Porterville commits $1.5m to Putnam-Tomah water-main upgrade

Porterville commits $1.5m to Putnam-Tomah water-main upgradeThe Porterville City Council unanimously awarded the Putnam and Tomah Area Concrete and Water Improvements Project to Advanced Engineering USA for $1.25 million. The approval also reallocates $596,523.82 from available water-fund balance to fully finance the $1.497 million programme.

Advanced Engineering USA of Porterville submitted the lowest responsive bid, $1,247,835, or 3.38% below the engineer’s estimate.

The project will replace water mains and install curbs, gutters, sidewalks and drive approaches in the West Putnam School area.

Council approved an additional $596,523.82 from the water enterprise fund after determining that previously identified funding sources could not be applied as originally planned.

Measure R’s Active Transportation Program will provide $100,877.18 for eligible pedestrian-related components.

Porterville City Council has approved a $1.497 million package for water-main replacement and pedestrian improvements around West Putnam School, awarding the construction contract to local bidder Advanced Engineering USA. The Putnam and Tomah Area Concrete and Water Improvements Project will replace water mains while adding curb, gutter, sidewalk and drive approaches along the north side of Tomah Avenue between Lotus Street and Beverly Street; Beverly Street between Tomah and Putnam avenues; and the south side of Putnam Avenue between Newcomb and Beverly streets. Advanced Engineering USA submitted the lowest responsive offer among nine bids, at $1,247,835. Staff said the bid was 3.38% below the engineer’s estimate and had been reviewed and found acceptable. Council’s 4-0 approval includes a 10% construction contingency of $124,783 and a further $124,783 allowance for construction management, surveying, quality control and inspection. Together with the construction award, these allowances bring the total project budget to $1,497,401. The city’s fiscal 2026-27 capital improvement programme had already identified $800,000 in water-replacement funding. However, staff said the project required a budget change because the funding sources originally identified limited which costs could be allocated to them. Council consequently appropriated an additional $596,523.82 from available water-fund balance to fully fund the work. The approval also adopts a Measure R programme supplement to a cooperative agreement with the Tulare County Association of Governments. Pedestrian-related elements are eligible for reimbursement under Measure R’s Active Transportation Program, which will contribute $100,877.18 toward eligible costs. Staff said it waits for bids before seeking necessary budget augmentations so that requests reflect actual project values and appropriate funding sources rather than preliminary estimates prepared before full design work is complete. In supporting the project, a council member said the neighbourhood floods and described the long-awaited sidewalks as a needed improvement. Another member recalled walking to West Putnam School without sidewalks 53 years ago, calling the work "long overdue."