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Depoe Bay weighs water‑system design and a rate‑study update as major projects loom
Summary
Council approved a $75,000 task order for preliminary engineering on the Northeast Williams water main and discussed updating the FCS rate study to reflect new capital needs; council also approved the broader Collins Street replacement project and asked staff to seek grants.
Depoe Bay — Councilors spent a substantial portion of their Sept. 24 meeting discussing water infrastructure and the city’s utility rate study as aging pipes and planned development push major upgrades closer to reality.
Staff presented Task Order #7, a $75,000 preliminary engineering contract for the Northeast Williams water main replacement and upsizing (design only). Councilors clarified that the $75,000 covers preliminary engineering and that construction documents and construction costs will be additional; the motion to approve the task order was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.
Separately, the council approved proceeding with design work connected to the Collins Street water main replacement (Task Order #6); engineers described the full project as approximately a $1 million construction effort to upsize aging 6‑inch asbestos concrete main to mostly 8‑inch with a 12‑inch trunk section to improve capacity and system reliability.
Councilor Phil (S8) pressed for an update to the FCS rate study, saying the current study does not reflect recent inflation in engineering and material costs, nor the likely need for major capital spending including water treatment plant replacement. He proposed that FCS produce an updated study and suggested suspending scheduled annual September increases until the update is complete. Staff confirmed about $242,000 already collected for debt service is held in a separate account and said they will contact FCS for a quote to update the study and return with options.
Councilors discussed funding routes — grants, DEQ and EPA contacts — and the need to produce designs to qualify for many funding sources. Staff said preliminary designs will help the city pursue grants and technical assistance and that additional work sessions or grant applications will follow.
The council recorded voice votes in favor of the task orders; no detailed roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript.
Next steps: staff to obtain a quote from FCS for a rate study update, provide design and cost estimates for the water projects, and pursue grant opportunities to offset construction costs.
