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Commission approves engineering amendment to pursue pump stations as long‑term drainage fix for Central Island
Summary
After years of study and failed alternatives, the commission approved a sixth amendment with Craig A. Smith Associates to update pump station plans for the Central Island drainage and pump station project; staff said pump stations, while costly, are the only effective long‑term solution.
City staff told commissioners that after studying injection wells and other options, updated engineering shows pump stations are the only viable long‑term solution to chronic Central Island flooding. The commission approved a sixth amendment to the agreement with Craig A. Smith Associates to update designs and prepare a rebid.
Staff recounted prior efforts to combine bids with neighboring jurisdictions, which drove up costs, and said that the project will require substantial engineering, possible pilings at some sites, and a significant construction cost. "We believe that this will provide a long‑term solution, which is what we're looking at because of the substantial cost," staff said.
Commissioner Joseph said the work is overdue and that earlier choices (including testing injection wells) ultimately proved ineffective; he supported moving forward with pump stations. The commission approved the amendment and directed staff to bring updated bid documents and a project timeline back to the commission.
Action and next steps: Staff will finalize updated engineering plans, then rebid the pump‑station work with the goal of delivering a long‑term drainage solution for Central Island. Project cost estimates will be provided in future agenda materials.
