City to review water-treatment consolidation study; spring-line, reservoir and leasing issues on upcoming agendas
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Summary
Staff reported completion of a state-requested study on consolidating the city’s water treatment plant and said the city will meet with Hazen to discuss results; councilors also heard updates on a spring transmission-line procurement issue, a reservoir EIS extension and plans to resume leasing irrigation water locally amid lower predicted flows.
City staff told councilors that the state Division of Drinking Water asked the city to study consolidation options for the municipal water treatment plant and that the consultant’s work is completed.
"The state division drinking water asked us to do a study on analyzing the possibility of consolidating our plant…that study is finally been completed," Speaker 2 said, adding staff will meet with Hazen next week to review findings and to discuss next steps with drinking water officials. Staff said they will need design funding before producing a credible project cost estimate.
Councilors also heard related water-project briefings. Staff reported the spring water transmission-line project remains in design and that the low bidder’s supplier will not honor price commitments; staff recommended accepting the second-low bidder at a roughly $6,000 higher price to avoid procurement delays.
On the reservoir project, staff said the agenda includes an extension of time to complete the environmental impact statement (EIS) and a request for additional funding after a partner withdrew from the project; counties have offered some funding to help cover the difference. Staff also said the city expects to return to leasing water locally rather than to the Colorado River program; they warned that direct-flow allocations this year could fall to around 30%.
No formal approvals were taken during the discussion; staff said they will present next steps and funding requests at future council meetings once design scopes and procurement outcomes are clearer.
The council did not vote on design funding at the meeting; staff will seek design money before preparing a detailed project price tag.