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St. Helens updates on reservoir RFP, waterfront alternatives, dock repairs and grant request to senators
Summary
City staff announced the reservoir site-selection RFP (proposals due March 18), a Central Waterfront update scheduled for March 19, dock-repair bids due the week of March 11, and an infrastructure funding request of $15 million submitted to Senators Merkley and Wyden.
City management provided multiple project updates at the St. Helens March 5 work session, including a reservoir site-selection RFP, Central Waterfront alternatives, dock repairs, a $15 million federal infrastructure request and personnel news.
Staff announced that the reservoir site-selection study RFP is open and that proposals will be accepted through March 18, 2025. The RFP covers site selection and geotechnical evaluation to identify suitable locations for a new reservoir, staff said.
A joint public update on the Central Waterfront project is scheduled for March 19 at 6 p.m.; staff said consultants are preparing alternatives because the lagoon's berm integrity is not as sound as previously assumed and the project scope has shifted. Staff invited councilors to tour the wastewater lagoon facility before the March 19 meeting.
Staff said the extension agreements signed with Arcadia were countersigned and that coordination with state agencies and DEQ was under way to finalize the project.
On event planning, staff said the city and event partners (Treadway) are planning riverfront activities beginning June 5 with a backup plan to use McCormick Park if the riverfront park is not ready. The chamber banquet is set for March 29.
A dock-repair RFP is out with bids due the week of March 11; staff said marine-construction contractors have expressed interest and that the work must be completed and the funds spent by June 30 because of fiscal-year timetables.
Staff said they made an infrastructure funding request to U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden seeking $15,000,000 to support new-reservoir construction. The city manager credited staff work on compiling the request and identified the funding as critical to minimizing future utility-rate impacts.
Personnel and other items: construction inspector Tim Underwood has announced retirement effective April 1 with a reception planned at 2 p.m.; staff said they will seek overlap with a replacement. Staff also said they are exploring timber-insurance options for the Salmonberry property and continuing other planning-division and Riverwalk construction updates.
No formal council actions were taken; staff listed deadlines and next steps for the projects they presented.
