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Is the County breaking the law?

By Aaron, on April 4th, 2009

Here’s an item currently circulating in the community:

Is the County Breaking the Law by Doubling Up on Montgomery Watson Harza?

SLO County is using California Public Contract Code § 20133 as their vehicle to do the design/build project. Montgomery Watson Harza is listed on both the bid teams and pre-bid consulting teams, an apparent violation of California code that states MWH can’t do both.

The following excerpt is taken directly from 20133:

(d) Design-build projects shall progress in a four-step process, as follows:
(1) (A) The county shall prepare a set of documents setting forth the scope of the project. The documents may include, but are not limited to, the size, type, and desired design character of the public improvement, performance specifications covering the quality of materials, equipment, and workmanship, preliminary plans or building layouts, or any other information deemed necessary to describe adequately the county’s needs. The performance specifications and any plans shall be prepared by a design professional who is duly licensed and registered in California.
(B) Any architect or engineer retained by the county to assist in the development of the project specific documents shall not be eligible to participate in the preparation of a bid with any design-build entity for that project.
(2) (A) Based on the documents prepared in paragraph (1), the county shall prepare a request for proposals that invites interested parties to submit competitive sealed proposals in the manner prescribed by the county. The request for proposals shall include, but is not limited to, the following elements…

Is this a violation that should be brought to the immediate attention of the Attorney General and Governor? Some think so.

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  • Anonymous

    A fair bidding process, without involvement of MWH, that includes systems other than gravity, that includes costs for the complete water project (aquifer recharge & wastewater treatment), and provides a cap on costs … would be wonderful.

    So I am a dreamer……but sometimes dreams come true.

  • Anonymous

    A fair bidding process, without involvement of MWH, that includes systems other than gravity, that includes costs for the complete water project (aquifer recharge & wastewater treatment), and provides a cap on costs … would be wonderful. So I am a dreamer……but sometimes dreams come true.

  • Sewertoons

    What specifically did MWH do?

    The WRAC voted 2 to 12 – maybe 11 and 1 abstaining to make no recommendation as to further pursuing comparing step to gravity for the BOS meeting Tuesday. They did unanimously vote to tell the BOS that they support tertiary treatment and that they support that water purveyors should implement water conservation measures now.

  • Sewertoons

    What specifically did MWH do?The WRAC voted 2 to 12 – maybe 11 and 1 abstaining to make no recommendation as to further pursuing comparing step to gravity for the BOS meeting Tuesday. They did unanimously vote to tell the BOS that they support tertiary treatment and that they support that water purveyors should implement water conservation measures now.

  • Anonymous

    For the WRAC to take a position that would change the process is not something to be taken lightly. Or a decision to be made too quickly. They need to educate themselves. The collection system needs to be tied directly to the water issues for them to act. This could not be accomplished in a 3 minute time frame.

    This does not mean that they are not concerned with the process. The fact is that many issues came up, and the WRAC required a squirming Paavo to answer the tough questions regarding the process. This is all they can do at this point. That and establish a subcommittee to study the issues futher, which they did. Its not over til the fat lady sings.

    (Also note that your husband was the only speaker to be sternly reprimanded and told to stay on the issues.)

  • Anonymous

    For the WRAC to take a position that would change the process is not something to be taken lightly. Or a decision to be made too quickly. They need to educate themselves. The collection system needs to be tied directly to the water issues for them to act. This could not be accomplished in a 3 minute time frame.This does not mean that they are not concerned with the process. The fact is that many issues came up, and the WRAC required a squirming Paavo to answer the tough questions regarding the process. This is all they can do at this point. That and establish a subcommittee to study the issues futher, which they did. Its not over til the fat lady sings.(Also note that your husband was the only speaker to be sternly reprimanded and told to stay on the issues.)

  • Sewertoons

    He didn’t take it personally and knew he was taking a risk speaking on that topic. It was brought up by someone else later, so his point was not lost. Gee, I thought you’d want someone like him to be an advocate for low cost.

    I don’t see how a collection system (and I am making the assumption that you were referring to step, as that what was being discussed) that permanently removes the ability from most parcels to return either graywater or collected rainwater for re-use through the leach field is so very “water-reuse friendly.” Most lots barely had room for one leach field, not two. So the on-lot solution for water re-use does not interest you?

    To me a gravity collection system leaves the very best possible local solution for water issues that have been troubling people for on-lot re-use. And we are all facing the evolving County rules that allow no rainwater runoff from leaving your own property.

    The fat lady has trilled her last notes on step, my dear. And the community survey was her back-up chorus.

  • Sewertoons

    He didn’t take it personally and knew he was taking a risk speaking on that topic. It was brought up by someone else later, so his point was not lost. Gee, I thought you’d want someone like him to be an advocate for low cost.I don’t see how a collection system (and I am making the assumption that you were referring to step, as that what was being discussed) that permanently removes the ability from most parcels to return either graywater or collected rainwater for re-use through the leach field is so very “water-reuse friendly.” Most lots barely had room for one leach field, not two. So the on-lot solution for water re-use does not interest you?To me a gravity collection system leaves the very best possible local solution for water issues that have been troubling people for on-lot re-use. And we are all facing the evolving County rules that allow no rainwater runoff from leaving your own property.The fat lady has trilled her last notes on step, my dear. And the community survey was her back-up chorus.

  • Anonymous

    toons
    Check page 2 of the handout, last slide. Do you see greywater mentioned anywhere? Ask Paavo why and see what kind of spin he comes up with. He has a graywater system at his home, so why wouldn’t he promote it for Los Osos?

  • Anonymous

    toonsCheck page 2 of the handout, last slide. Do you see greywater mentioned anywhere? Ask Paavo why and see what kind of spin he comes up with. He has a graywater system at his home, so why wouldn’t he promote it for Los Osos?

  • Sewertoons

    Graywater systems are quite expensive. The dollar amount I have heard (not from Paavo, I don’t know what he paid) was around $40,000. While some members of the community can certainly afford it, the bulk cannot.

  • Sewertoons

    Graywater systems are quite expensive. The dollar amount I have heard (not from Paavo, I don’t know what he paid) was around $40,000. While some members of the community can certainly afford it, the bulk cannot.

  • Anonymous

    Ask Paavo how much he paid for his graywater system. And please share it with your fellow bloggers.

  • Anonymous

    Ask Paavo how much he paid for his graywater system. And please share it with your fellow bloggers.

  • Anonymous

    Yes, please do!

  • Anonymous

    Yes, please do!

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