At a Service Committee meeting on Aug. 4, 2025, committee members voted to advance a resolution authorizing the director of public service to accept bids and enter contracts for the 16 North Sewer Separation Phase 1 project.
A city staff presenter said the project was split into two phases after discussions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The presenter said phase 1 will cover the Mount Vernon Road corridor and must be completed before July 2028; phase 2 will cover the Hudson Avenue corridor and is expected to be bid and constructed between 2028 and 2031.
The presenter described the total estimate for the project as "$64,000,000" and said the cost of the overall program has doubled since earlier estimates. "I will probably be coming back to you asking for some, slight rate increases to help fund that project because the project has doubled in cost," the presenter said, and staff are conducting a sewer rate evaluation to determine revenue needs to cover operating expenses and added debt service.
Committee members voted to send the resolution to full council for consideration on the council's agenda; the committee recorded a unanimous vote in favor.
No formal rate change was proposed in committee; the presenter said any rate changes would return to the committee for consideration as part of the current evaluation.