo of Culvert side wall erosion

Separate from the erosion and adjacent pavement failure, further investigation revealed cracking along the bottom of the top slab, as well as deflection from loads produced by the roadway above. As shown in Figure 3, several sections of rebar (structural steel) were completely exposed.

Figure 3: photo of cracking and exposed rebar

These conditions, along with the washout of the adjacent roadway structural section, indicate that the culvert has experienced significant structural deterioration and requires immediate replacement.

Fiscal Impact:

Staff is recommending appropriating funds for the culvert replacement at Evans Ditch from the Gas Tax (Fund 111).

Evans Ditch Emergency Replacement
Project Funding Source
	$               0
Total Project Funding	$               0
Estimated Project Costs
Project Management (Project Design & Management)	$        5,000
Construction	$    435,070
Construction Contingency (~20.0%)	$      87,000
Construction Management (Staff Time)	$      10,000
Construction Services (Inspection)	$      10,000
Construction Services (Material Testing)	$      35,100
Construction Services (Construction Staking)	$        5,000
Total Estimated Project Costs	$    587,170
Surplus (Deficit)	($   587,170)
Round to	$    590,000
Appropriation Request from Gas Tax (Fund 111)	$    590,000

Prior Council Action: N/A

Alternatives: None

Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):

recommendation

I move to authorize the City Manager to enter into an emergency construction contract with Dawson-Mauldin, LLC for the Evans Ditch culvert replacement on Conyer Street in the amount of $435,070 and appropriate $590,000 from the Gas Tax (111) fund.

CEQA Review:  N/A

Deadline for Action:  03/16/2026

Attachments:

1.                     Project Location Map

2.                     Dawson Mauldin, LLC Construction Draft Contract

3.                     Dawson Mauldin Bid

4.                     Ownership Disclosure Form

Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.

☐Economic Vitality

☐ Organizational Excellence

☐Fiscal Strength

☒ Infrastructure & Growth

☒ Quality  of Life