Council approves consulting work for wastewater plant SRF loan application; staff seeks $110 million Clean Water SRF loan
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Summary
The council authorized an amendment with Provost & Pritchard to support final design work and preparation of a Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan application; staff said the loan sought is about $110 million at an estimated 2.1% interest and the consultant proposal for the application work is roughly $111,000.
Ridgecrest — The Ridgecrest City Council on Wednesday authorized an amendment to the city's contract with Provost & Pritchard to complete design work on the new wastewater treatment plant and to prepare the loan application for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF).
City staff explained that the city is seeking a Clean Water SRF loan of approximately $110,000,000 with an estimated interest rate of 2.1 percent and that the SRF application package requires detailed documents and roughly 400 hours of consultant labor. Provost & Pritchard, already under contract for design work, submitted a proposal of about $111,000 to prepare the loan application and related documentation; staff reviewed the proposal and described it as reasonable and within budgeted funds.
Councilmembers asked about the design schedule and whether reclamation or later expansion for reclaimed water was included in the current design. Staff said most of the remaining design work concerns power to the plant and coordination with the Navy on airfield upgrades; staff also said the current design does not include reclamation work, but provisions exist to allow future expansion for reclamation if the city chooses to add it in the future.
Council approved the amendment and staff said the work is intended to improve the city’s chances of receiving SRF funding, which could save ratepayers significant debt-service costs compared with other financing options.