Richmond directs staff to seek operator for wastewater and stormwater systems, favors hybrid procurement

Following a multi-year feasibility study presented by consultant WaterEar and city staff, the council directed staff to initiate a competitive procurement for an operator to operate, maintain and improve Richmond’s wastewater treatment plant, wastewater collection system and stormwater collection system.

Consultant Jacob Gis summarized three pathways analyzed: (1) a hybrid model where the city retains ownership and competitively procures operations (planning-level cost estimate $15–25M one-time transition, 9–12 month implementation), (2) a city-operated model requiring substantial new staffing and an estimated 24+ months to transition, and (3) transfer of ownership to another public agency (multi-year, legally complex). Staff and the ad hoc wastewater committee recommended pathway one as lowest execution risk and feasible before the current Violia contract expires in May 2027 (SEG 1328–1374).

Council members debated separability of stormwater vs. sewer services, contract duration and whether public agencies might bid. After public comment from community members and labor representatives, the council voted unanimously to initiate procurement under the hybrid option and extended the ad hoc committee to support the process; staff said the RFP work will follow procurement planning, solicitation, evaluation and transition phases (SEG 1370–1387, SEG 1639–1774).

Staff cautioned that implementing an in‑house option would require hiring roughly the same scale of staff as neighboring districts (about 70 positions) and could take more time than the 2027 contract expiration allows; the chosen hybrid pathway preserves regulatory accountability while allowing an operational transition within the available timeline (SEG 1341–1347, SEG 1560–1567).