Agenda Item Wording:
title
Award construction contract and accept California Natural Resources Agency funding - Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract for the Oaks Basin project to Archer Civil Construction, LLC. in the amount of $3,723,412.66, transfer $150,000 within the Storm Drain Deficiency Fund (222), and accept and appropriate an additional $1,400,000 grant funding from the State of California Natural Resources Agency.
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Agenda Date: 02/17/2026
Prepared by:
Eric Bons, Senior Civil Engineer, eric.bons@visalia.gov, 559-713-4350
Dolores Verduzco, Financial Analyst, dolores.verduzco@visalia.gov, 559-713-4540
Chris Crawford, City Engineer, chris.crawford@visalia.gov, 559-713-4331
Jason Huckleberry, Engr. & Bldg. Dir., Jason.huckleberry@visalia.gov, 559-713-4495
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends City Council authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract for the Oaks Basin project to Archer Civil Construction, Inc. in the amount of $3,723,412.66, transfer $150,000 within the Storm Drain Deficiency Fund (222) to the Oaks Basin project (CP0515), and accept and appropriate an additional $1,400,000 grant funding from the State of California Natural Resources Agency.
Summary:
The Oaks Basin project is part of a three-basin project (the Lower Kaweah River and Mill Creek Flood Control Improvement Project) to increase flood protection within the City of Visalia. The Lower Kaweah River and Mill Creek System project is funded by a California Department of Water Resources Floor Corridor Program grant, California Natural Resources grant, and includes funding from the City’s Storm Sewer Deficiency (222) Fund for the acquisition and development of the Peoples Basin, Oaks Basin and expansion of the Goshen Basin. The Goshen Basin project was completed in 2023. The first phase was the excavation of Peoples Basin which was completed in 2022. The last phase of the Peoples Basin is the installation of landscaping with the installation of the inlet and outlet structures in the Kaweah River. The Peoples Basin has been advertised for construction (RFB 25-26-28) and staff is reviewing the bid proposals. The Oaks Basin project consists of expanding the basins storage capacity, installation of inlet and outlet structures, and the landscaping of the basin.
The Oaks Basin project (RFB 25-26-27) was advertised and closed in December with eight construction proposals received. Archer Civil Construction, LLC. was the low bidder in the amount of $3,723,412.66 for the base bid with all the alternate bid items except the installation of mulch which will be completed by Community Services Employment Training (CSET). The City also secured an additional $1,400,000 from the State of California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to complete this project. City staff will complete the appropriate paperwork with CNRA following City Council’s approval.
Background Discussion:
The Oaks Basin project is part of a three-basin project (the Lower Kaweah River and Mill Creek Flood Control Improvements Project) to increase flood protection within the City of Visalia. The Goshen Basin expansion was completed in 2023. The first phase was the excavation of Peoples Basin which was completed in 2022. The last phase of the Peoples Basin is the installation of landscaping with the installation of the inlet and outlet structures in the Kaweah River.
The Oaks Basin will create a stormwater and groundwater recharge basin located on 17.6 acres to the east of Visalia. The project will expand on the existing Oaks Basin creating 14.3 additional acres of storage space for the stormwater storage and groundwater recharge. This basin will reduce peak flows on Mill Creek just upstream of the city boundaries. The project will include a Valley Oak Woodland Habitat Component, planting 2.3 acres of the site with native Valley Oak trees and California native understory plantings.
The basin will receive and deliver water via a new connecting facility to the existing Oaks Basin. The existing Oaks Basin is owned by the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District. The Oaks Basin project will expand the existing basin and add 124 acre-feet of additional storage. The project will help divert peak flow waters in an effort to diminish flooding downstream in Visalia during 25-to-100-year flood events. This project is estimated to provide significant flood damage reduction.
