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Committee report outlines sewer clean‑out pilot, $6.1M federal transit funding and engineering manual updates
Summary
At the EQPW committee report-out, Councilmember Savigny summarized a proposed sewer two‑way cleanout cost‑share pilot (installation cost estimate $3,000–$8,000; pilot funding about $50,000) and transit division highlights including $6.1 million in federal vehicle funding; the committee moved and the council later approved updates to the engineering manuals and will place related ordinance language on the docket.
Councilmember Savigny reported to the full council on March 3 that the Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee heard two major presentations at its February meeting and took committee action to advance technical updates to city engineering manuals.
Water quality staff presented a proposed pilot to cost‑share installation of two‑way sewer cleanouts for older homes. Savigny summarized staff estimates that installation costs range from $3,000 to $8,000 per property and said inspections show roughly 76–80% of inspected cleanouts lack two‑way capability. The pilot model, described as similar to the sidewalk replacement program, would reimburse eligible owners after installation; staff estimated pilot funding of approximately $50,000 from the sanitary sewer fund. No committee vote on the pilot itself was taken at that meeting.
The transit division provided an update that included completion of a transit center renovation, approximately $6,100,000 in federal funding for replacement or additional vehicles, release of a micro‑transit RFP and an adopted 2025–2028 transit plan. Savigny said about 76–77% of the fleet now operates on CNG, hybrid or electric vehicles and noted a micro‑transit pilot targeted areas with higher concentrations of minority and zero‑car households; bus rapid transit remains a long‑term capital priority.
Separately, Savigny said committee members voted to approve proposed updates to the city’s engineering manuals to reflect standard engineering practice and to provide consistent guidance to private property owners. On behalf of the committee he moved approval of those updates at the council work session; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Curtis and approved by voice vote. Savigny said ordinance language adopting the post‑construction stormwater maintenance manual as part of the engineering manual will be placed on the docket for first reading.
What this means: the sewer cleanout pilot remains at concept stage pending council direction and funding decisions; the engineering manual updates will proceed through the ordinance process for formal adoption.
