Agenda Item Wording:
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Approve a contract amendment with Mike Clark Trucking - Approve an amendment to the contract with Mike Clark Trucking to increase the annual not-to-exceed amount from $170,000 to $226,800 to haul biosolids from the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility.
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Prepared by: Ben Litwack, Public Works Manager, 713-4671, ben.litwack@visalia.city
Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, 713-4052, nick.bartsch@visalia.city
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that Council approve an amendment to contract C25072 with Mike Clark Trucking to increase the annual not-to-exceed amount from $170,000 to $226,800 to haul biosolids from the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility. The appropriation for this increase is being requested in another, related staff report on this agenda.
Summary:
The City of Visalia contracts with Mike Clark Trucking to haul biosolids from the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility to disposal sites. Due to reduced capacity at the Tulare County Landfill, the City now intends to utilize Holloway Environmental in Lost Hills, CA, which can accept the necessary volumes to meet regulatory deadlines. This alternative location increases haul distance and transportation costs, making the current contract limit of $170,000 inadequate. Staff is requesting an increase to the contract’s annual not-to-exceed amount to $226,800 to support the higher cost of hauling biosolids over a longer distance.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia contracts with Mike Clark Trucking for the transportation of biosolids generated at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) to designated disposal facilities. Historically, the City has relied on the Tulare County Landfill to accept biosolids for final disposal. However, due to specialized handling requirements and the landfill’s obligation to prioritize disposal services for other regional agencies, biosolids acceptance capacity has been significantly reduced. The landfill now limits the City to disposing only 100 tons every other week.
As a result, the City has identified Holloway Environmental in Lost Hills, CA as an alternate disposal site with the capacity to accept the volumes required to meet the Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) set forth by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Utilizing Holloway Environmental as the primary biosolids disposal site will increase the average haul distance and duration for each trip, resulting in higher overall transportation costs. The existing annual contract limit of $170,000 is insufficient to cover the increased hauling frequency and distance required to transport the full 2024 biosolids stockpile as well as ongoing biosolids production.
To accommodate this shift, staff is requesting an increase to the not-to-exceed amount for Contract C25072 with Mike Clark Trucking, raising it to $226,800 for the current fiscal year. This amount reflects the estimated cost of hauling biosolids to Holloway Environmental at an average rate of approximately 200 tons per day, five days a week, using seven covered trucks.
Fiscal Impact: Staff believe it will take up to 30 working days to remove the 2024 biosolids stockpile. Mike Clark Trucking currently charges $135/hr per truck and will use 7 covered trucks per day. Staff estimates that the not-to-exceed will need to be increased to $226,800 to cover the hauling. Adequate funds are appropriated from the Wastewater Fund (431) into the biosolids operating budget in 4336-55700.
Prior Council Action: April 7, 2025 - Council approved a contract with Mike Clark Trucking not to exceed $170,000 per year.
Other: N/A
Alternatives: N/A
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve an amendment to contract the with Mike Clark Trucking to increase the annual not-to-exceed amount from $170,000 to $226,800 to haul biosolids from the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 8/18/2025
Attachments: Contract with Mike Clark Trucking