Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David Corliss Debbie Van Saun
FROM:	Mike Lawless
CC:	Dave Wagner Philip Ciesielski
Date:	August 08, 2007
RE:	August 14, 2007 City Commission Agenda

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the August 14, 2007 meeting:

Enter into contracts with the following design/build teams for preliminary field investigative services:

1) CAS Construction/Professional Engineering Consultants, in the amount of $100,000.00 for the construction of the conveyance system to the new 7.0 MGD BNR Wakarusa Water Reclamation Facility (WWRF)

2) Black & Veatch/Grimm Construction, in the amount of $134,100.00 for the construction of the new 7.0 MGD BNR Wakarusa Water Reclamation Facility (WWRF) and improvements to the Four Seasons Pump Station and Excess Flow Storage Facility.

These are capital improvement projects from the 2003 Waste Water Master Plan that are scheduled for completion in 2010. 

Summary.  During the negotiation of the preliminary design/build services agreement with the two design/build teams and while platting, zoning and annexation of the site continue, staff has identified work items critical to maintaining the current aggressive design/build schedule.  Thus, staff is recommending the project proceed under separate agreements prior to the preliminary design/build services agreement. 

The agreement for CAS Construction/Professional engineering Consultants will include tasks necessary to define the conveyance corridor, to define the pump station location, to assist the Property Acquisition Team in obtaining the proper right of entry documents to allow geotechnical borings and coordination with the Plant project team.

The agreement for Black & Veatch/Grimm Construction will include tasks for preliminary roadway design of E 1600 and N 1175, evaluation of site fill, project permitting, utility coordination, coordination with the Conveyance project team and preliminary design of the Four Seasons equalization basin foundation.

Project History. The 2003 Waste Water Master Plan identified the need for the completion of a 7.0 million gallon per day (mgd) wastewater facility discharging to the Wakarusa River by the end of year 2010.  Adding this facility and the associated infrastructure to the sanitary sewer system will allow service to a population of 150,000. 

Additional major efforts underway or completed include:

• Facility site acquisition is completed.
• Preliminary design work by Black and Veatch and staff has been delivered in the final draft of the Basis of Design Report, Design Memo and Corridor Study. They are currently under review by staff.
• Site planning, annexation and zoning of the Wakarusa WRF site are still in progress.
• In December 2006, staff applied to KDHE for a NPDES discharge permit. The permit was posted for public notification and comment on May 17, 2007. The permit became effective July 1, 2007 with the requested discharge limits of 8.0 mg/l Total Nitrogen and 1.5 mg/l Total Phosphorous.
• Public outreach, input, and dissemination of information about the project will continue, using public meetings and involvement with the project by the three members of the Public Advisory Committee (PAC) sub-group.

Project Status.  Staff is continuing to negotiate the contracts for preliminary design/build services as the initial phase of the project and to secure the annexation, zoning and platting of the property.  During this period staff is recommending that work items critical to maintaining the aggressive design/build project schedule proceed under separate initial agreements with CAS Construction/Professional Engineering Consultants and with Black & Veatch/Grimm Construction.

Project Funding.  The engineering and construction work will be funded with bond proceeds.  The current estimated cost for design, construction and conveyance corridor land acquisition is $87,700,000.00.  On August 7^th, the City Commission adopted on first reading the water and sewer rates for 2008 that will continue a multi-year rate plan designed to provide the financial support for the completion of this and other capital improvement projects for the water and sewer systems.  

Action Request.  Utility Department staff requests the following approvals from the City Commission:

1) Authorization for the City Manager to enter into a contract with the design/build team of CAS Construction/Professional Engineering Consultants, in the amount of $100,000.00 for preliminary field investigative services for the construction of the conveyance system to the new 7.0 MGD BNR Wakarusa Water Reclamation Facility (WWRF).

2) Authorization for the City Manager to enter into a contract with the design/build team of Black & Veatch/Grimm Construction, in the amount of $134,100.00 for preliminary field investigative services for the construction of the new 7.0 MGD BNR Wakarusa Water Reclamation Facility (WWRF) and improvements to the Four Seasons Pump Station and Excess Flow Storage Facility.