The Bradenton City Council on Sept. 24 approved several consent items tied to its ongoing wastewater and stormwater infrastructure work, part of a multi‑year effort staff said will require substantial permitting and capital investment.

Councilwoman Barnaby pulled three consent items for discussion: the DEP adaptation plan required for grant eligibility, a manhole‑lining contract that will add roughly 63 manholes to the city’s relining program, and a larger pipe‑lining work assignment. After discussion and staff briefing, the council voted 5‑0 to approve the three items.

Public Works and utilities staff described progress at the city’s wastewater reclamation facility. Key projects under way include:

• A temporary equalization tank (staff estimated roughly $1.7 million) to provide additional surge capacity and contact time during peak inflows.

• Clarifier No. 4, a roughly 3‑million‑gallon separation tank (project cost discussed at about $17 million) to increase solid separation capacity; construction and permitting took multiple years, staff said.

• An injection well being drilled for off‑site disposal under DEP direction; staff estimated another multi‑million‑dollar phase (drilling cited as already completed to depths of about 1,600–1,800 feet and full project costs later for wellhead and testing estimated around $12 million).

Assistant and operations staff described a broader program of lining manholes (the city agreed to relining commitments under the city’s agreement with water advocacy groups) and relining sewer mains; staff reported roughly 900 of an approximately 1,200 required manhole relines completed so far and several dozen miles of sewer lining in place. Council members emphasized the multi‑year nature of the work and the large number of concurrent projects.

Council approved the consent items after staff said lining contracts will increase the number of contractors available to meet schedule and that the DEP adaptation plan is needed for grant eligibility. The council vote to approve the three items was recorded as unanimous (5‑0).