Sunnyvale council hires Freese and Nichols for wastewater master plan and impact‑fee update, $522,500 contract approved
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Summary
The council approved a $522,500 contract with Freese and Nichols to model and design a wastewater master plan, develop a 10‑year wastewater capital improvement plan, create a CMOM, and update water and wastewater impact fees.
The Sunnyvale Town Council voted March 10 to award a $522,500 engineering design contract to Freese and Nichols, Inc., to develop a wastewater master plan, a 10‑year wastewater capital improvement plan and a capacity, management, operations and maintenance (CMOM) plan — work the town will use to update its water and wastewater impact fees.
Mark (staff presenter) told the council the contract would model the town’s sanitary sewer collection system, evaluate future expansion needs tied to development potential, analyze infiltration and inflow (I&I) issues, and produce cost estimates for a multi‑year capital improvement plan. The work is intended to feed a legally required update of the town’s impact fees; staff noted state law requires municipalities to revisit impact fees every five years and the town’s last adoption occurred in November 2020.
Key elements of the scope presented to council: - Hydraulic modeling and capacity analysis of existing collection system, including lift stations and connections to regional treatment plants (Garland and Mesquite service areas). - Identification of infiltration and inflow sources and recommended mitigation strategies. - Creation of a CMOM plan to establish capacity targets, maintenance priorities and operational protocols. - Development of a 10‑year wastewater capital improvement plan with cost estimates; results will be used to update wastewater impact fees and, combined with the near‑final water master plan from Garver, will allow updates to the town’s water and wastewater impact fees.
Council action and timing: The contract was approved by motion from Mayor Finch and seconded by Councilmember Alito; the vote recorded 6–0 in favor (one councilmember briefly absent during the vote). Staff said the wastewater master plan work is expected to continue into 2026; an update to water impact fees is expected this summer using the nearly complete water master plan, while wastewater impact fee updates will follow after the wastewater model is complete.
Why it matters: The plan aims to identify needed capacity investments and create consistent policies for operations and maintenance; a CMOM helps the town proactively manage sewer capacity, mitigate I&I, and prioritize capital repairs to avoid overflows and regulatory noncompliance.
Ending: Council approved the contract and staff will return with progress reports as modeling and cost estimates are completed.
