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Council approves membrane upgrade, authorizes deposit for wastewater treatment plant project
Summary
The Bellevue Common Council voted to approve resolution 25-46 to purchase upgraded MBR membranes and begin work on critical wastewater repairs, authorizing a 30% deposit of $156,007.60 from wastewater capital funds and directing staff to pursue external funding.
The Bellevue Common Council on Dec. 8 approved resolution 25-46, authorizing purchase and installation of upgraded membrane bioreactor (MBR) membranes for the city wastewater treatment plant and approving procurement payments to begin work. The council vote followed a technical briefing from a Great West consultant and discussion of costs, permitting and funding sources.
Andrew Kimmel, the consultant presenting the plan, told council the city faces three near-term priorities: replacing the MBR membranes, conducting seepage testing on lagoons 2 and 3 to satisfy DEQ certification, and repairing the headworks channel unless the city accelerates a larger headworks-screen project. "The few things that really do need to happen, this year...are the Headworks channel repair...the MBR membranes those do need to replace as we all know," Kimmel said. He described options ranging from targeted rehabilitation (hundreds of thousands of dollars) to full expansion alternatives in the city facility plan that were priced in the millions.
Council discussed delivery and storage timing for the membranes and practical installation details. Staff noted the Veolia proposal includes a staged payment schedule: 30% due on acceptance (an upfront payment of $156,007.60), 70% on material delivery and the balance after on‑site support. Mayor Duran said staff intends to fund the initial deposit from capital-improvement savings and pursue grant funding when possible. "If funding is awarded, we will present it to council for a decision," the mayor said.
The motion on the table specified option 2 of the Veolia membrane system as the preferred upgrade. The council seconded the motion and approved it in roll-call voting. The resolution directs staff to execute necessary procurement documents, begin the membrane replacement work sequence and continue pursuing external funding to offset costs. Staff also committed to returning to council with funding updates and to coordinate DEQ permitting and testing required for lagoon certification.
Authorities and clarifications: staff cited the facility plan and the Veolia proposal included with the council packet; DEQ regulatory requirements and a new permitting trigger for infiltration basins were discussed as constraints for long-term planning. The council record notes a wastewater fund account (account 1694) balance of $501,387 referenced in the treasurer's report when discussing funding options.
