Committee agrees to forward Straubel Springs outlet-works amendment increasing project cost to $9.3 million

Matthew presented an amendment to an existing intergovernmental agreement with Denver Water for the Straubel Springs Dam outlet-works refurbishment, saying the change is needed because total project costs are now projected to exceed the 10% threshold that triggers council approval. “The amendment is needed because the total project costs, is now projected to exceed the 10% threshold,” Matthew said.

He told the committee that after Denver’s standard procurement process produced no qualified bidders, Denver evaluated alternate delivery approaches and selected a sole‑source open‑book delivery to preserve schedule and allow ongoing cost validation. “This approach … allows costs to be validated throughout construction and supports collaborative risk management while maintaining the project schedule,” Matthew said.

Staff said the amendment increases the total project cost from $3,700,000 to $9,300,000 and extends the completion date to June 2027. Aurora Water’s 5.73% cost share increases from $582,000 to $1,400,000 (a change of $818,000). Committee members expressed support for forwarding the amendment to the full council: “No questions, and I support moving it forward,” Councilmember Lawson said, and Councilmember Andrews likewise voiced support.

The presenter requested the committee’s concurrence to forward the amendment for council consideration; members offered no substantive questions and the committee agreed to move the item forward. No formal roll‑call vote was recorded in the committee transcript; staff will transmit the amendment and supporting materials to the council packet for the next council meeting.

Next steps: staff will place the amendment on the council agenda and provide detailed procurement and cost documentation to the council per the IGA and city procurement requirements.