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Board hears three management-cost scenarios; top-tier program averages ~$570,000/year
Summary
Herrera presented three graduated service packages—surveillance ($41,000/year), expanded monitoring and annual alum ($353,000/year), and full watershed plus oxygenation ($570,000/year average)—and board members discussed budget timing and possible council requests.
Consultant Katie Rodriguez described three level-of-service scenarios for managing harmful algae blooms and their rough 20-year average annual costs. She said the lowest-cost option focuses on surveillance and limited circulation devices, the mid-tier adds monthly trophic monitoring and annual alum for many management units, and the highest tier includes watershed stormwater upgrades and a hypolimnetic oxygenation system for Lake Menard. "Over the course of 20 years, annual average would be $353,000 ... and the high level ... an annual average amount of 570,000," Rodriguez said.
Council liaison Kurt (S4) told the board the Herrera plan had been discussed in a council finance study session but that no formal council submittal or budgeting date was yet set. Members discussed adding smaller recurring alum work into the city operating budget and seeking grants (Ecology freshwater-algae grants were cited at about $50,000) to offset costs; they also noted setup years may be costlier than the average annual figures.
