Finance committee authorizes staff to negotiate sanitary sewer master plan contract

The Finance Committee voted unanimously to authorize staff to continue contract negotiations for an updated sanitary sewer master plan, a project staff estimated would take about 12 months and could cost in the neighborhood of $200,000.

Staff said the city issued an RFP to four firms and received three proposals; the evaluation team (Greg Minkel, Dan Kofsky, Billy Hutterer and staff) recommended the top-ranked firm as the best-qualified and best value. The consultant’s scope would include updated sewer-system mapping, flow monitoring and a capital plan with a related rate analysis.

Staff described a range of possible costs — “anywhere from $100,000 to half a million dollars,” the presenter said — and told the committee the top proposal’s ballpark estimate was about $200,000. The proposal would include installation and monitoring of roughly 10–12 flow meters; staff said the city already owns four meters and would supply staff time to assist with meter setup and data collection to reduce consultant costs.

Committee member Alder Bry asked where the money would come from. Sean, a finance staff member, explained two likely sources: a non-lapsing fund established for industrial-park planning and promotion and the city’s sewer enterprise fund (Fund 6300). Sean said the sewer fund has benefited from 5% fee increases in both 2023 and 2024 that have built positive net income and that, operationally, the fund could sustain the estimated $200,000 ask; he added the work could be split across two fiscal years if needed.

Asked about timing for flow monitoring, staff said field monitoring is most effective in summer months and that a 12-month schedule would likely include summer monitoring windows. Committee discussion included concern about potential future rate increases once a capital plan and rate study are completed.

A motion and second were made to authorize staff to proceed with negotiations and return a contract to council; the committee approved the authorization by unanimous voice vote. The transcript records the outcome as unanimous but does not record named movers, seconders or a roll-call tally.

Provenance: RFP results, cost ranges, meter counts and funding-source discussion appear in the meeting transcript under item 26-0502 and conclude with the committee’s motion and unanimous voice vote to authorize negotiations.