Astoria council authorizes DEQ loan amendment, accepts extra grant and OKs CMGC procurement for lift‑station rebuild

Astoria City Council on Feb. 18 authorized a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan amendment for the city’s sewage lift‑stations rehabilitation project, approved an increase to an overflow sewer and stormwater grant and adopted an exemption that allows a construction manager/general contractor (CMGC) procurement method for the work.

The actions together secure a funding package staff says will allow the city to replace six Archimedes screw pumps and resurface concrete chutes at three lift stations along the sewer interceptor route. Assistant City Engineer Cindy Moore told the council the work is largely a maintenance project: “The main project elements are to replace the Archimedes screws completely, all 6 of them, resurface the concrete channels, and then modernize the control mechanisms and motors,” she said.

The nut graf: staff estimated the total project at about $3.6 million and said DEQ offered a CWSRF loan in the amount the council considered. Under the DEQ offer, roughly half of the loan amount would be forgivable if the city meets program conditions; the loan’s interest rate would be 2.58% with a 30‑year repayment schedule and no early‑payoff penalty. Moore said staff’s funding scenario would mean roughly a $1.50 per month increase in sewer rates for a residential customer if no additional grants are secured.

Why it matters: the three lift stations — identified in staff materials as Lift Stations 3, 4 and 5 — were built in the 1970s and have not been fully rebuilt since then. Public Works Director Jeff Harrington described the pumps as critical infrastructure that moves peak winter flows around the peninsula to the wastewater lagoons. “These lift stations are very important to the system,” Harrington said; staff said peak flows can range from under 2 million to 18–20 million gallons per day depending on weather.

Project and procurement details: Moore said the city will replace worn mechanical components that operate in a harsh environment and keep the structures’ footprints and hydraulic function the same. Because of construction complexity, limited access and the need to maintain continuous service during work, staff proposed using CMGC — a method used on recent Astoria projects — to let the contractor participate during final design so means-and-methods issues can be resolved early. “We need to work with that contractor during the design phase,” Moore said, citing crane lifts, traffic staging and the need to isolate equipment while keeping flows moving.

Funding and timeline: the council was told the project currently includes an $85,880 DEQ overflow sewer and stormwater grant already in hand, $119,920 previously authorized from the CWSRF (half forgivable), a $150,000 OSG grant recently approved by the mayor and a DEQ offer to amend the existing CWSRF loan to roughly $3,084,108 with half forgiveness of whatever is borrowed up to program caps. Moore said the project was planned for construction in summer 2026 and that the Archimedes screws have about a nine‑month lead time from manufacturers.

Council action and votes: Councilor Mozzarella moved and Councilor Lum seconded a borrowing resolution authorizing the DEQ CWSRF loan agreement amendment in the amount of $3,084,108; the council approved the motion by roll call with Councilor Mozzarella, Councilor Adams, Councilor Lum and Mayor Mary Fitzpatrick voting aye. The council then approved an increased Overflow Sewer and Stormwater Grant agreement in the amount of $200,001; the motion passed by voice vote with one abstention (recorded but not attributed by name in the minutes). Finally, the council adopted findings to support an exemption from competitive bidding and to authorize a CMGC contract process for the project; that resolution passed by roll call with Mozzarella, Adams, Lum and Mayor Fitzpatrick voting aye.

Operational context and council questions: councilors asked staff how maintenance has been handled historically and how continuous service will be managed during construction. Staff said operations crews have kept the 1970s equipment running with monthly inspections, greasing bearings and ad‑hoc repairs; the new work is intended to restore a long service life and reduce emergency repairs. On maintaining flows, staff said the contractor will be required to ensure sewage service continuity and that options include working one side at a time or temporary bypass pumping during low flows.

Costs to customers and next steps: Moore emphasized there is no requirement to draw the full loan amount and that DEQ disburses funds on reimbursement. Staff said the loan carries no early‑payoff penalty, allowing future grants or one‑time revenues to retire the debt early if available. City staff will bring specific loan agreement and budget amendments back to council in a future meeting; construction procurement and ordering long‑lead items would follow.

Votes at a glance: • Borrowing resolution (DEQ CWSRF loan amendment, $3,084,108): moved Mozzarella; second Lum; roll‑call approval (Mozzarella Aye; Adams Aye; Lum Aye; Mayor Fitzpatrick Aye). • DEQ Overflow Sewer & Stormwater Grant increase ($200,001): moved Lum; second Mozzarella; voice vote — motion carried with one abstention (not specified). • Resolution authorizing CMGC procurement method: moved Adams; second Mozzarella; roll‑call approval (Mozzarella Aye; Adams Aye; Lum Aye; Mayor Fitzpatrick Aye).

Ending: staff said they will continue seeking additional grants and will return soon with the formal loan agreement amendment and budget adjustments. Construction is planned for summer 2026, with procurement and long‑lead equipment ordering to follow once council completes contracting steps.