City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: August 7, 2023
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Updated Water and Sewer Capital Improvement Programs
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve updated Water and Sewer Capital Improvement Programs.
BACKGROUND
The Public Works Department is responsible for planning, designing, funding, and constructing infrastructure projects that support and enhance the community. Our municipal infrastructure includes roadways, water, sewer, drainage systems, along with City buildings and parks.
A Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is a five-year plan to deliver capital projects based on community input, operations and maintenance needs, planned development projects, and City Council priorities. The CIP is comprised of all capital projects, major equipment purchases, and major studies that a city may construct, purchase, or implement over the upcoming five-year period.
A capital project is typically defined as:
1. An undertaking to construct, repair, renovate, improve, equip, furnish, or acquire a building, facility, or other physical public improvement.
2. Furnishings, apparatus, or equipment for a building, facility, or other physical public improvement.
3. Has a useful life of five years or longer; and
4. Has an estimated cost of more than $50,000.
AGENDA
ITEM
12 The goals for the CIP are to:
1. Maintain and upgrade infrastructure to support existing residences and businesses.
2. Develop capital projects to meet planned community growth.
3. Align capital budgets with City Council policies.
4. Broaden public participation in the budget process by seeking input from residents on the proposed projects.
5. Increase coordination between City departments and regional public agencies (i.e, TAMC).
The benefits of a CIP are:
1. It provides an in-depth review of the City’s capital and maintenance projects and related programs.
2. Shows the estimated costs for each project and thereby presents the total cost for the CIP Budget each fiscal year.
3. Identifies, prioritizes, and optimizes the funding and financing of capital projects. This includes “pay-as-you go”, impact fees, Federal grants, State grants, and debt financing.
4. Allows for systematic evaluation of all potential projects.
5. Serves as a public relations and economic development tool.
6. Helps plan for the maintenance and improvement of the City’s infrastructure.
The city’s first CIP was approved at the December 2, 2019 City Council Meeting. This item is presenting updated CIPs for the Water and Sewer Systems.
REVIEW & ANALYSIS
Updated CIPs for the Water and Sewer Systems were prepared for the following reasons:
1. The Water and Sewer Systems CIPs have been revised over the last several years to prepare for development within the city’s Sphere of Influence including the Vista Lucia Project and the Rianda Cooler Project. City consultants have looked at how to connect new developments to the existing city water and sewer systems and what improvements to the existing systems are needed.
2. For the Sewer System, the CIP includes improvements for the Industrial Wastewater System, rehabilitating the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), and preparing for a new Discharge Permit for the WWTP.
3. Last November, the city engaged a consultant to prepare a Water/Sewer Rate Study and updated CIPs for the Water and Sewer Systems are a primary input to calculate new utility rates.
The updated Five Year CIP for the Water Systems is in this table:
The updated CIP for the Sewer Systems is much more extensive than then the Water CIP due to the numerous efforts to construct the new Industrial Wastewater System, rehabilitate the existing WWTP to meet the requirements under the new Regional Board permit and improve the collection system to serve planned growth in the Sphere of Influence.
WATER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Project 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 18-inch Pipeline in Johnson Canyon
Road (6,800 LF) [1] $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
12-inch Pipeline from Herold Way to
Rincon Rd (1600 LF) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
12-inch Pipeline from Southeast end of
Herold Pkwy to Venice Way Park
(985 LF)
$0 $1,300,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
12-inch Pipeline in First Street from
Alta Street to Elko Street (1,540 LF) $0 $0 $800,000 $0 $0 $0 Hydropneumatic tank in Business Park $0 $0 $1,000,000 $0 $0 $0 Total Water CIP Projects $2,000,000 $3,300,000 $1,800,000 $0 $0 $0 1 – Total project cost is $5 million. $1M of available impact fee funds will be applied to the project
WASTEWATER CIP
2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
1 Wastewater Treatment Plan Expansion 0 0 0 0
2 Wastewater Rate Study 10,000 0 0 0
3 Wastewater Master Plan 25,000 275,000 0 0
4 Groundwater Monitoring Plan 15,000 0 0 0
5 Install New Groundwater Monitoring Wells at WWTP 125,000 0 0 0 6 Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades 80,000 425,000 300,000 0 7 Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge Removal 0 0 0 750,000 8 Replace SCADA/Control System 0 10,000 100,000 0
9 WWTP Process Optimization 75,000 0 0 0
10 Renewal of WWTP WDR 20,000 0 0 0
11 Sampling, Analysis and Regulatory Report Plan 14,000 0 0 0 12 Spill Prevention, Emergency Responds and Staff Training Plans 7,500 0 0 0
13 Wastewater Disposal and Sludge Management Plan 14,000 0 0 0 14 WWTP and Collections Staffing Study 5,500 0 0 0
15 Vehicles 75,000 75,000 0 0
16 Annual Waste Discharge Requirement Fees (WWTP and
IWTF) 25,000 27,500 27,500 55,000
17 CUPA Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures
Plan 0 20,000 0 0
18 Climate Change Adoption Plan 0 0 25,000 0
19 Time Schedule Compliance Plan 9,500 0 0 0
Subtotal Wastewater Treatment 501,000 833,000 453,000 805,000
COLLECTIONS SYSTEM
1 Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment Program 25,000 0 0 0 2 Update Sewer System Management Plan 10,000 0 0 0
3 Wastewater Conveyance System Re-Rating 0 0 0 0
4 Clean and Video Inspect 21" Trunk Sewer (Along Fermin Ln from Alta St to WWTP) 50,000 50,000 0 0
5 Rehabilitate Manholes on 21" Sewer (Along Fermin Ln
from Alta St to WWTP) 200,000 0 0 0
6 Sewer System Condition Assessment 150,000 180,000 180,000 180,000 Subtotal Collections System 435,000 230,000 180,000 180,000
INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM
1 Industrial Wastewater Reclamation System 10,334,000 14,684,000 0 0 Subtotal Industrial System 10,334,000 14,684,000 0 0
TOTAL WASTEWATER CIP $11,270,000 $15,747,000 $633,000 $985,000 Approval of the Water and Sewer CIPs allows for these capital projects to be used in the Water and Sewer Rate Study. Staff recommends that the City Council review and approve the updated Water and Sewer Capital Improvement Programs.
How Recommendation Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small-town charm.
Explain: The Capital Improvement Program provides for planning, designing, funding, and constructing capital projects. It also provides programs to improve the City’s infrastructure for existing residents and businesses, and to support current and future development.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community. X Yes ____ No____ N/A
Explain: The Capital Improvement Program is a strategic tool used to plan and deliver various infrastructure projects and public works programs over a five-year horizon.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful and friendly manner to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner. X Yes __No __N/A Explain: See Vision statement above.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety X Yes No N/A
• Housing X Yes No N/A
• Recreation X Yes No N/A
• Environment X Yes No N/A
• Education X Yes No N/A
Explain: See Vision Statement above.
ALTERNATIVES
Provide staff with comments and feedback on adjusting any of the projects.
BUDGET IMPACT
None at this time. The design and construction of Water and Sewer CIP projects are funded from a variety of sources such as development impact fees, water and sewer rates, State and Federal grants and loans.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council approve updated Water and Sewer Capital Improvement Programs.