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Aberdeen city engineer warns of schedule slips, consultant delays and rising overtime on major projects
Summary
City Engineer Nick Bberto told council that roughly half of active capital projects show schedule slips caused by permitting, consultant delays and unforeseen site issues; the fair pump station construction is postponed until next June after fish‑screen/HPA requirements were identified and US‑101 safety work is driving high internal staff hours and overtime.
City Engineer Nick Bberto told the Aberdeen City Council on June 10 that 41 capital projects are active and that about 20 have experienced schedule slips, attributing delays to permitting issues, consultant delivery and unforeseen site conditions.
Bberto highlighted multiple examples: a rail‑crossing improvement study had been delayed while awaiting a grant agreement but the grant notice arrived the prior week and staff expect to advertise the consulting opportunity shortly; Pioneer 3 (a new turf field) was delayed roughly 90 days while awaiting a cultural‑resource report needed by the granting agency; and a planned pump‑station construction was postponed because required fish‑screen work was not in the contract plans and Fish & Wildlife would not issue the HPA without additional scope or evidence that the affected ditch lacked fish.
"We are not going to advance construction this summer knowing we didn't have a real, strong and solid game plan," Bberto said. He estimated that construction for the pump station will likely begin in June of next year after the environmental and permitting issues are resolved.
Bberto also described internal staffing impacts. The US‑101 safety improvement project has required substantial staff time — he projected nearly 2,000 engineering hours on that project in 2026 — and city overtime through May was already at 82% of 2025 levels, with further increases expected. He said the city plans to propose a project‑management series and a funded project manager position in the next budget cycle to relieve pressure.
Council members urged staff to present options for a "toolbox" of budget or staffing measures to reduce schedule risk and worker burnout. A councilor also asked that the city post the project list on its website for transparency; Bberto agreed.
What happens next: staff will return with budget‑cycle options to bolster project‑management capacity, continue work on delayed grant and permitting items, and provide future updates to council.
