City moves forward on wastewater capacity: construction manager for Plant 1 and additional funding for Oak Kings reclaimed line approved

The Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday approved two items intended to expand wastewater capacity and manage effluent for future growth: a construction‑manager‑at‑risk pre‑construction contract for Wastewater Treatment Plant 1 and increased funding to add a reclaimed water line to the Radiance (Oak Kings South) utility project.

For Plant 1, the council approved a pre‑construction services agreement with Wharton Smith Inc., the top‑ranked construction manager bidder. Utilities staff described the contract as necessary to bring a contractor into the design process early so the city can identify long‑lead items and early procurement opportunities. The pre‑construction fee in the agenda packet is $1,176,124, and the eventual construction‑phase fee is cited as 9% of the cost of work; the council voted 4-1 to approve the agreement.

Separately the council approved additional project funding requested by the Radiance Community Development District for the Oak Kings South utility extension. Construction for that project is under way and staff reported several construction‑time change orders tied to soil and monitoring‑well constraints at the nearby county landfill, plus additional items that were not in the original bid. Those unforeseen and design‑change costs total about $1.4 million and will be covered by impact fees. Council also approved adding the reclaimed water main to the scope — staff said adding the reuse line now saves mobilization and avoids a future larger cost while creating a reuse path for treated effluent and reducing potable water irrigation demand. The reclaimed scope increase was estimated at nearly $6.0 million and would be paid from wastewater impact fees; council approved the additional funding 4-1.

City staff and councilors repeatedly framed both votes as part of an effort to increase system capacity and reliability. Utilities director and engineering staff said Plant 2 work has already returned some capacity online and that the Plant 1 expansion and additional equalization/storage will be needed as the city grows. Council members expressed concern about contract cost details and asked staff for tight oversight of line‑item charges and change orders.

Why it matters: The Plant 1 expansion and reclaimed‑water infrastructure are central to the city's plan to handle more wastewater flow without increasing potable‑water use for irrigation. Approving a construction manager early is intended to lower construction risk and identify savings through staged procurement; adding reuse now aims to secure reclaimed customers and reduce aquifer drawdown pressures.

Next steps: Wharton Smith will proceed with pre‑construction services and later request guaranteed maximum price amendments for construction phases. Radiance CDD will assign easements and the reclaimed main will be completed with a projected construction completion in spring 2026, staff said.