Public works staff told the council multiple components at the wastewater treatment plant need attention and that lead times and costs complicate near‑term replacements.

Chuck said one blower has failed and two are intermittently failing; the city is pursuing refurbishment for several blowers and awaiting a sole‑source extension to proceed on contract work. The plant’s filter cassettes (membrane frames and plates) are a higher‑cost item with long manufacturer lead times; staff said frames and replacement plates are manufactured overseas (Japan) and an order could take 120–180 days. Chuck said the expense for cassette replacement runs into the hundreds of thousands and that interim measures — such as pulling a basin, cleaning, and reinstalling plates — are possible but not a complete long‑term fix.

The ultraviolet disinfection system also lacks parts: staff said one unit is working, three are "barely" functional and parts are obsolete; replacement lead time was reported at roughly 120 days. Staff noted the total cassette project could be million‑dollar scale and that Business Oregon loan programs and other financing options have been discussed to fund replacements and upgrades. Staff flagged that even with loan approvals, manufacturing and shipping lead times mean full replacement will not be immediate.

Regarding regulatory work, staff said a DEQ submittal is due Nov. 15 (Kennedy Jenks submitted a proposal to assist with the required materials) and that the plant must meet DEQ timelines. Staff also said the Oregon Association of Water Utilities is under contract to perform a sewer rate study; the city is gathering information for that study.

Council and staff discussed interim options to lower risk this winter (e.g., refurbish and clean one basin, source spares from other agencies) and a plan to return with procurement options and finance proposals. No formal action or contract award was made at the session; staff said they will pursue quotes, check regional inventory of spares, and seek financing steps as needed.