Town of Paradise
Town Council Special Meeting Agenda
6:00 PM – August 14, 2025
Paradise Performing Arts Center – 777 Nunneley Rd, Paradise, CA
Meeting Procedures
I. The Mayor is the Presiding Chair and is responsible for maintaining an orderly meeting. The Mayor calls the meeting to order and introduces each item on the agenda.
II. The Town staff then provides a report to Council and answers questions from the Council.
III. Citizens are encouraged to participate in the meeting process and are provided several opportunities to address Council. Any speaker addressing the Council is limited to three minutes per speaker - fifteen minutes per agenda item A. If you wish to address the Council regarding a specific agenda item, please complete a “Request to Address Council” card and give it to the Town Clerk prior to the beginning of the meeting. This process is voluntary and allows for citizens to be called to the speaker podium in alphabetical order.
Comments and questions from the public must be directed to the Presiding Chair and Town Council Members (please do not address staff.) Town staff is available to address citizen concerns Monday through Thursday at Town Hall between the hours of 8am and 5pm.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance, persons who need special accommodations to participate in the Town Council meeting may contact the Town Clerk at least three business days prior to the date of the meeting to provide time for any such accommodation.
Town Manager, Jim Goodwin
Town Attorney, Scott E. Huber
Town Clerk/Elections Official, Melanie Elvis
CDD, Planning & Onsite, Susan Hartman
CDD, Building & Code Enforcement, Tony Lindsey
Finance Director/Town Treasurer, Aimee Beleu
Public Works Director/Town Engineer, Marc Mattox
Division Chief, CAL FIRE/Paradise Fire, Jason Finney
Chief of Police, Eric Reinbold
Recovery & Economic Development Director, Colette Curtis Human Resources & Risk Management Director, Crystal Peters Information Systems Director, Luis Marquez
Mayor, Steve Crowder
Vice Mayor, Steve “Woody” Culleton
Council Member, Greg Bolin
Council Member, Heidi Lange
Council Member, Ronald Lassonde
1 1. OPENING
1a. Call to Order
1b. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America 1c. Roll Call
2. COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
2a. 1. Consider adopting Resolution No. 2025-___ “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise to Concur with the Paradise Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee’s Recommendation to Direct a Revised Project Description to Include Hybrid Gravity/Low Pressure Collection System, Aerated Lagoon Wastewater Treatment, and Percolation/Evaporation Pond Effluent Discharge” (Alternative 1); and,
2. Provide direction to staff to immediately commence and resume efforts to advance the project forward through environmental and design activities to the maximum and most efficient means feasible; and,
3. Provide direction to staff to bring back formal revisions to the Town’s CDBG-DR Infrastructure Action Plan which provides additional funds to the Paradise Sewer Project’s first phase, as well as coordinate with impacted funding agencies for action implementation. (ROLL CALL VOTE) (Marc Mattox/Town Engineer)
3. ADJOURNMENT
2 Town of Paradise
Council Agenda Summary
Date: August 14, 2025
Agenda Item: 2(a)
ORIGINATED BY: Colin Nelson, Capital Projects Manager
REVIEWED BY: Jim Goodwin, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Paradise Sewer Project Local Alternatives Analysis
LONG TERM
RECOVERY PLAN:
Yes – Tier 1, Sewer
COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED:
1. Consider adopting Resolution No. 2025-___ “A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Paradise to Concur with the Paradise Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee’s Recommendation to Direct a Revised Project Description to Include Hybrid Gravity/Low Pressure Collection System, Aerated Lagoon Wastewater Treatment, and Percolation/Evaporation Pond Effluent Discharge” (Alternative 1); and,
2. Provide direction to staff to immediately commence and resume efforts to advance the project forward through environmental and design activities to the maximum and most efficient means feasible; and,
3. Provide direction to staff to bring back formal revisions to the Town’s CDBG-DR Infrastructure Action Plan which provides additional funds to the Paradise Sewer Project’s first phase, as well as coordinate with impacted funding agencies for action implementation. (ROLL CALL VOTE)
Background:
Since its incorporation in 1979, the Town has sought a formal wastewater treatment solution for the community, with
service for commercial and densely populated residential areas being a priority. Failed and failing septic systems create public health and environmental concerns and have limited economic growth. The Town has prepared numerous studies to address its need for a centralized wastewater treatment solution – focusing on areas of highest risk to environmental degradation associated with commercial and multi-family housing. The most recent proposed sewer service area
included about 1,500 parcels, mostly along the Town’s
commercial and evacuation corridors, shown in dark orange (right).
