Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

To:

Mayor & City Commissioners

From:

David L. Corliss, Interim City Manager

cc:

Debbie Van Saun, Asst. City Manager

Chris Stewart, Acting Utilities Director

Dave Wagner, Asst. Utilities Director – Wastewater

Date:

April 5, 2006

Re:

Follow-up activities from 03/31/06 Sewer Summit

 

This memo serves to summarize the activities undertaken since the conclusion of the March 31st Sewer Summit and relays to the City Commission the management and operational commitments staff is undertaking to solve the sewer infrastructure issues associated with development in northwest Lawrence.

 

On Tuesday, April 4th, I met with Mike Orth (Black & Veatch), Phil Stuble (Landplan Engineering), Curt Talcott (Peridian Engineering), Debbie Van Saun, Chris Stewart, Dave Wagner, and Philip Ciesielski with the intention of finalizing a plan of priority solutions to accommodate the pending development issues associated with sewer capacity in the area generally described as north of 6th Street, south of Peterson Rd. (extended), east of K-10, and west of Folks Rd.  Our initial view of costs associated with this plan confirms the merit of moving ahead with the timeframes indicated below, in part due to recent increases in construction costs (e.g. the Clinton Water Treatment Plant project estimate), and the likelihood that those increases will continue.  Staff plans to monitor the wastewater rate plan and recommend any necessary adjustments in the future. 

 

The plan we developed and reached a general understanding together is presented below.  Numerous details remain to be resolved; however we are committed to working toward the intent that is inherent in this plan.

 

Ø Optimize Existing Pump Station #44 Capacity.  This station’s existing wetwell will accommodate larger pumps and installation of those pumps will increase the capacity of the station from 0.9 to potentially something in excess of 2 million gallons per day (mgd).  The City will expedite procurement and installation of the larger pumping units and proceed with the necessary electrical improvements to the control panels and power supply for the station.  This step will allow for restrictions in the Westwood Hills and Baldwin Creek Benefit Districts to be removed.  Estimated time frame:  less than six (6) months.  Estimated cost: $150,000.  Opportunities to share these costs with development benefiting from this improvement will be explored.

 

Ø Optimize Existing Pump Station #45 Capacity.  This station’s existing capacity is approximately 1.1 mgd.  This pump station will be upgraded by the property owners in the service area to a larger capacity station and may include a benefit district, due to additional property owners from those originally involved.  The questions regarding the optimum capacity involve an investigation of the station’s capabilities in terms of pump size, piping, and electrical service.  Phased development restrictions associated with sanitary sewer service for Turner, Stultzland, Oregon Trail, Mercato, & Greycliff will be removed.  Estimated time frame:  less than six (6) months.  Estimated cost:  $150,000. This project is not anticipated to be a City cost.

 

Ø Optimize Existing Pump Station #18 Capacity, as applicable.  Without rebuilding this station, it may be possible to increase capacity to allow for the Bauer Farms development to proceed with an assumption that they will be asked to assist in the improvements associated with the development’s ultimate destination (BC1PS1 – see more info below).  Estimated time frame: Dependent upon project scope.  Estimated cost:  Dependent upon project scope.  Opportunities to share these costs with development benefiting from this improvement will be explored.

 

Ø Accelerate YTC-2 Pipeline Project.  Increased capacity at PS #44 and PS #45 will increase flows to the YTC-2 subbasin and pipeline replacements will be required to convey the flows to the Four Seasons Pumping Station.  Two projects in the 2003 Wastewater Master Plan were identified for 2010 and 2025 to accommodate development within the YTC-2 subbasin.  These two projects will commence immediately in a design/build fashion in order to accommodate the additional flows from PS #44, PS #45, and the complete build-out of YTC-2.  The actual size of the pipeline will be determined based upon the results of the Northwest Collection System Master Plan Update.  Estimated time frame:  eighteen to twenty-four months (18 – 24), depending upon land acquisition issues.  Estimated cost:  per the 2003 Master Plan estimates for the two projects - $804,000 and $1,699,000. 

 

Ø Accelerate Baldwin Creek Pump Station/Force Main Project and Gravity Sewers in BC-1 and BC-2.  The Baldwin Creek pump station, force main, and gravity sewers serving BC-1 and BC-2 subbasins will relieve immediate growth pressures in the northwest area and balance and optimize flows in the collection system to ensure full utilization of the existing Kaw River Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The advantages of a phased approach to ultimate capacity of the pump station should be investigated.  This project will commence immediately in a design/build fashion with actual pump station and pipeline sizes determined based upon the results of the Northwest Collection System Master Plan Update.  Estimated time frame:  twenty-four to forty-eight (24 – 48) months, depending upon land acquisition issues.  Estimated cost:  Dependent upon project scope.  There will be opportunities to share these costs with development benefiting from this project, however, the City will finance the installation of this improvement and require future developments accessing the improvements to pay a pro-rata share of the costs of the improvements.

 

Ø Accelerate Wakarusa Water Reclamation Facility and Collection System Improvements.  The Wakarusa WRF and associated collection system improvements were recommended for completion in 2011.  Acceleration of these projects will support operational issues and accommodate build-out of YTC-2 as well as accommodate conveyance and treatment of flows from Baldwin Creek subbasins which are pumped south of 6th St.  Currently, this project is approximately three (3) months ahead of original schedule.  Plans are in development for further project acceleration. 

 

A major topic of discussion during our April 4th meeting was the absorption rate (the length of time for land use approvals, construction of internal public improvements, and the build-out of all eligible platted property acknowledging the market limitations on new construction) of the various developments that are affected by this plan, as well as those related to the plan (e.g. YTC-2 build out).  While we acknowledged that there is some element of risk in assuming that the absorption rate for this development (which involves working through the remaining phases of the development process, design, construction, and eventual occupancy), it was acknowledged that relying on the historical rate under which these steps take place in a typical development climate allows us to recommend moving forward with the plan outlined in this memo.

 

Another important point to note is that the receipt of the Northwest Collection System Master Plan Update will be an important conclusion to the long-term goal of developing sewer infrastructure solutions to the development of the entire Baldwin Creek basin.  We look forward to receiving a draft of that document for City Commission and public review next month.   

 

I mentioned in the opening paragraph of this memo that there are management and operational commitments necessary from City staff in order to move forward with this plan.  This commitment includes careful monitoring of the development activity and aforementioned absorption rate, collection system monitoring, and judicious operation of the holding basin and pump station system at Four Seasons in order to continue with the successful conveyance of wastewater in the system and meeting the high standard of service expectations from the community.  There is also the staff commitment to move expeditiously on the outlined improvements.  Your City staff takes these commitments seriously and professionally and looks forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

 

Options for City Commission Consideration:

Please consider the following options and provide staff direction on your preference:

 

a)   Implement the plan as recommended above in its entirety in a concurrent manner, as appropriate.  In turn, upon receipt of the Northwest Sanitary Sewer Master Plan Update, act upon the remaining recommendations included in that Update in order to provide the infrastructure necessary for future development.  Direct staff to initiate the request for proposal (RFP) process for the following design/build projects:

§         YTC-2 Pipeline Project

§         Baldwin Creek Pump Station/Force Main with Gravity Sewers in BC-1 and BC-2 Project

 

b)   Do not implement the plan.  Continue to place limits and conditions on specific developments within the northwest area until such time as the sanitary sewer capacity is available through projects completed either by the development community or the city-at-large.

 

c)    Additional options that may be presented to the City Commission.