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City staff reports ~12% water loss, OWRD permit submitted and requests expanded pump capacity from McMinnville Water and Light
Summary
City Administrator Branden Dross told the Jan. 8 council that Lafayette’s distribution system loss is roughly 12%, that a Water Rights permit has been submitted to the Oregon Water Resources Department, and that staff seeks approval to pursue raising a McMinnville Water and Light allocation from 500 to 760 gallons per minute to support local infrastructure needs.
City Administrator Branden Dross updated the Lafayette City Council on a suite of public‑works and utilities items at the Jan. 8 meeting, including an estimated distribution system water loss of about 12 percent, regulatory filings and capital project coordination with state and federal representatives, and a request to pursue increased pump capacity from McMinnville Water and Light.
Dross reported the city is moving code enforcement and most public‑works operations to the GoGov platform and estimated that the city’s water system loss is approximately 12 percent. He thanked Public Works Manager Greg Robinson and his team for their work on distribution and related operations. Dross also said the city held a wastewater screen bidding logistics meeting and that a Water Rights permit has been submitted to the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD).
On capital projects, Dross said he resubmitted a capital construction consideration request through Representative Elmer’s office and had spoken with Representative Elmer and Senator Starr about a grant for the Canyon View pump station. He told the council he has asked the City Engineer to draft updated street and utility design standards, noting they have not been updated in about 14 years.
Dross requested council approval to pursue expanded delivery capacity from McMinnville Water and Light, increasing the usage demand request from 500 gallons per minute to 760 gallons per minute to meet projected needs. The minutes record the request but do not record council approval or a vote on that specific request; follow‑up authorization or agreement with McMinnville Water and Light would be required before any change in delivered capacity.
Dross also reminded the council of a Planning Commission public hearing next week about mobile food units, noted that Fourth of July decorations had been received for installation around Flag Day, and thanked Public Works for assistance to the neighboring city of Sheridan. Fire Chief Tim Jech read the names of fire award recipients; Mayor Hilary Malcomson thanked the firefighters for their service.
Next steps recorded in the minutes include staff continuing permit and grant coordination with state representatives and OWRD and producing updated design standards for council review.
