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City Council (View All)

Study Session

Agenda
Monday, August 05, 2019

 
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
DRAFT MINUTES
Monday, August 5, 2019
Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street
 
 
Mayor Stromberg called the Study Session to order at 5:32 PM.
 
Councilors’ Slattery, Graham, Jensen, Akins and Seffinger were present.
 
Councilor Rosenthal was absent. 
 
Public Forum:
 
Dr. Carol Voisin – Ashland – She spoke regarding the water master plan.  She spoke that the cost has gone up and there will probably be an increase in water rates in the future.   She explained that in 2012 it was told that by increasing rates by 10% it would give us what we need for water infrastructure.  She spoke that another review is needed by Council. She questioned what will this do to our water rates.  She spoke that it is important to assure the citizens that oversight and accountability are in place.  She explained that there is no need to rush this and the importance of being transparent about cost. 
 
William Shanor – Ashland – Spoke that he and his wife did a site visit.  He spoke regarding E. Coli and the importance of the more you learn the simpler it becomes.  He spoke that this is not as complicated as those appear to make it.  
 
I. Update on Preliminary Design of a 7.5 Million Gallons a Day Water Treatment Plant
 
 
City Administrator Kelly Madding gave a background on the water treatment plant.
 
Seffinger arrived at 5:47 PM.  
 
 
Deputy Public Works Director Scott Fleury gave a Staff report. 
 
Akins questioned what will happen to the current water plant.  Fleury explained that options would be brought back to Council regarding the current plant.  Seffinger questioned if trails can be placed in that area.  Fleury spoke that this has not been discussed yet. Council questioned what will be done for the safety of the new area.  Fleury answered that a design proposes a fence around the area and video cameras.    
 
 
Council discussed the increase in demand.  
 
HDR representative Pierre Kwan presented Council with a PowerPoint Presentation (see attached).  
 
 
Items discussed were:
  • Design of 7.5 million gallons a day water treatment plant.
  • Background.
  • What have been doing.
  • Alternatives reviewed.
  • 4 Project phases:
    • Alternatives Analysis and Preliminary.
    • Final engineering.
    • Bidding assistance.
    • Construction administration.
    • Building upon 2016-2018 work.
    • New plant at the Granite Site.
    • Existing plant will be decommissioned.
    • 7.5 MGD expandable to 10.0 MGD in the future.
    • Incorporate clearwell for addition future storage.
    • Not membrane filtration process.
    • Need to address taste and odor compounds, algae and algal toxins. Must address.
  • Issues facing now.
    • Defining the treatment process.
    • Obtaining Oregon health authority acceptance.
    • How to fit everything onto the challenging Granite site, planning what to do withthe existing plant once new plant is operational.
    • Determining construction and lifecycle costs.
    • Identifying permitting requirements.
    • How to prepare for the unknown.
  • What have we been doing?
    • Phase 1A – Alternatives evaluation.
    • Phase 1B Preliminary Design.
    • Meet goals and stay in budget.
  • Treatment alternatives
    • Conducted geotechnical investigations.
    • Completed ground survey.      
    • Identified and evaluated treatment process.
    • Completed construction and value engineering review.
    • Developing the plan and process for abandoning existing water plant.
    • Finalizing 30 % design documents.
  • Design alternatives evaluated.
    • What treatment process should the plant have?
    • How to incorporate water storage requirements associated with the water masterplan outcomes.
    • How to fit all the facilities on the site?
    • How to connect new plant to existing.
    • Processes of new plant.
    • Coagulation and filtration systems to remove turbidity and pathogens.
    • Chlorine addition to further disinfect the water.
    • Ozone addition to eliminate taste and odor issues and destroy potential algal toxins.
    • Solids removal for better filter operations and greater disinfections. Prohibited in Oregon.
    • Ozone Coalition. 
    • Direct filter plant. 
  • How to handle storm driven events.  
  • Storage volumes.
  • Site Layout – Existing area, an initial concept. 
  •  Challenge – Crossing Ashland creek. 
    • All existing pipes on the east side of the creek. 
    • New plant site is on the west side of the creek.
    • Evaluating: Going over the creek on a new bridge. 
  • Cost estimating and constructability Review:
  • Cost estimating services provided by Mortenson constructions. 
  • Four rounds of cost estimating:
    • January 23
    • May 24
    • June 11
    • July 15
    • Estimated treatment construction cost. 
    • Look at cutting costs.  How many buildings are needed, conference rooms, etc. 36 million from 42 million.  
    • Additional power savings costs.
    • Additional Hydropower. 
    • Solar power. 
  • Follow up activities
    • Phase 2 – Final engineering/permitting 2019-2020.
    • Phase 3 – Bidding assistance 2020.
    • Phase 4 – Construction 2020-2022 – Build new facilities and decommission existing plant. 
  • Proposed location. 
 
 
Fleury explained that each item will
 
Council discussed the historical value of the current plant.  
 
Madding spoke that if Council has any further questions to send them to Staff. 
 
Council discussed having another Study Session for this item. Madding explained that this item is on the Look Ahead for the September 3rd Business Meeting but if Council would like another Study Session to let Staff know. 
 
 
The Study Session was adjourned at 7:00 PM
 
 
Respectfully submitted by:
 
City Recorder Melissa Huhtala
 
Attest:
 
Mayor Stromberg
 
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Administrator's office at (541) 488-6002 (TTY phone number 1-800-735-2900).  Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title I).

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