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Council authorizes engineering design services for pressure‑reducing valve replacements in Zone 2A
Summary
The council approved a task order for engineering design services with West Yost & Associates for two pressure‑reducing valve (PRV) stations that staff said have maintenance and operational defects; engineering is budgeted from water‑rate revenues and the consultant contract is $128,948.
The Grants Pass City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign Task Order No. 10 with West Yost & Associates for engineering and design of two pressure‑reducing valve (PRV) stations that serve the city’s Zone 2A pressure area.
Public Works staff presented photos of the existing PRV vaults, describing them as older installations (1970s vintage), undersized vaults that remain wet year‑round, difficult to service and located in suboptimal street locations. Staff said failures earlier this year caused both high and low pressures in the zone and that one valve stuck open under certain demand patterns. The proposed engineering task order will include correct valve sizing, identification of alternate, more serviceable vault locations where feasible, design and contract documents for bidding, bidding support, and construction engineering support. Staff estimated consultant design cost at $128,948 and a preliminary construction estimate of about $500,000; funds will come from water‑rate revenues.
Councilors asked about firefighting implications; staff said a PRV failure could prevent the system from delivering required fire flows in the affected zone. Councilor Rob asked whether easements might be needed to relocate vaults; staff said that evaluation is part of the design, and any purchases of property or easements would return to council for approval. Councilor Joel moved and Councilor Victoria seconded the resolution authorizing the city manager to execute the task order; the motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: the two PRV stations are critical to maintaining correct distribution pressures and ensuring fire flow capacity in portions of the city. Staff characterized the existing vaults as difficult to maintain, with recurring operational issues that justify replacement or relocation.
Next steps: West Yost will complete the engineering design and prepare bid documents; staff will return with final project costs and any easement or property acquisitions required for relocation.
