To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ANDREW WINJE, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
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ADOPT THE 2025 INTERIM SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN (SSMP) UPDATE TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD ORDER NO. WQ 2022-0103-DWQ AND APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH DUDEK FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SSMP UPDATE, SYSTEM CONDITION ASSESSMENT, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1.8 MILLION THROUGH JUNE 1, 2029
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted revised statewide Sanitary Sewer System Waste Discharge Requirements under Order No. WQ 2022-0103-DWQ (Order), which became effective on June 5, 2023. To expeditiously maintain compliance with the revised Order, the City retained Fischer Compliance, LLC on May 2, 2023 to prepare the Interim 2025 Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) Update. The Interim 2025 SSMP Update was submitted to the SWRCB on August 4, 2025 to meet applicable regulatory deadlines. City Council’s adoption of the Interim 2025 SSMP is required to continue to meet regulatory requirements and guide staff on recommended updates to the SSMP components.
Additionally, staff solicited a request for proposals for professional services needed to prepare a comprehensive SSMP update, which includes broad infrastructure inspections and the development of a capital plan and estimate of future maintenance and capital improvement costs for the City’s wastewater system. The RFP was issued on February 24, 2026 and was advertised on the City’s procurement platform and directly sent to multiple known vendors. Only two firms responded to the RFP with both of the firms being highly qualified. Following a review of the submitted proposals and consultant interviews, Dudek was selected as the most qualified consultant team.
The proposed Agreement with Dudek for preparation of the updated SSMP requires a number of services including hydraulic modeling, closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspections and planning, condition assessment, flow monitoring, Operations and Maintenance program evaluation, pump station assessment, remote Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) review, and the development of a multi-year prioritized Capital Improvement Program (CIP) with estimated costs.
Approval of the Agreement would initiate the process to update the City’s SSMP, which is required by State Law. The cost of the multi-year agreement is not no exceed $1,800,000. The majority of the cost of the contract ($1,000,000) is driven by the CCTV inspection and system condition assessment work, which is critical to the prioritization of all future system repairs. The proposed Agreement is funded entirely by the City’s Wastewater Enterprise Fund and is included in the approved CIP as part of Sanitary Sewer Management Plan Project #50330.
BACKGROUND
In 2006, the SWRCB adopted Water Quality Order No. 2006-0003, requiring public agencies operating sanitary sewer systems greater than one mile in length to prepare and maintain a SSMP. In response, the City adopted its original SSMP in 2009 and has continued to update and implement the program, including updates to the Spill Emergency Response Plan, improvements to the Fats, Oils, and Grease program, and ongoing system rehabilitation. The City Council most recently recertified the SSMP on August 2, 2022.
On December 6, 2022, the SWRCB adopted Order No. WQ 2022-0103-DWQ, which became effective on June 5, 2023 and superseded the 2006 Order. The revised Order expanded SSMP requirements with additional emphasis on system evaluation, condition assessment, capacity assurance, performance metrics, climate resilience, and CIP development.
To meet the revised Order’s requirements, the City retained Fischer Compliance, LLC to provide regulatory and technical assistance. Fischer Compliance prepared the Interim 2025 SSMP Update using available City information and incorporated the revised regulatory requirements, updated organizational responsibilities, revised operational procedures, and updated implementation schedules necessary to maintain the City’s regulatory standing.
The Interim 2025 SSMP Update was submitted to the State authority (CIWQS) on August 4, 2025 as an interim update pending City Council adoption. Formal City Council adoption of the update would complete the compliance process. Following adoption, the City would upload the Council-approved version to CIWQS and make it available for public review in accordance with the Order.
The Interim 2025 SSMP was a compliance-focused document based on currently available information. It was not intended to replace the comprehensive technical evaluation needed to address the City’s long-term wastewater infrastructure needs.
The City’s wastewater collection system consists of approximately 112 miles of gravity sewer mains, approximately two miles of force mains, 16 pump stations, and associated appurtenances serving the City. Portions of the wastewater system are aging and subject to operational, structural, hydraulic, and coastal resiliency challenges, including infiltration and inflow, restricted access areas, tidal influence, and capacity limitations. Staff determined that a comprehensive assessment engineering and capital planning effort is necessary to support long-term implementation of the SSMP and the development of future capital improvement priorities.
To develop and update this technical foundation, staff issued a Request for Proposals for professional engineering and technical services for a comprehensive SSMP update and sewer system evaluation. Only two firms responded, despite efforts to reach a wide audience through the City’s OpenGov procurement portal and distribution to known vendors. Following proposal review and consultant interviews, the evaluation panel selected Dudek as the most qualified team based on technical approach, relevant experience, project understanding, staffing, and interview performance.
Under the proposed agreement, Dudek would provide professional engineering, planning, and technical services necessary to prepare a comprehensive update to the City’s SSMP and supporting wastewater system evaluation. The scope of work includes project management, risk-based CCTV inspection, PACP-based condition coding, flow monitoring, hydraulic model development and calibration, capacity assessment, pump station evaluation, SCADA integration review, Operations and Maintenance Program evaluation, and the development of a prioritized rehabilitation and replacement program, with estimated costs, for the next 5-, 10-, and 20-years.
The SSMP update will also include updates to all eleven SSMP elements in accordance with the Order, including:
• Goals and System Introduction
• Organization
• Legal Authority
• Operations and Maintenance Program
• Design and Performance Provisions
• Spill Emergency Response Plan
• Sewer Pipe Blockage Control Program
• System Evaluation, Capacity Assurance, and Capital Improvements
• Monitoring, Measurement, and Program Modifications
• Internal Audits
• Communication Program
This work can not be avoided and is necessary to move the City from interim compliance documentation to a comprehensive, data-driven SSMP program. The updated SSMP would be presented to City Council for consideration of adoption when it is complete. Dudek’s work is critical to identify any existing system deficiencies, prioritize infrastructure repairs/improvements, outline long term maintenance and capital costs, and provide a defensible basis for future wastewater system decisions and any needed fee/rate adjustments.
COORDINATION
The Public Works Department coordinated the RFP with the Financial Services Department. The City Attorney’s Office reviewed and approved the Agreement with Dudek as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the contract is included in the approved CIP as part of the Sanitary Sewer Management Plan Project #50330 account and is paid for through Wastewater Enterprise Funds.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Agmt - Dudek
• Interim 2025 Sewer System Management Plan Update
• Insurance - Dudek