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Public works committee: wastewater outfall tunneling on schedule; project roughly $17 million with FEMA covering 95%
Summary
Councilmember Moulton reported to the council that crews are sinking 22‑foot shafts and tunneling will begin in early April; the outfall project is roughly $17 million and FEMA has obligated to pay 95% of costs, with the city responsible for 5%.
Councilmember Moulton reported at the March 17 meeting that the wastewater treatment plant outfall replacement project is proceeding on schedule and that tunneling is slated to begin in early April.
Moulton, summarizing a presentation by project manager Jeff Beltramini and engineer Logan Lee, said crews are excavating 22‑foot‑wide shafts and advancing slowly through hard rock — about six inches to a foot per day in the shaft work. Tunneling to connect shafts is expected to begin around April 5 at Third Street, with a 200‑foot tunnel section there and a subsequent roughly 300‑foot westbound segment on You Avenue. Completion of tunneling is expected in May and overall project completion around July 7, Moulton said.
Moulton told council the total project cost is about $17,000,000 and that FEMA has obligated to cover 95% of that cost; the city is responsible for the remaining 5%. She said the city has billed about $11,000,000 to date and submits quarterly requests for reimbursement. A request for qualifications for design of a park at the end of View Avenue will be published in the local paper.
Moulton said the tunneling method chosen has been quieter than blasting and that public‑works staff have communicated regularly with neighbors. Councilmembers asked for clarification about FEMA reimbursement timing; staff said the city pays work up front and submits for quarterly reimbursement and that there has been no recent interruption in FEMA payments.
The public works committee also discussed a separate heavy‑haul route resolution that later appeared on the council’s agenda for a temporary street closure for oversized fuel‑tank components to move to Pier 2.
No formal council action on the outfall was taken during the March 17 meeting; Moulton said staff will return to council as construction milestones are reached with photos and progress updates.
