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Item # 20
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
April 1, 2025
TOPIC: Water Resources Division Construction Services Section
AGENDA TITLE
Fiscal Year 2024-25 Create a Construction Services Section and Add 13 Full -Time
Positions (Non -General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt a resolution to amend the current fiscal year 2024-25 annual budget to add 13 full-
time positions and create a Construction Services Section in the Public Works Agency
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-XXX entitled A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SANTA ANA TO AMEND THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2024-25
ANNUAL BUDGET TO ADD FULL-TIME POSITIONS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS
AGENCY
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
The Public Works Agency (PWA) Water Resources Division (Water Resources)
oversees the daily operations and maintenance of the City's water and sanitary sewer
systems. The water system is comprised of approximately 480 miles of water main, 21
groundwater wells, seven pump stations, 10 reservoirs with a storage capacity of 49
million gallons, four pressure regulating stations, and seven connection points to the
Metropolitan Water District. The system has an average daily demand of 30 million
gallons from its roughly 45,500 metered service connections.
Water Resources is composed of six operating sections; five in the Water Enterprise
(Fund 060) and one in the Sanitary Sewer Enterprise (Fund 056). These sections are
Water Administration & Engineering, Water Utility Production & Supply, Water System
Maintenance, Water Meter Services, Water Quality, and Sanitary Sewer Service. While
the breadth of work being performed by Water Resources is extensive, staff proposes
the addition of a new operational section which will focus primarily on capital
improvements and related services for both the Water and Sewer Enterprises, such as
installation of pipeline, fire hydrants, water valves, large water meter services, and
backflow devices.
Water Resources Division Construction Section
April 1, 2025
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The City has primarily relied on outside contractors to perform this work because these
services are not currently a part of Water Resources' regular operations. However,
bringing these activities in-house will streamline the construction process by removing
the contract procurement process of advertising, bidding, and awarding of a project. The
efficiencies gained with a dedicated infrastructure construction crew will result in a long-
term cost savings and provide the City with an agile workforce capable of performing a
greater scope of services, such as city-wide initiatives and emerging priorities. The
utilization of an in-house workforce further reflects the City's commitment to serving the
community with quality and accountability.
Proposed Team
Position Title
Quantity
Description
Entry-level classification for operations crews
Water Services Worker
10
and employees performing heavy, routine,
manual labor for public works projects
Equipment Operator- Water
Performs skilled work in the operation of
Services
3
various types of heavy equipment utilized in
the performance of public works projects
Total
13
The team will have the materials and equipment necessary to, among other functions,
specialize in:
• Water pipeline installation — New pipeline construction for water distribution and
transmission.
• Pipeline Rehabilitation and Replacement — Repairing and replacing deteriorating
assets.
• Leak Detection and Inspection — Ensuring system integrity with advanced testing
methods.
• Emergency Repairs and Maintenance — 24/7 Response for pipeline failures.
• Wastewater Pipeline Installation — Complementary infrastructure service.
Additionally, the establishment of this new team will allow resources to be readily
available to address immediate needs within the public right of way. Based on City
needs, some areas the team would work on include sidewalk and pothole repairs, street
improvements, and small construction projects. Staff will establish a process to ensure
appropriate funding is allocated when the team works on non -water and non -sewer
related activities, by which the time and materials will be charged to the appropriate
fund to ensure compliance with funding regulations.
Staff recommends the approval of the recommended action in order to enhance
operational efficiency, achieve long-term cost savings, and ensure a responsive and
Water Resources Division Construction Section
April 1, 2025
Page 3
agile workforce capable of addressing both planned capital improvements and emerging
infrastructure needs (Exhibit 1).
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
To ensure the construction crew operates within existing resources, a funding approach
has been developed that aligns costs with the type of work being performed. This
approach allows the City to maximize efficiency while minimizing reliance on outside
contractors.
Proposed Funding Approach:
• Water Fund: No additional budget impact, as water -related projects are already
funded in the current budget and will continue to be included in future budget
proposals. The construction crew will charge their time to these projects,
reducing reliance on outside contractors while staying within the existing budget.
• Other Funding Sources: When not working on water -related projects, the
construction crew will charge their time to other funding sources, such as the
General Fund, based on the work performed. In return, Public Works will use less
of the contract services budget, ensuring they remain within the existing budget.
This approach ensures a net -zero budget impact. Additionally, the March 4th Mid -Year
Budget Update staff report included a request for one-time funding from the Water and
Sewer Funds to purchase equipment needed to support the crew in performing this
work efficiently.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Resolution to Amend the Current Fiscal Year 2024-2025 to Add Full -Time
Positions in the Public Works Agency
Submitted By: Nabil Saba, P.E., Executive Director — Public Works Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nunez, City Manager
EXHIBIT 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA TO
AMEND THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 ANNUAL BUDGET TO ADD
FULL-TIME POSITIONS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council hereby finds, determines, and declares as follows:
A. On June 18, 2024, the City Council passed and adopted Ordinance NS-3067,
establishing the City's Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and authorizing position
allocations for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The ordinance also sets forth the requirement
that alterations in the allocations of authorized positions be reviewed and approved by
the City Council.
B. On October 1, 2024, the City Council approved appropriation adjustments to carryover
unspent amounts from Fiscal Year 2023-2024 to Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
C. On November 19, 2024, the City Council passed Resolution 2024-066, amending the
Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget by adding four (4) full-time positions.
D. On March 4, 2025, the City Council passed Resolution 2025-008 amending the Fiscal
Year 2024-2025 budget by adding seven (7) full-time positions and reallocating six (6)
full-time positions.
E. The Executive Director of the Public Works Agency currently requests to add three (3)
Equipment Operators -Water Services, and ten (10) Water Services Workers.
Section 2. The City's annual budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25, as amended, is hereby
further amended to add the following positions in the Public Works Agency at the monthly
seven -step salary range as indicated:
Classification
Number of
Scale
Monthly Salary
Monthly Salary
Minimum
Maximum
Title
Positions
Added
Equipment
3
651
$5,307
$7,110
Operator- Water
Services
Water Services
10
631
$4,809
$6,450
Worker II
Section 3. All classification salary rate ranges are set forth in the City's "Salary Schedule"
as periodically updated.
Resolution 2025-XXX
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Section 4. Except as amended by this resolution, all other provisions of the Annual Budget
for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025, as amended, shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 5. This Resolution is operative from and after the date upon which it is adopted.
ADOPTED this 1st day of April 2025.
Valerie Amezcua
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By: L'Y'0- � .
Laura A. Rossini
Chief Assistant City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, Jennifer Hall, City Clerk, do hereby attest to and certify the attached Resolution No. 2025-
to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana on
April 1, 2025.
Date:
Jennifer L. Hall
City Clerk
City of Santa Ana
Resolution 2025-XXX
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