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Public works director reports low change orders, new urban forester and $1.8M Ecology loan add-on
Summary
Director Hamblin reported unusually low change-order rates on the WRF Phase 3 work, introduced new urban forester Kevin Sandon, and said the Department of Ecology added $1.8 million to an existing loan for the project, raising the total to $8.6 million. Staff said the WRF construction will be bid and a construction contract presented mid-April.
Public Works Director Hamblin used the committee’s Feb. 19 meeting to highlight department staffing and project news, including an unexpected Ecology loan increase for the wastewater project and unusually low construction change-order totals on the WRF Phase 3 work.
Hamblin praised the Phase 3 team and engineer RH2 for tight project controls, saying total change orders were about 1.5–2% of the contract value — far lower than the 5–10% that is common on wastewater treatment projects. He credited both the engineer and management by project engineer Andrew Vining for that outcome.
Hamblin announced the hire of a new urban forester, Kevin Sandon, who will join the urban forestry and stormwater group; he said the department narrowed about nine applicants down to two or three finalists before hiring.
On finance, Hamblin said the Washington State Department of Ecology extended the city’s loan: the original award was $6.8 million and the department has added $1.8 million, bringing the total to $8.6 million. Andrew Vining said he will bring a resolution to update the earlier council authorization to reflect the new amount. Hamblin said the WRF work will be bid this week and staff will present a construction contract to council in mid-April.
Hamblin also gave brief status updates on capital projects: the unfinished final lift of paving on 380 Fourth is awaiting warmer weather (expected in a few weeks), and Kimball Creek bridge work is complete though staff are monitoring settlement around the approaches and plan a summer remediation and final asphalt overlay.
No formal committee action was recorded on these director’s report items; they were informational updates.