Since the 2018 Camp Fire, which destroyed nearly 19,000 structures and displaced most of the Town’s population, Paradise has faced the monumental task of rebuilding a safer, more resilient community. A key barrier to recovery has been the lack of a centralized sewer system, limiting 3 the return of businesses and multi-family housing in key areas. The Paradise Sewer Project is now seen as essential infrastructure—not only to meet modern environmental standards and protect groundwater—but also to unlock long-term housing and economic recovery for the entire community.
To this end in 2022, the Town of Paradise secured $30 million for pre-construction phases of work (environmental, design, right of way, and permitting) through Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Planning funds to facilitate the design phase of the Paradise Sewer Project. To augment staff capacity and bring necessary technical expertise, the Town of Paradise hired HDR to serve as their Owner’s Agent in the pursuit of a full project delivery team for design and construction. The intent of this work was to continue delivery of the regional approach to the project, constructing a full collection system for 1,500 parcels in Paradise and exporting the wastewater to the City of Chico’s Water Pollution Control Plant.
On October 30, 2023, staff issued a formal Request for Qualifications (RFQ 2023-005) utilizing formal selection procedures in compliance with Paradise Municipal Code, State and Federal requirements including regulations for typical federally funded projects as well as specific requirements utilizing CDBG-DR funds. The RFQ stated the scope of work for the Progressive Design Build Services and requested proposers provide their qualifications and experience and included price as a component.
As a result of that procurement, Paradise Town Council hired Mountain Cascade (contractor) and Carollo Engineers (design team) as the Progressive Design Build Team for the Paradise Sewer Project. The first step towards final project design is to establish a Basis of Design Report (BODR) which will inform the additional design phases of the project in a well thought out and consistent manner. During the BODR, the team studied all the previous Technical Memorandums, created a hydraulic model to analyze dry weather and wet weather flow rates, analyzed land uses and impacts to the system, specify pipe sizing, among other design considerations. The PDB also evaluated design alternatives within the collection system, made progress on environmental permitting and selected export pipeline alignments which minimize environmental impacts.
Concurrent to the preparation of the BODR, staff continued funding pursuits with the State Water Board Division of Financial Assistance as well as other state and federal advocacy efforts. As part of the development of the Basis of Design Report, staff learned the cost of completion of the regional project (design through system commissioning) would exceed $400M. Following critical project workshops with the State Water Board Division of Financial Assistance and Regional Water Quality Control Board, staff reached the conclusion that the project, as currently visioned, was financially infeasible.
On December 10, 2024, staff provided an update to the Town Council which shared a brief project and project cost history. Due to the complexities associated with building a ground-up utility in the lens of a recovering population base amongst historical cost increases, a revised project approach needed to be taken. Council and community feedback informed staff that the project remained critical to our recovery from the 2018 Camp Fire and that many businesses and residents are relying on its imminent completion.
On January 21, 2025, Paradise Town Council provided staff direction on project next steps to commence efforts to modify the Project Description for the Paradise Sewer Project from a regional connection to the City of Chico to a potential local treatment plant option. Further direction was 4 provided to analyze potential alternatives for a phased project approach to reach the full intended Sewer Service Area.
