Big Bear Lake DWP board approves on-call consultants through 2029

The Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 on Aug. 25 to award on-call consulting agreements to five firms for environmental, hydrogeological and geotechnical work, all running through Aug. 30, 2029.^[1] The firms are called in only when the district needs them, so the agreements carry no fixed budget. That matters to ratepayers because the work will be billed as it happens, paid from money the district has set aside in its Professional Services budget.^[1]

What the board approved

Tom Dodson and Associates won the on-call environmental consulting agreement. Thomas Harder & Co. won the on-call hydrogeological services agreement, which covers groundwater and geology work.^[1]

For geotechnical consulting and materials testing, the board approved agreements with three firms: Verdantas Inc., Certerra RMA Group, and LOR Geotechnical Group, Inc.^[1] All five agreements end on the same date, Aug. 30, 2029.^[1]

How the money works

Commissioner Joe Cylwik asked what the agreements would cost. District Engineer Daniel Baguyo explained that the scope of possible work varies, so no budget is set in advance and the three on-call agreements listed on the agenda are time-and-materials contracts.^[1] CFO Nathan Statham clarified that while the agreements lack fixed budgets, funds are "explicitly allocated within the Professional Services budget to accommodate these on-call services," according to the minutes.^[1]

Why three testing firms

Staff recommended all three materials-testing firms "given the nature of the construction and the potential need for concurrent inspection services." Cylwik raised concern about using multiple firms on a single project. General Manager Reggie Lamson responded that once a firm is assigned to a project, it stays through completion to ensure continuity.^[1]

Other business

The board voted 4-0 to receive and file the annual vacancy, recruitment and retention report required under Assembly Bill 2561. Human Resources Administrator Rachel Franklin confirmed it will be filed yearly.^[1]

In management reports, Lamson said the downward trend in water use is largely tied to the decision to lower the customer threshold for leak notifications. The customer portal is operational while staff configure and test its parameters.^[1]

Treasurer Craig Hjorth asked about the district's evaluation of AI software. Statham said current costs are low but could increase if the software is deployed more broadly, and Hjorth requested a benefit analysis report.^[1]

The board met in closed session on existing litigation and reported no action. No members of the public commented, and the meeting adjourned at 10:19 a.m.^[1]

The minutes do not say when the board's next regular meeting will be held or when the requested AI software analysis is due.