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Council approves reallocation to hire consultant for construction standards; Maple Canyon well repair expected to cost city share of ~40%
Summary
Council approved reallocating funds to hire a consultant (approx. $16K) to update the city’s construction and development standards; staff also briefed the council on a Maple Canyon well with casing holes, estimating total repair at about $250,000 and the city’s share at roughly 40%.
Woodland Hills City Council on March 4 approved a reallocation of budgeted legal funds to hire a consulting engineer to update the city’s construction and development standards and heard a staff briefing on an emergency well repair that will require a portion of city savings to fix.
Staff explained the consulting engagement will update the city’s development and construction standards (the document that guides infrastructure work and subdivision improvements). The consulting estimate for the update is about $16,000; council approved moving funds from the attorney budget (a budget line with unspent funds this fiscal year) into professional services to cover up to $17,000 for the contract. Staff said the work is intended to remove confusion between home-construction rules and development/infrastructure standards and reduce future contract disputes.
Finance staff (Chris) explained the budget mechanics: the legal budget had unspent dollars (about $75,000 originally budgeted for attorney costs, roughly $21,000 spent so far) and the council authorized reallocating part of that for professional services. Council approved the reallocation by motion and roll call.
Public works staff (Ted) briefed the council on the Maple Canyon Well, which serves the city in partnership with Salem. A camera inspection found more than 100 feet of casing with multiple holes. An engineer’s estimate to pull and replace the casing is about $250,000; the city’s share—based on a 40% ownership of the well—is roughly 40% of the total estimate. Staff said they will use budgeted repair/maintenance funds and savings (the city’s utility savings balance was cited) and that emergency funding lines are available.
Council discussed bonding and developer guarantees for infrastructure (state rules limit how much the city may require in some contexts) and asked staff to return with firm contractor bids for the well work. Staff said they are seeking contractors (well drillers and casing specialists) and do not yet have a completion date for the repair.
Council also discussed selling surplus equipment (a Kubota, steel tanks and manhole risers) and noted sale timing would depend on seasonal access and logistics. Staff said the city has money set aside for depreciation and that planned savings contributions for the year provide flexibility to cover the anticipated well repair.