Further, Council selected two Councilmembers (Mayor Steve Crowder and Councilmember Hiedi Lange) to serve on an Ad Hoc Committee, replacing the previously established Sewer Regionalization Project Advisory Committee between the Town of Paradise, City of Chico and Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
All work originally visioned under the Progressive Design-Build contract with Mountain Cascade and Carollo Engineers has been paused with the local alternatives analysis effort to be led by the Ad Hoc Committee, HDR (Town’s Owner’s Agent) and staff.
The Paradise Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee was immediately established following Council direction on January 21, 2025. The first Sewer Project Ad Hoc Advisory Committee Meeting was held on January 30, 2025. The Purpose Statement of the Committee was set as follows:
Increase project momentum while keeping the public apprised of project progress to find a fundable, permittable, scalable wastewater collection and treatment solution.
Action items of this meeting were to increase public engagement opportunities with a specific community meeting and invitation for private stakeholders to present industry ideas on next steps.
The Committee set a goal of achieving a revised project description in less than four months so that work can continue appropriate environmental considerations and funding pursuits.
As part of the development of the Ad Hoc Committee’s work, Paradise Irrigation District representatives joined the Ad Hoc Committee to lend their expertise and partnership towards the project. Their representatives primarily included District Board Members Bob Mathews and Marc Sulik as well as District Manager, Kevin Phillips.
On March 5, 2025, the Town of Paradise held a Community Meeting specifically for the Paradise Sewer Project. This meeting included a broad update to the project as well as gathering further input from the public.
In addition, staff issued a call to private sector stakeholders to provide input on potential alternatives for the project’s wastewater treatment and dispersal process. This call to action reached all approved Town of Paradise onsite septic operators as well as other community members and vendors who have expressed interest in participating.
Below is a listing of meetings which took place as a result of this special invitation:
Community Members:
• Jeff Gillingham
• Cliff Jacobsen
• Bill Kellog
• Kelly Konzelman
• Dana Ripley
Equipment Vendors:
• AeroMod
• BioFiltro
5 • Cloacina
• Fluidyne
• Green Toilet
• Innovatreat
The Ad Hoc Committee also placed a special emphasis on having a better understanding of neighboring communities who are already operating an array of collection, treatment and dispersal options for wastewater management. As a result, the following tours and meetings took place:
Public Agency In-Person Tours:
City of Biggs WWTP
City of Mt. Shasta WWTP
Nevada County Lake of the Pines WWTP
Placer County – North Auburn Sewer Maintenance District 1 Rio Alto Water District WWTP
Public Agency Virtual Tours/Meetings:
Amador County
Butte College
City of Eureka
City of St. Helena
Community of Robbins
Additional accomplishments of the project team and Ad Hoc Committee are summarized below:
Launched an updated website for the project https://paradisesewer.com/ with updated project status and options for additional community feedback. Continued to engage with funding agencies to timing and availability of construction funding, and how they can support the change to a local treatment option Regularly engaged with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board regarding effluent discharge permitting requirements and process Conducted a community poll regarding level of service and wastewater treatment facility locations
Analyzed the collection system hydraulic model under gravity and low-pressure scenarios
Analyzed comparative capital costs for each collection, treatment, and disposal alternative
Analyzed comparative operation and maintenance costs for each collection, treatment, and disposal alternative
Held Alternative Analysis Workshops with the Ad Hoc Committee to review cost and impact findings for the
o Collection system alternatives,
o Wastewater treatment process alternatives,
o Treated effluent discharge alternatives,
Confirmed whole-project capital and implementation cost estimates for the three project alternatives recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee 6 The Ad Hoc Committee provided a presentation at a Special Town Council Meeting on July 24, 2025 and reviewed a short list of sewer system alternatives with preliminary evaluation results.
This meeting was livestreamed and is available to watch at any time at www.paradisesewer.com in addition to presentation slides and materials. All presentation slides from the meeting are attached to this Agenda Summary.
