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Council staff briefed on $58M-plus combined-sewer project and options to expand scope to capture extra grants
Summary
Public works staff described a multi-stage plan to separate combined sewers, grant awards totaling tens of millions of dollars, and a council-level option to increase the bond amount to access additional grant funding and complete more construction now.
City public-works staff presented an update on the combined-sewer overflow (CSO) separation project, related grant awards and recent infrastructure failures that prompted emergency repairs around the city.
Rob, the presenting staff member, said earlier planning estimated a $180 million full-separation project. Staff divided the work into three phases and pursued funding; the city has received multiple awards that reduce the local share. Rob said the city was awarded roughly $25 million in grant funds plus a $25 million zero-percent loan for 25 years (both cited during the meeting), and additional awards totaling just over $14 million and $10 million from separate programs, which reduced the local share on the current project scope to about $11.8 million.
Rob explained a funding choice for council consideration: increasing the bond from approximately $58 million to about $66 million would raise the project’s scope and local share by about $5.5 million but would unlock roughly $3.5 million more in grant funding and allow more construction to proceed this round. "If we enlarge the... the higher the project is now with money that we know we've we've been awarded, the more construction we can get done and the smaller the the remaining amount of work is," Rob said.
Rob also described recent water-system problems: multiple water-main breaks and frozen-pipe incidents left basements flooded in about 14 properties; crews made tapping repairs and service reconnections. Rob reported current storage is at 2,650,000 gallons, noted a float was adjusted during filling, and described routine tank maintenance and equipment purchases such as tapping machines.
Staff highlighted other capital items: soil borings at Waterfront Park revealed clay soils and deed restrictions that require additional sign-offs from state regulators and the utility (DEC and National Grid); the Seventh Street Park RFP will be issued soon; streetscape and Warren Street plaza construction paused for winter with some electrical and transformer relocations outstanding; National Grid must replace a decommissioned gas main connection before paving or accept directional drilling later.
Rob said staff will discuss the bond increase option with the finance director and the council before any decision; he also said the city will apply for another round of grant funding as it becomes available. No formal council vote occurred on the funding increase during the meeting.
