City staff: airport terminal expansion architect engaged; city to temporarily maintain Front Street restroom units; wastewater WIFIA loan pending

City Manager Rob Field and other staff provided several infrastructure and planning updates during the Aug. 20 Medford City Council meeting. Field said the airport has engaged an architect for the first phase of a terminal expansion project. He also reported that, because RVTD (Rogue Valley Transportation District) lacks funding to continue operating the Portland Loos (self-contained restroom units) at the Front Street station, the city intends to assume interim maintenance responsibility; Field estimated the cost at about $32,000 per year. He said the city's interim maintenance would continue while a state legislative special session is expected to consider transit funding that could allow RVTD to resume operation. Field also reported progress on the wastewater treatment plant project: city staff are modifying construction agreements and are awaiting final approval of a WIFIA loan. He said the WIFIA loan approval was in process and should arrive soon. The council did not take a formal vote on funding at the Aug. 20 meeting; these were informational staff updates. In addition, the council heard that the city has engaged consultant Elaine Howard to assist with the MIRA district finalization and that the city manager's office continues work on transportation projects such as the Bridal Road extension as part of the Transportation System Plan process. Field said staff would return with a staff report on wastewater agreements and other project updates as they become available.