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Residents press for faster action as Cloverdale subcommittee weighs Cherry Creek tank design pause
Summary
A resident and subcommittee members pressed staff about delays on the Cherry Creek (South Crest) reservoir replacement; Public Works Director Montani said design work continues but the city engineer recommended pausing until the water master plan and prospective developments are assessed.
Chair Marquez called the Infrastructure Subcommittee to order and the meeting turned quickly to long‑running water projects, including the proposed replacement of the Cherry Creek (also called South Crest) water tank.
Public Works Director Montani said the city completed a hydraulic evaluation of the system around the Cherry Creek site (budgeted at $77,700; billed $75,440) and is under contract for tank design work (contract value $668,705; $182,450 billed to date). He said the city engineer recommended pausing major construction decisions until the water master plan is finished and any proposed developments south of town complete their hydraulic studies, but that staff would finish the current design phase and return to the full council with updated engineer estimates and bid documents.
A participant who identified concerns about neighborhood impacts and past schedule slips urged the subcommittee to stop commissioning more studies and to move to construction, saying the existing steel tank has visible rust and that the tank’s designated “end of life” was reported as 2017. The speaker asked whether consultants had actually inspected the tank and criticized repeated delays and rate increases used to fund projects that have not been completed.
Montani responded that staff are advancing design work while the master plan and potential future development are analyzed; he said operational fixes such as altitude valves can help mitigate pressure losses in zone 3 in the short term. He also said staff will bring an updated engineer’s estimate and the status of the water system to the full council before seeking bids.
Why it matters: The Cherry Creek tank is central to the subcommittee’s long‑term water reliability planning. Residents’ frustration over perceived delays and rate increases adds political urgency; staff must balance immediate operational needs with planning and grant/contracting timelines.
Next steps: Staff will finish the current design deliverables, provide an updated engineer’s estimate and water‑system status to the full council, and continue coordination on the water master plan and any development reviews that might affect tank sizing or location.
