College Place approves $96,000 design contract and Ecology grant for Earl Lane stormwater fixes

The College Place City Council on Dec. 9 approved a $96,000 professional-services agreement with JUB Engineers to design stormwater improvements on Northwest Earl Lane, aimed at eliminating standing water and improving water quality before runoff enters the storm system.

Public works director Robert McAndrews told the council the design contract will “eliminate the flooding and help treat the water before it makes it to the storm system,” and that the city tied the project to water-quality needs so the Department of Ecology agreed to fund the design. McAndrews said the Department of Ecology will provide a $93,100 grant for the design with a $4,900 local match from the city.

The mayor asked council members if any items should be removed from the consent agenda and moved on to the action item. Council member Williams moved to authorize the public works director to sign the agreement; the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded objections.

Why it matters: the Earl Lane work addresses localized flooding and adds stormwater treatment capacity, and the grant-match structure minimizes the city’s up-front cost for design. McAndrews told the council a follow-on construction funding request will come after design and engineering estimates are complete.

Council questions were limited. One council member asked whether the Earl Lane site was the same location as a recent sinkhole; McAndrews clarified the sinkhole had been on Ivy Lane and was caused by a broken waterline. The council also noted that the JUB design contract amount is less than the Ecology grant, leaving a small contingency if needed.

The council authorized the public works director to sign the JUB Engineers agreement and separately adopted the Ecology grant acceptance and authorization to sign the grant agreement.