Los Lagos CSD votes to pursue 80% designs for both gravity and effluent sewer collection options

The Los Lagos Community Services District board voted to contract for 80% engineering designs for two collection approaches — a gravity-fed system to the City of Solvang and an effluent (pressurized) collection system with local or regional treatment — to produce comparable cost estimates. Counsel confirmed the vote was 3–2, with Directors Parks, Nelson and President Kennedy voting yes and Directors Faeran/Fareham and Palmer voting no.

Staff framed the decision as a way to avoid choosing an option on incomplete cost data. The presenter said the district’s maximum projected flow is about 225,000 gallons per day and noted that running the transmission line to Solvang would require a pipe sized to that flow that the district would own. “The pipe would be owned by the district,” the presenter said, stressing the board’s ability to control who can connect. Staff estimated a single-solution 80% design would take about 10 months and cost roughly $300,000; conducting both designs in parallel would add about $75,000 and a couple of months but would produce direct comparisons for public review.

Board members and residents debated trade-offs — capital cost, operation and maintenance, grant eligibility, and long‑term control over growth. Counsel reiterated that the technical motion to pursue both design tracks does not itself adopt a project financing plan; that step, plus any Prop 218 property‑owner vote, would come later. The board directed staff to proceed with procurement for design contracts and to continue discussions with potential regional treatment partners.