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Public works presents site investigations, smoke testing bids and 5-year plan for parks, streets and utilities
Summary
Public works staff updated the council on groundwater and archaeology investigations, a completed slide-deck survey, an awarded smoke-testing contract and a five-year plan covering parks, equipment, SCADA migration and staffing challenges.
Public works staff provided multiple operational updates and presented a draft five-year plan for parks, streets and utilities during the council work session on May 27, 2025.
Director Kevin reported the groundwater investigation and archaeology contractor will be on-site starting May 29 to work on three wells the city does not lease out, with a second visit scheduled in late July or early August to investigate two leased wells. He also said a slide-deck survey is complete. "That company will be on-site on May 29 to start that work on the 3 bills that we don't lease out," Director Kevin said.
Kevin said the city issued an RFP for smoke testing of sewer lines, received three bids and has chosen one bidder; "it so happens that bidder is our own engineer," he told council, and staff said the bidder met credential and cost requirements. Kevin also said staff would meet with Pacific National to discuss the company's recent letter about project pace.
Public works staff presented a five-year strategic plan that catalogs parks maintenance hours, aging infrastructure, needed valve and hydrant replacements, SCADA migration to extend computer lifecycles and equipment inventories. Staff said parks maintenance consumes roughly 2,900 hours annually and listed Laurel Complex as the park requiring the most maintenance time. The draft plan also outlines staffing questions tied to potential new responsibilities if the city operates additional facilities or contracts work for neighboring jurisdictions.
Councilors raised street maintenance and state (ODOT) responsibilities for Ivy Street. Staff said they would continue to press the state agency about needed repairs and grant-application steps, but councilors were told ODOT has limited internal funds and often expects local grant matches.
What happens next: staff will continue planned site investigations, finalize the contract for smoke testing and incorporate the five-year plan items into monthly reports so the council can track project status and equipment replacement needs.
