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Staff: Dinuba sewer trunk-line work delayed while plans and financing are revised
Summary
Planning commissioners were updated on delays to the Dinuba sewer trunk-line project on Feb. 24, 2025. Staff said revised hydraulic modeling led to smaller pipe sizes, new cost estimates and a need for bond financing or developer reimbursement before construction can proceed.
City staff told the Selma Planning Commission on Feb. 24 that plans for the Dinuba sewer trunk-line extension have been revised after updated hydraulic modeling and that construction will be delayed until plan revisions, SKF review and financing are complete.
Staff said the updated modeling reduced the maximum pipe diameter in some reaches (from an earlier 27-inch assumption to sections now estimated at 22 to 24 inches, with the smallest sections near 18 inches). The change, staff said, would lower construction cost estimates but requires revised plans and new construction cost estimates before the city can pursue bond financing or solicit bids.
Staff told commissioners that the city offered developers the option of building the line themselves and receiving reimbursement or credit under a development agreement; staff said developers had declined that option. The staff presentation noted that public-works projects require prevailing-wage compliance, which affects construction cost and procurement.
Commissioners asked whether downsizing the pipe might require future excavation if growth exceeds current modeling assumptions. Staff responded that the hydraulic modeling accounted for planned growth to the north and that engineers typically plan to a conservative design margin (staff cited standard engineering practice rather than a percentage). Staff emphasized they sought to avoid oversizing the pipe and spending taxpayer dollars unnecessarily.
On sequencing, staff said revised plans must be approved by SKF for plan check and that the city then must obtain construction bids and bond financing or other funding approval from the City Council. No construction timeline or awarded bid existed at the time of the meeting.
Why it matters: The trunk-line is tied to future development in the Dinuba/Manning corridor and to pending developer proposals, including a proposed gas station at Dinuba and McCall. Delays in the city's plan approvals and financing can slow permitting for developers.
What comes next: Staff said it will continue plan revisions with SKF and provide a timeline update to the Planning Commission when available. Funding and procurement steps must follow plan approval before the project can proceed to construction.
