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Amarillo staff outline $1B wastewater expansion path; Phase 2 design contracts set for July 28
Summary
City staff and Kimley-Horn presented a phased plan to expand the Hollywood and River Road wastewater plants, proposing Phase 2 predesign contracts (Hollywood ~$9.4M; River Road ~$12.8M) and describing funding sources including a $20M special appropriation grant and pending TWDB loans.
City staff and consultants presented a multi-year plan to expand Amarillo's wastewater treatment capacity to meet projected growth and regulatory requirements, describing a phased approach that moves the project from master planning into predesign and conceptual engineering.
Donnie Hooper, who briefed council on the project, said Phase 2 predesign work will produce layouts, geotechnical investigations, survey data and water-quality testing needed to refine scope and produce market-based cost models. Hooper told council the July 28 agenda will include recommended Phase 2 professional engineering services agreements with Kimley-Horn: about $9,397,000 for Hollywood and about $12,800,000 for River Road.
Kimley-Horn project manager Kyle Cabista outlined the predesign objectives: evaluate three treatment technologies (conventional activated sludge, membrane bioreactor (MBR), and oxidation ditch), refine treatment concepts and coordinate early with a construction manager at risk (CMAR) to produce market-informed cost estimates and value-engineering options. "This phase is really focused on the predesigned services, conceptual design, and CMAR coordination required to move the project forward," Cabista said.
Staff said funding for Phase 2 would come primarily from a $20 million special appropriation grant and from two anticipated Texas Water Development Board low-interest loans (roughly $60 million each under consideration), and emphasized they will continue to pursue additional grants and financing to limit rate impacts. Hooper said earlier planning and PER (preliminary engineering report) work is complete and Phase 2 will help produce a 30% design-level estimate next year.
Councilors asked about schedule, cost control and the CMAR approach. Consultants said engaging a CMAR early will allow early procurement of long-lead equipment, provide market-based pricing, and create guaranteed maximum price (GMP) packages for construction. Staff noted a long-range target to keep the total project near $1 billion, while acknowledging wide cost ranges driven by soil conditions, technology choice and inflation. "Our target is we're trying to get this project to $1,000,000,000 or less," Hooper said, noting that the exact cost will be clearer after 30% design and CMAR pricing.
Next steps: council will consider Phase 2 contract awards at its July 28 meeting. City staff and consultants said predesign and CMAR coordination will produce refined cost estimates, treatment-technology recommendations and a procurement approach intended to limit surprises for ratepayers.