The three alternatives explored at the Council Meeting were as follows:
Alternative 1: Hybrid gravity/low-pressure collection system, aerated lagoon wastewater treatment, and percolation/evaporation pond effluent discharge. A hybrid gravity and low-pressure (STEP) sewer collections system would include gravity trunk mains following primary conveyance corridors and low-elevation areas or properties connected to the primary gravity trunk mains via low-pressure service Wastewater treatment using a series of aerated lagoons followed by a nitrification/denitrification process unit
Treated effluent discharged to percolation/evaporation pond(s) for land discharge, regulated by a Waste Discharge Regulation (WDR) permit
Alternative 2: Hybrid gravity/low-pressure collection system, membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment facility, and percolation/evaporation pond effluent discharge. A hybrid gravity and low-pressure (STEP) sewer collections system would include gravity trunk mains following primary conveyance corridors and low-elevation areas or properties connected to the primary gravity trunk mains via low-pressure service Wastewater treatment using a pre-engineered, pre-manufactured membrane bioreactor treatment facility
Treated effluent discharged to percolation/evaporation pond(s) for land discharge, regulated by a Waste Discharge Regulation (WDR) permit
Alternative 3: Hybrid gravity/low-pressure collection system, membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment facility, and surface water discharge. A hybrid gravity and low-pressure (STEP) sewer collections system would include gravity trunk mains following primary conveyance corridors and low-elevation areas or properties connected to the primary gravity trunk mains via low-pressure service Wastewater treatment using a pre-engineered, pre-manufactured membrane bioreactor treatment facility
Discharge treated effluent to a local creek, regulated by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) permit.
7 Below is a representative Phase 1 Sewer Service Area for a comparative cost analysis to be completed, mostly encompassing the critical downtown core and Skyway between Town Limits and Elliott Road:
Below is a summary of the connections within the conceptual Phase 1 Service Area:
Current Occupancy Full Area Buildout
Total Parcels Served 83 225
Gravity connections 62 167
STEP connections 21 88
ADWF (gpd) 40,000 100,000
PWWF (gpd) 110,000 260,000
8 Understanding cost and affordability is a primary concern for project, a comparative cost analysis for a “Cost to Complete” from the current project status to completion was presented:
These cost estimates incorporate the most appropriate standards, escalation factors and realtime industry contributions to ensure that prior experience with underestimating does not materialize again in the future.
At the conclusion of the presentation, the Committee expressed a full recommendation of Alternative 1 – as the most feasible, scalable and affordable project option – enabling the Town to achieve its highest priority goals while setting up the critical infrastructure needed for future expansion.
During the meeting, the members of the community made comments relating to project benefits, collection system preferences, operational costs, as well as funding concerns and ideas.
At the close of the meeting, residents were reminded of opportunities to further engage with staff, Committee and Council via individual meetings as well as attending a second Special Town Council Meeting is scheduled for August 14, 2025.
Analysis:
Since the July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting, the Committee and staff have both made progress in meeting with interested members of the community to discuss project questions and ideas. More information about these meetings will be presented during the August 14 Special Town Council Meeting.
Below is a listing of meetings which took place as a result of the invitation to meet at the July 24, 2025 Special Meeting:
Community Members:
• Richard Herriman
• Tony Brandi
• Melissa Schuster & Butte County Mosquito & Vector Control District • Dave Anderson
• Blaine Stone
9 Financial Impact:
The Town of Paradise is currently utilizing a $30M planning grant through State of California Housing and Community Development via the CDBG-DR program. A breakdown of overall project funding and pursuits is provided on the next page:
Secured Funding
(1) CDBG-DR APA-2 Design $30,000,000 (active for pre-construction) (2) CDBG-DR Town Allocation $35,000,000 (secured for construction) (3) EPA Community Grant $1,750,000 (pending)
Clean Water SRF Funding Opportunities
(4) Clean Water SRF (Grant) $28,097,669
(5) Clean Water SRF (Grant) $TBD Future
Additional Funding Pursuits (Future Project Phases)
(6) USACE 219 - Initial Request $2,000,000
(7) USACE 219 - Remaining Butte County Allocation $48,000,000 Secured & Probable Funding available for the whole project “Cost to Complete” Budget $84,847,669 (Sum of 1-4 minus $10M expended to date).