The Oaks Basin project was advertised (RFB 25-26-27) and the bid proposals were open on December 11, 2025. There was a total eight (8) bid proposals submitted.
|
|
Contractor |
Location |
Bid Amount |
|
1. |
Archer Civil Construction, LLC |
Tulare, CA |
$ 3,723,412.66 |
|
2. |
Cal Valley Construction, Inc. |
Fresno, CA |
$ 4,075,480.00 |
|
3. |
JT2 Inc dba Todd Companies |
Visalia, CA |
$ 4,275,000.00 |
|
4. |
Avison Construction, Inc. |
Madera, CA |
$ 4,302,080.00 |
|
5. |
Terra West Construction, Inc. |
Clovis, CA |
$ 4,697,443.00 |
|
6. |
MD Construction Co., Inc. |
Santa Maria, CA |
$ 5,075,055.91 |
|
7. |
Dawson-Mauldin, LLC |
Selma, CA |
$ 5,543,396.00 |
|
8. |
MAC General Engineering Inc. |
Exeter, CA |
$ 5,843,688.91 |
Archer Civil Construction, LLC submitted the apparent low bid of $3,723,412.66 to complete the base bid with all three alternative bid items except for the installation of the mulch which will be performed by CSET. City staff has reviewed the bid documents and found them to be complete and acceptable. As part of the review process, the references provided by Archer Civil Construction, LLC. have been verified. The responses from each reference were favorable and demonstrated that Archer Civil Construction, LLC. can perform the work for this project.
Fiscal Impact:
The funding for this project is a combination of California Natural Resources Grant and the Storm Sewer Deficiency (222) fund shown in the following table.
Project Funding (CP0515):
|
|
California Natural Resources Grant (Fund) |
$ 2,867,667 |
|
|
Storm Sewer Deficiency (222) fund |
$ 85,000 |
|
|
Funding Total: |
$ 2,952,667 |
Project Expenditures:
|
|
Engineering (Estimated) |
$ 150,000 |
|
|
Construction Proposal (Archer Civil Construction) |
$ 3,723,413 |
|
|
Construction Surveying (Estimated) |
$ 40,000 |
|
|
Construction Management (Estimated) |
$ 75,000 |
|
|
Inspection & Geotechnical (Estimated) |
$ 75,000 |
|
|
Contingency (10%) |
$ 372,341 |
|
|
Expenditure Subtotal: |
$ 4,435,754 |
Project Summary:
|
|
Project Funding: |
$ 2,952,667 |
|
|
Project Expenditures: |
$ 4,435,754 |
|
|
Surplus /(Deficit): |
($1,483,087) |
Additional Funding
|
|
Storm Sewer Deficiency (222) fund (transfer from CP0712) |
$ 150,000 |
|
|
California Natural Resources Grant (additional funds) |
$ 1,400,000 |
|
|
Surplus /(Deficit): |
$ 1,550,000 |
Staff recommends addressing the budget deficit by the transfer of funds in the amount of $150,000 within the Storm Sewer Deficiency Fund (222) from the Flood Layoff Feasibility Study Project (CP0712) to the Oaks Basin project to help address the budget shortfall. Additional grant funds in the amount of $1,400,000 were requested from CNRA. CRNA agreed to providing the additional funding requested and staff will complete the necessary amendment for the additional $1,400,000 of grant funding.
The Oaks Basin is currently maintained by the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District (KDWCD) and will be maintained by KDWCD after the work has been completed. The Storm Sewer Maintenance Division will not be charged for the maintenance of the Oaks Basin because KDWCD will perform the maintenance of this basin. Typically the cost to maintain the basin is $1,255 per acre per year. The basin is approximately 45 acres for an estimated annual cost of $56,475 per year which will not be incurred by the city’s Storm Sewer Maintenance Division.
The overall project funding and expenditure will be continually reviewed during the construction phase of this project. Any adjustments to the project budget will be reviewed by city staff and brought before City Council in accordance with the city’s purchasing policies. Any funds remaining after the project’s completion will be returned to the fund from which they originated.
Prior Council Action:
April 17, 2006. City Council authorized the execution of the agreement with Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District to divert storm water flows from Mill Creek into joint use basins.
