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Council hears supplemental enterprise requests: winterization tents for water plants and SSES phase 1 for sewer lines
Summary
Staff outlined two proposed enterprise fund supplementals: a winterization tent program for vulnerable water plants and a sanitary sewer evaluation study (SSES) phase 1 to locate inflow/infiltration, with testing costs described and future repair costs uncertain.
City staff asked the council to approve enterprise-fund supplementals that would fund winterization of vulnerable water production facilities and a first-phase sanitary sewer evaluation study (SSES).
The winterization item would purchase purpose-built temporary structures (tents) to be erected over water plant equipment during prolonged below-freezing events to protect systems and maintain temperatures above freezing. Staff said deployment would be performed by city crews and that the tents are durable; the proposal funds the first phase only and does not cover every plant.
The SSES phase 1 request covers inspection and testing of collection-system drainage basins that show high inflow and infiltration rates during storms. Staff said phase 1 funding would pay for line cleaning, camera inspections and, if needed, smoke testing to locate breaks. The stated objective is to reduce infiltration of stormwater into the sanitary sewer system so the city avoids overtaxing treatment capacity and defers expensive plant expansions.
Council asked about costs. Staff said the phase 1 testing estimate could be approximately $300,000 for the first basin (presented as a potential recurring annual expense depending on the number of basins to be tested) and noted that implementation and repair costs after testing are uncertain — ranging from relatively low-cost manhole repairs to much larger replacement segments if major defects are found. Staff estimated that reducing infiltration could delay a multi-million-dollar plant expansion (discussion referenced a $70 million figure as a potential treatment expansion cost if capacity is exceeded). Funding for any large repairs would be considered later (possible budget amendment, use of reserves or bonds).
On timing, staff said testing/design for phase 1 would start in FY 2026 and subsequent fix work could follow in later fiscal years depending on findings. Staff characterized the testing component as an operational expense that had been separated from the capital-improvement program for accounting reasons.
No formal vote was taken on July 23; staff requested direction and recommended the council appropriate the supplemental so work could begin and the city could identify follow-up projects.
