Council approves design contracts for Evans Lane pond expansion and Jacobs Ranch well

The Saratoga Springs City Council approved design contracts that staff said will position the city to meet growing secondary water needs in the south end of town.

Interim Pro Tem (Speaker 9) and staff described the Pond and Evans Lane expansion: the pond would increase from about 17 acre-feet to roughly 29 acre-feet to add storage capacity for irrigation demand and provide redundancy that staff said could be used for helicopter drops in fire response. "We're almost going to double it to 29 acre feet," staff said, noting the design award recommendation was to pay for design now while construction funding is still under discussion.

On the Pond 8 expansion staff recommended awarding the design contract to the firm that previously did the work; staff stated a design contract amount not to exceed $150,000 in the staff recommendation. Council moved and approved the award by roll call. Staff emphasized construction has not yet been funded and that the design award does not commit the city to build until funding is resolved.

Council also approved awarding a design contract for Jacobs Ranch Well No. 9 to a prequalified engineering firm for an amount not to exceed $100,000. Staff framed the well as a way to add redundancy to the south end's water supply and noted well drilling and subsequent steps may require additional future contracts if the city proceeds with construction.

Both motions passed on roll-call votes; council members recorded affirmative votes (Taylor, Barton, Wilson and Wadman). Staff said timing targets aim for the pond design to be bid later in the year to support a 2027 construction window if funding is arranged.