February 22, 2011. City Council authorized the submission of an application for up to $5 million for a “Proposition 84 and 1E” California Department of Water Resources Flood Corridor Program Grant to develop storm runoff basins along the Lower Kaweah River, Mill Creek, and the City’s storm drain system. (Resolution 2011-05 required).
December 13, 2012. City Council authorized the City Manager to execute the Funding Agreement with the California Department of Water Resources for the $4,615,174 Flood Corridor Grant for the Lower Kaweah River and Mill Creek System Flood Control Improvement Projects.
November 21, 2013. City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a professional service agreement with Provost & Prichard Consulting Group for RFP 12-13-71, in the amount of $319,351 for Engineering Design and Regulatory Services to develop one new storm basin (Peoples Basin) and expand two other storm basins (Oakes and Goshen Basins). This project tis primarily funded by a $4,615,174 grant from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) as a Lower Kaweah River and Mill Creek Flood Control Improvements Project.
January 1, 2014. Real property negotiations for the Peoples Basin, Oakes Basin, and the Goshen Basin.
August 20, 2018. City Council authorized the City Manager to award a construction contract for RFB 17-18-78 to the lowest responsible bidder, HD Matthews Demolition & Excavation, Inc. in the amount of $109,000.00 for the removal of the orchard and vineyard on a 17-acre site located in the area of the future Tower Street and SR-198 Interchange.
May 6, 2019. City Council authorized the Notice of Completion for the removal of the orchard and vineyard on a 17 acre site located in the area of the future Tower Street (Rd 148) and the SR-198 interchange.
December 12, 2020. City Council awarded the construction contract for RFB 20-21-21, Site Demolition and Clearing of the Oaks West Basin (north of Highway 198 and east of Road 152) to ARES General Engineering of Prather, CA in the amount of $178,760.
May 17, 2021. City Council authorized the filing of the Notice of Completion for RFB 20-21-21, Site Demolition and Clearing of the Oakes West Basin (north of Highway 198 and east of Road 152).
June 21, 2021. City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-33 approving the application for grant funds from the Urban Flood Protection Grant Program. The grant application is for the Oakes Basin expansion project.
August 16, 2021. City Council approved the City of Visalia Functional Equivalent Stormwater Resource Plan (SWRP) to establish eligibility for Strom Water Grant Funds applied to for the Oakes Basing generally located on the northeast corner of Road 152 and Packwood Creek, directly east of the planned East Side Regional Park, and authorized the City Manager or their designee to sign the plan.
February 2, 2022. City Council authorized the appropriation of $2,867,667 in funds awarded from the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), Proposition 68 - Urban Flood Protection Grant Program and the transfer of $90,000 within the Storm Sewer Deficiency (222) Fund from the Lower Kaweah River and Mill Creek Flood Control Project to the Oakes Basin Project.
June 19, 2023. City Council authorized the City Manager to execute the existing Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District “Restated Basin Agreement: for the Oakes, Oakes West Expansion (Andrade), and Peoples Basin as required by the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Grant Requirements and funding source.
Alternatives: Reject bid proposals and readvertise project.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract for the Oaks Basin project to Archer Civil Construction, Inc. in the amount of $3,723,412.66, transfer $150,000 within the Storm Drain Deficiency Fund (222) from the Flood Layoff Feasibility Study (CP0712) to the Oaks Basin project (CP0515), and accept and appropriate an additional $1,400,000 grant funding from the State of California Natural Resources Agency.
Environmental Assessment Status: The environmental assessment was completed during the design process.
CEQA Review: Notice of Exemption filed as Environmental Document No. 2018-39.
Deadline for Action: 2/17/2026
Attachments:
1. Project Location Map.
2. RFB 25-26-27 Draft Construction Contract
3. Archer Civil Construction, LLC Bid Proposal
4. Archer Civil Construction, LLC Ownership Disclosure Form
Strategic Goal:
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☐  Economic Vitality |
☐  Organizational Excellence |
☐  Fiscal Strength |
☒  Infrastructure & Growth |
☐  Quality of Life |