City public works staff provided a multi-item project update in the council work session Tuesday, reporting a mix of completed work and continuing investigations across storm, sewer and water projects.

Public Works staff said smoke testing of sewer basins is underway and that teams completed work in several basins, including Oakland Meadow and multiple pump stations; door-knocking notifications will follow in other neighborhoods. “So, I will tell you that we've only found 2 or 3 problem areas. So we have to go back and investigate right now,” the presenter said, noting crews will follow up with CCTV (TV) inspections once smoke testing is complete.

Staff also briefed the council on an industrial-user sampling program: crews have tested several facilities and plan more site visits to understand sources of fats, oils and grease and other loadings. If sampling confirms excessive discharges, staff said the city will pursue permits or limits as required by state rules. “If they're not slowly doing this, but they're giving us too much, then we have to write a permit for them to combat that problem,” the presenter said.

On park projects, staff said Bailey Park’s playground equipment and play chips are in and that crews are working on the pickleball court and resurfacing; basketball hoops have been installed. The public works report also included water-system notes: a new well at Bailey is running and producing about 500 gallons per minute while operating at approximately 45 hertz, and some customers reported a temporary sulfur smell from hydrogen sulfide; staff said the taste/odor should dissipate in tank storage.

Councilors asked about long-range funding priorities for water and sewer projects. Staff said the city’s financial adviser has run scenarios and staff will have sewer-finance scenarios to review with consultants in coming weeks; the presenter suggested September as a conservative target for returning a financing plan for council consideration. “We asked SES what that would take, and they said that they could probably meet with us next week to go over scenarios for sewer,” staff said.

No formal council action was required; the item was presented for information and council members asked staff to return with financing scenarios and priorities for water and asbestos pipe work. Staff said CCTV line inspections are scheduled and that TV work is targeted well ahead of the January 2028 deadline in their schedule.

Council members praised public works crews for recent repairs and on-site problem solving during other projects.