TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
FROM: Scott Miller, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
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A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Red Bluff Confirming an Emergency that Required Immediate Repair of a Sewer Main Located Behind the Thai House Restaurant, 248 South Main Street.
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RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
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Adopt Resolution No. 19-2026; A Declaration of Emergency regarding an obstructed sewer main located behind the Thai House Restaurant, 248 South Main Street and the need for immediate repair.
Authorize a project specific supplemental appropriation for Fund 47-44-760220-0102 Wastewater Collections Capital Outlay Sewer Line Repair/Replacement in the amount of $27,863.70.
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SUMMARY:
On Monday, June 29, 2026, the City Sewer Collections Department noticed that the manhole behind the Thai House Restaurant was backed up during their routine morning preventative maintenance inspections. Staff then immediately retrieved the departments Vac-Con and Rodder from the Corp Yard and began utilizing standard rodding techniques after vacuuming out the manhole to try to alleviate the backup. However, this resulted in the rodder getting seized and broken with approximately 93 feet remaining in the sewer main from the upstream manhole. Due to the complexity, depth, site constraints, and urgency to restore proper functioning flows, R&R Horn, Inc. was called to make emergency repairs. The City Sewer Collections Department then began monitoring the manhole and utilized the departments Vac-Con overnight to prevent the Manhole from overflowing and becoming a sewage spill.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
None
DISCUSSION:
On Monday, June 29, 2026, the City Sewer Collections Department noticed that the manhole behind the Thai House Restaurant was backed up during their routine morning preventative maintenance inspections. Staff then immediately retrieved the departments Vac-Con and Rodder from the Corp Yard and began utilizing standard rodding techniques after vacuuming out the manhole to try to alleviate the backup. However, this resulted in the rodder getting seized and broken with approximately 93 feet remaining in the sewer main from the upstream manhole. Due to the complexity, depth, site constraints, and urgency to restore proper functioning flows, R&R Horn, Inc. was called to make emergency repairs on Monday, June 29. The City Sewer Collections Department then began monitoring the manhole and utilized the department’s Vac-Con as needed, to prevent the manhole from overflowing and becoming a sewage spill. R&R Horn was called as they were currently under contract with the City working on the nearby project with the necessary equipment and shoring protections readily available. On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, with the sewer department’s assistance, crews began excavations repairing the sewer main. However, as the excavation was approaching an existing private structure that the sewer main ran underneath, the soil became increasingly unstable and was threatened to undermine the structure. The decision was made to stop work on Thursday July 2nd and backfill the excavation to seek other engineering actions to complete the repairs. As the full blockage was not alleviated, City sewer crews were scheduled to monitor the sewage levels daily, including the weekend, and pump out any high levels encountered at the nearest manhole.
R&R Horn crews were released from the project, and the City Engineer was consulted. Options considered were technical shoring, horizontal boring, new lift-station, and rerouting sewer main around existing building and abandoning the understructure gravity main. The latter was pursued as the safest, most economical, and best approach for future maintenance due to the depth of the main, limited upstream connections, uncompromised sewage flow from the existing structure over the main, and apparent site availability and connectivity. Under the direction of the City Engineer, Sewer and Engineering staff have begun collecting information about previously unknown existing private lateral connections, elevations, and any other relevant information to complete the emergency reroute design. Staff have been in contact and have been working with the tenants and affected property owners during the entire process and are appreciative of their cooperation and assistance
The R&R Horn emergency portion is complete with the attached daily material and labor costs and invoice for a total of $27,863.70. Once an in-house design solution is complete, staff will obtain emergency pricing from multiple contractors that have done similar work with the City in the past. Staff will present back to Council for additional direction/authorization.
CITY FISCAL IMPACT:
An initial Supplemental Appropriation for Fund 47-44-760220-0102 Wastewater Collections Capital Outlay Sewer Line Repair/Replacement of $27,863.70 will be required for expenditures to date. There will be no impact to the General Fund for this project. Additional expenditures will be required that may include but not limited to, design, construction, appraisal and preparation/purchasing of easements, and possible other utility relocations for the final corrective action.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. T&M - 2026 Red Bluff Sewer Emergency Invoice
CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 19-2026
A RESOLUTION OF THE RED BLUFF CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMING AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRED IMMEDIATE REPAIR OF A SEWER MAIN LOCATED BEHIND THE THAI HOUSE RESTAURANT AT 248 MAIN STREET
WHEREAS, City crews were able to successfully complete one pass of rodding, the second pass resulted in a broken rod assembly in the main; and
WHEREAS, City crews were not able to retrieve the broken rod assembly from the main; and
WHEREAS, the scope of the needed retrieval and repairs exceeded the capability of City equipment and City staff due to the depth, site constraints, and urgency to restore the sewer main to proper functioning flows; and
WHEREAS, for the above reasons, the City Manager, in consultation with the Public Works Director, declared an emergency and authorized the emergency retention of R & R Horn, Inc. to make the needed repairs to the sewer main; and
WHEREAS, R & R Horn, Inc. began construction and repair work on June 29th, 2026, and were directed to halt the repairs on July 2nd, 2026 due to unstable soil conditions near a private structure; and
WHEREAS, additional and more technical engineering solutions are needed to safely and effectively restore sewage flows; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED ON July 21st, 2026, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RED BLUFF:
1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.
2. The City Manager is authorized to make emergency declarations when the public interest and necessity require immediate action and expenditure of City funds to safeguard life, health or property. The City Council confirms and adopts the judgment and decision of the City Manager to find and declare an emergency in the above-described circumstance, which required immediate action in order to make the repairs described above.
3. The City Council further finds that during this emergency the public interest and necessity required the immediate expenditure of funds to repair or replace a public facility (i.e., sewer main), and to take any directly related and immediate action required by the emergency and to procure the necessary equipment, services, and supplies without giving notice for bids to let contracts.
4. The City Council further finds that the above-described emergency and the need for immediate action did not permit the delay necessary to conduct competitive solicitation for bids to let contracts.
MOTION:
SECOND:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING:
ATTEST: ___________________________
Mayor’s Signature
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Deputy City Clerk