Board Of Public Utilities

Santa Rosa Water is asking the Board of Public Utilities to approve a $16,000 amendment to its software agreement with SpryPoint Services, Inc., bringing the total cost to $112,711 to implement upgraded backflow prevention tracking software that replaces 20-year-old legacy system. The extra funding is needed because the project team discovered additional work is required for data mapping, conversion, testing, and project management, which will also delay the software launch from August to November 2026. The $16,000 cost is already budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Santa Rosa Water Quality budget and has no impact on the General Fund.

The Board of Public Utilities is being asked to recommend that City Council authorize Santa Rosa Water to issue approximately $49.2 million in Wastewater Revenue Bonds (Series 2026A) to fund $35 million in electrical infrastructure upgrades at the Laguna Treatment Plant, where aging equipment is reaching the end of its service life. As part of this financing strategy, the city would refinance and pay off two older bond series (2014A and 2016A) and partially pay down a third (2002B), which is expected to save $480,000 in net present value and reduce overall debt service payments by approximately $11 million, keeping maximum annual debt service lower than current levels despite the new borrowing. The bonds will be repaid from wastewater system revenues, not the general fund, with financing costs and interest capped at 4.50 percent.

The Board of Public Utilities is being asked to approve an $600,000 increase and one-year extension to the contract with Trojan Technologies Corp for replacement parts to keep the aging UV disinfection system at the Laguna Wastewater Treatment Plant running. The city's old Trojan UV4000 system must stay operational while a replacement De Nora C3500D system is being installed, but construction delays mean the old equipment needs to continue operating longer than expected to maintain compliance with state water quality requirements. The funding is already budgeted in the Water Department's 2026-27 operations and maintenance budget with no impact to the General Fund, bringing the total contract value to $6.1 million since the original award in 2021.

The Board of Public Utilities should approve a sole-source purchase of replacement stormwater pumps and equipment from Xylem Water Solutions for $270,000 to fix the 3rd Street Depression Pump Station beneath Santa Rosa Plaza. During routine maintenance in September 2026, staff discovered that the station's 25-year-old pumps have severe material deterioration, making replacement of all three pumps more practical than rebuilding them, and Xylem is the only authorized supplier of Flygt municipal equipment in Sonoma County. With California under a state of emergency for an anticipated strong El Niño event in late 2026 and early 2027, replacing these pumps now is critical to prevent flooding on 3rd Street, which relies entirely on mechanical pumping since it has no gravity drainage outlet.

The Board of Public Utilities is being asked to recommend that City Council approve granting a utility easement to PG&E across about 9,352 square feet of City-owned land along the future Farmers Lane extension route so PG&E can install permanent electrical service to Reservoir 11. Currently the reservoir receives power through a temporary overhead line from Green Hill Drive that crosses County-owned property, and this permanent underground solution will replace those temporary facilities once energized. The action has no fiscal impact to the city's budget.

The Board of Public Utilities is being asked to approve a $216,000 increase to the existing contract with Graybar Electric Company for electrical equipment, replacement parts, and maintenance services at the Laguna Treatment Plant, bringing the total contract value to $245,906.22. The increase is needed to maintain critical electrical and control systems, particularly Schneider Electric variable frequency drives, with $66,000 budgeted for six annual preventive maintenance site visits and $150,000 for equipment and parts. The funding is already included in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 operations and maintenance budget with no impact to the General Fund.

The Board of Public Utilities is being asked to increase spending authority with Frank Olsen Company by $100,000 to bring the total to $199,999 for purchasing specialized equipment and replacement parts from Rotork and DeZURIK that are used throughout the Regional Water Reuse System. The increase is necessary because Santa Rosa Water has spent approximately $70,000 of the current $99,999 authorization and needs more funding to maintain adequate inventory of critical parts, which face upward price pressure and extended lead times in the current market. Frank Olsen Company is the sole authorized source in Northern California for these manufacturer-specific products, making sole-source procurement appropriate under city code, and the funding comes from the wastewater system's operating budget with no impact to the General Fund.

The Board of Public Utilities is being asked to approve a $250,000 increase to an existing purchase order with DXP Enterprises, raising the total spending authority to $349,000 for specialized pumps, valves, and replacement parts needed to keep Santa Rosa's wastewater treatment and recycled water system running. DXP is the sole authorized distributor for six manufacturers whose equipment is installed throughout the Regional Water Reuse System, and maintaining adequate inventory of these manufacturer-specific parts is essential to minimize equipment downtime and prevent system disruptions. The funding is already budgeted in Santa Rosa Water's operations and maintenance account with no impact to the General Fund.

The Board of Public Utilities is being asked to approve a $150,000 contract with the law firm Jones Hall LLP to provide legal services for issuing new wastewater revenue bonds. Santa Rosa Water needs this financing to pay for a $35 million electrical infrastructure replacement project at the Laguna Treatment Plant, where much of the equipment is over 50 years old and has reached the end of its useful life. The legal fees will be paid directly from the bond proceeds, and Jones Hall LLP was selected because of their prior experience with the city's water and wastewater bond issuances and familiarity with the city's facilities.