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Staff warns rock outcrops could delay 'mountain lion' pipe replacement phases; contractor to assess blasting needs
Summary
Public Works reported progress on phased pipe replacement work and said upcoming phases (2026–27) face rock outcroppings that may require blasting; staff has contacted a blasting company for an on-site assessment and offered council field tour dates.
Public Works staff updated the City Council on Aug. 26 on the phased pipe replacement project referred to in staff materials as the "mountain lion" project, saying recent work covered earlier-year pipe replacements and that later phases scheduled for 2026–27 may encounter significant rock outcroppings.
Staff reported the completed pipe replacement and noted the schedule for upcoming phases in 2026 and 2027. Because equipment currently used by the city may not be able to break certain rock formations, staff contacted a blasting contractor working in the region to perform an on-site assessment and provide a recommendation. Staff said they expect to receive the blasting contractor’s input and will relay it to council when available.
The presentation included an offer to schedule site tours for council members in September to view completed and in-progress work. Staff described the challenge as chiefly technical (rock excavation) and said identification of blasting needs would inform scheduling, costs, and construction methods for the affected phases.
No formal decisions were required at the meeting; staff said they would return with the contractor assessment and any recommended changes to the project schedule or scope.
