Council authorizes RFP for Rio Street sewer replacement; estimated cost $1.5 million

City engineering staff presented a recommendation Oct. 7 to release a construction request-for-proposals for the Rio Street sanitary sewer replacement project. Engineer Scott Naughan said the project covers roughly more than 2,000 linear feet of sewer main in varying diameters from Antelope to the boat ramp and is intended to address infiltration and capacity issues experienced during sustained storm events.

Naughan said timing the sewer work to occur alongside the Splash Park project would create construction efficiencies and avoid duplicative pavement work. "This particular project is roughly more than 2,000 linear feet... it does frequently get infiltration intrusion because some of the high storm events," he said. Staff estimated a current anticipated construction cost of about $1.5 million; the project is included in the city's capital improvement plan.

Council members expressed support and noted the benefit of increasing pipe capacity to reduce inflow and ease pressure on the wastewater treatment plant. A public caller asked about prevailing-wage jobs and how many local workers would be used; staff said prevailing-wage requirements apply and contracting outcomes will depend on successful bidders. The council moved, seconded and approved the recommendation to proceed with the RFP.

Staff said material and pipe types are older (clay or concrete) and that work now would be proactive to reduce future wet-weather infiltration and lower costs to treat excess water at the wastewater plant.