City seeks $307,000 engineering amendment to extend process-water irrigation system

City utilities staff presented a proposed amendment Sept. 8 to the professional-services agreement with RH2 Engineering to complete design and provide construction support for irrigation system upgrades tied to the Process Water Reuse Facility (PWRF).
Director Maria Sarah said the amendment would authorize $306,744 in additional engineering services to finalize plans, support bidding and provide technical support during construction. The upgrades add two land-application parcels acquired for expanded land treatment and irrigation feeding those fields; the work is necessary to meet Department of Ecology permit limits and to comply with the facility’s engineering report for land-area needs.
Sarah said the overall project is estimated at about $13 million. Design work to date was funded with bond proceeds; the city expected to supplement funding with a low-interest loan from Ecology that has not yet been approved, so staff is evaluating other funding options (including internal interfund loans) to keep the schedule. Staff plans to advertise bids in October and complete construction work over the coming year so the additional land application capacity is operational by 2026.
The council did not take a formal vote at the Sept. 8 workshop; staff recommended approval and said they would return with contracting and funding details as bidding and financing are finalized.