The Total Cost to Complete of Alternative 1 is $114,000,000. For the purposes of this analysis, funding currently allocated and/or verbally committed to the Town is $84,000,000 – meaning a funding shortfall of $30,000,000.
Staff has been asked to present details on how to fund the Paradise Sewer Project’s first phase within its own resources associated with disaster recovery grants. The only available option for this is to amend the Town’s CDBG-DR Infrastructure Action Plan. On August 19, 2022, the Town of Paradise was formally notified by California Housing and Community Development that of the $317M made available for allocations to disaster affected communities, the Town would be recipients of $199,592,735.75 for implementation of identified projects in the program. Separate from this allocation, Housing and Community Development announced a $30M Action Plan Amendment to program the Paradise Sewer Project design phase – bringing the overall allocation to $229,592,735.75. The Town has used Action Plans to document and communicate with funding partners, Council and community on how these funds are to be allocated amongst the Town’s projects. The Action Plan, hosted on the Town’s website here:
https://www.townofparadise.com/pwe/page/paradiseworks-engineering-resiliency, has been amended three times due to changing conditions, project funding announcements and other priorities.
Based on feedback received from early environmental scoping of the Roe Road Extension Phase 1 and 2 projects, modifying the CDBG-DR Infrastructure Action Plan to suspend Roe Road Phase 2 and reallocate funds to the Paradise Sewer Project may be a viable alternative to consider.
Currently, $52M in CDBG-DR funds is allocated to Roe Road Extension Phase 2. 10 Modifying the Action Plan to meet the needs of the Sewer Project could have the following key impacts:
- Suspend Roe Road Phase 2 (S Libby to Clark) -$52,000,000 - Supplement Roe Road Phase 1A (Edgewood to S Libby) +$3,000,000 - Fully Fund Oliver Curve Phase 1 (Skyway to Valley View) +$12,300,000 - Supplement Paradise Sewer Project Phase 1 +$36,700,000 A secondary impact of suspending Roe Road Phase 2 is the understanding that a previous award of Local Transportation Climate Adaption Program Funds of $33,000,000 for this project would be respectfully requested for de-obligation. This decision would have significant impacts to the Agency’s reputation for the program, however, as the State’s leader in disaster recovery, further review of the Town’s reasoning, approach and global priorities will demonstrate our commitment to the residents of Paradise, above all else.
Using this potential mechanism to fully fund Paradise Sewer Project Phase 1 would yield an overall budget of $120,700,000 – increasing the project budget contingency or capacity to serve additional parcels as design progresses.
Aside from the capital funding for the project, Operations & Maintenance costs were expressed as a major concern amongst the comments received during the July 24 Council meeting. Key issues which continue to be raised include connection costs and monthly rates. One of the factors in selecting Alternative 1 was the relative simplicity and affordability in operations. At this time, a full rate study has not been completed and is planned in the short future when full project funding and operations costs are known. Ensuring costs to residents and businesses for connection at completion of Phase 1 are as low as possible or completely paid for is a top priority.
Separately, on August 8, 2023, Paradise Town Council conceptually approved a monthly rate subsidy plan. The plan would establish potential average rates near $85.66/month (target 2% of MHI). This plan also would establish an up-front operating reserve of $1,200,000 and commit $526,000 annually for the first ten years of the utility’s operation. This total commitment was estimated to be $6,460,000. The Town’s source of funds for this Operations and Maintenance Plan would be Paradise Recovery & Operations (PRO) Fund Project Reserves.
