Calistoga council approves contingency funding to finish Riverside Ponds project if FEMA denies extension

Calistoga’s City Council voted to approve a resolution authorizing the city to fund completion of the Riverside Ponds project if the state Office of Emergency Services or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deny the city’s request for a time extension.

Public Works Director Raynor told the council the work is part of the city’s response to a cease-and-desist order from the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board and that FEMA had advanced “about a little over $3,000,000” to allow additional construction. Raynor said the city had requested a time extension to complete remaining work and that, if Cal OES or FEMA reject the extension, the city could be liable for roughly “$625,000 worth of work” that would extend past the September 22 deadline.

The council’s action authorizes staff to proceed with the project and to use Sewer Enterprise funds to cover any costs not reimbursed by the grant program. Mayor Williams made the motion to approve the resolution “as it’s presented to us,” and Council member Eisenberg seconded. The motion carried; the council voiced unanimous assent during the vote.

Why it matters

The Riverside Ponds work is intended to raise and realign ponds above the floodway and modify Simmons Creek and portions of the Napa River embankment to protect critical wastewater infrastructure and reduce illicit bypasses that prompted the regional board’s order. Raynor said the project also would allow the city to discharge a larger permitted volume of treated effluent to the Napa River once completed.

Details from the council meeting

- Deadline and extension: City staff said they have repeatedly requested a one-year extension from Cal OES and FEMA (follow-up notices in February, April and July) but had not received an official approval before the council meeting. The construction contract included a September 22 completion date tied to grant eligibility.

- Potential cost exposure: Raynor described the uncompensated work beyond Sept. 22 as “about $625,000,” and noted the city’s Sewer Enterprise operations-and-maintenance budget is about $4,200,000 this year with a capital improvement program of roughly $6,000,000. He framed the $625,000 as substantial but manageable within enterprise resources if the grant does not cover the overrun.

- Tradeoffs: Raynor and councilors discussed that terminating work at the deadline would delay the project, likely raise future costs and prolong operational limitations (including reduced discharge capacity and more manual operations at the facility). Proceeding now risks incurring unreimbursed costs but preserves project momentum and the benefits of the improvements.

Council direction and next steps

Council approved the resolution authorizing contingency funding and directed staff to continue work pending the outcome of the city’s extension requests. Raynor said staff will continue to pursue federal and state reimbursement while completing construction to meet project objectives.

Provenance

Topic introduced: “The item before you tonight is, staff is seeking city council direction on the Riverside Ponds project.” (Public Works Director Raynor, council meeting presentation)

Topic finished: Council vote recorded as “Aye” from members and the motion carried to approve the resolution authorizing the funding contingency.