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City updates council on Big Creek Dam alternatives analysis, asks for council liaison for project
Summary
City staff reported progress on an alternatives analysis and a financial feasibility review for the Big Creek Dam replacement and requested a council liaison to participate in monthly project briefings as decisions approach.
City Manager Nina told the Newport City Council that the city’s Big Creek Dam replacement project is advancing with a new alternatives analysis and a financial feasibility review after earlier cost estimates for a roller-compacted-concrete option prompted a reassessment.
Nina said the city engaged Stantec to produce a financial feasibility analysis addressing whether the city could fund an approximately $185,000,000 estimate for replacement and what financing options might look like; staff said that analysis is nearly complete. The council also approved a contract with Jacobs to complete the alternatives analysis; staff estimated a final report in late February or early March.
Because the project will include several decision points and risk tradeoffs, staff requested that the council appoint a council liaison to join recurring monthly meetings and receive project briefings. Nina said the liaison would not be expected to provide technical engineering expertise but would serve as a council contact and provide context as technical recommendations are developed.
Councilors asked about time commitment; staff suggested monthly one-hour meetings as the working assumption. Councilor Jenny (who said she had participated in early reviews of the dam) offered to serve as an alternate and several councilors indicated willingness to consider serving as liaison while noting they would rely on technical staff and consultants for engineering advice.
What happens next: staff will continue work with Jacobs and Stantec, finalize the financial feasibility work, and include a council liaison in recurring meetings once the council identifies the member who will serve.
Background: the city has been studying options for a Big Creek Dam replacement since 2011. The current step — an updated alternatives analysis plus a parallel financial feasibility study — will inform whether to pursue a major capital project, seek grants or pursue other financing strategies. Staff noted several decision points between now and the completion of the analysis that could require council direction.