If the project advances forward, a revised subsidy plan will need to be reviewed in the lens of the revised project scale and project costs (part of larger rate setting requirements). 11 Town of Paradise
Sewer Project
Special Town Council Meeting
July 24, 2025
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Meeting Overview
Part 1: Introductions and Background
Part 2: Project Alternative Analysis Process
Part 3: Summary of Alternatives
Part 4: Ad Hoc Recommendation & Next Steps
Part 5: Public Comments
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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12 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com History
• 1969 Butte County General Plan Water and Sewer Element • 1972 Basin Sewer Service Area Plan
• 1975 Montgomery Engineering Report
• 1983 Phase I Wastewater Management Study
• 1984 Phase I Supplemental Study
• 1985 Phase II Wastewater Management Study
• 1989 Feasibility study
• 1990 Wastewater District Formed for Commercial only
• 1993 Council action abandoned sewer project
• 1994 Downtown Master Plan
• 2011 Wastewater Treatment & Collection Feasibility Study • 2017 Paradise Sewer Project Feasibility Study
• 2020 Paradise Sewer Project HDR Engineering Phase I
• 2022 Paradise Sewer Project Environmental Impact Report • 2024 Collection System and Export Pipeline Basis of Design Report
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Background
2022 Programmatic
Environmental
Impact Report
2023 ParadiseChico
Inter-Municipal
Agreement
2024 Progressive
Design Build Team
Hired
2025 Basis of
Design Report
Cost Increases
Funding Decreases
January 2025
Special Meeting
Change to Local
Treatment Project
Ad Hoc
Committee
Established
Public Outreach &
Local Alternatives
Analysis
July 24, 2025
Present Findings
(TONIGHT)
Review Public
Input
August 14, 2025
Consider Formal
Action
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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13 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee
• Committee Purpose: Increase project momentum while keeping the public apprised of project progress to find a fundable, permittable, scalable wastewater collection and treatment solution.
• Members:
o Mayor Steve Crowder
o Councilmember Heidi Lange
o Town Manager Jim Goodwin
o Town Staff: Marc Mattox, Colin Nelson,
Chris Nicoletti
o Paradise Irrigation District: Kevin Phillips,
Bob Mathews, Marc Sulik
o Technical Advisory – HDR Representatives
o Regulatory Advisory – Regional Water
Quality Control Board
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Revised Project Within Budget
• Achieve goals of Ad Hoc Committee
(fundable, permittable, scalable
wastewater collection and treatment
solution)
• Emphasis on delivering an affordable
Phase 1 Project with reduced Collection
System Area and sited treatment facility
and dispersal method.
• Utilize funding secured and probable as
quickly as possible to deliver a project –
now!
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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14 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Funding Overview
Secured Funding
1) CDBG-DR APA-2 Design $30,000,000 (active for pre-construction) 2) CDBG-DR Town Allocation $35,000,000 (secured for construction) 3) EPA Community Grand $1,750,000 (pending)
Clean Water SRF Funding Opportunities
4) Clean Water SRF (Grant) $28,097,669
5) Clean Water SRF (Grant) $TBD Future
Additional Funding Pursuits (Future Project Phases)
6) USACE 219 – Initial Request $2,000,000
7) USACE 219 – Remaining Butte County Allocation $48,000,000 Secured & Probable Funding available for the whole project “Cost to Complete” Budget $84,847,669 (Sum of 1-4 minus $10M expended to date)
nding
DR APA-2 Design $30,000,000(active forpre-construction) DR Town Allocation $35,000,000 (secured for construction) mmunity Grand $1,750,000 (pending)
r SRF Funding Opportunities
aterSRF (Grant) $28,097,669
aterSRF (Grant)$TBD Future
unding Pursuits (FutureProject Phases)
219 – Initial Request $2,000,000
219 – Remaining Butte County Allocation $48,000,000
Probable Fundingavailable for thewhole project “Cost to Budget $84,847,669 (Sum of 1-4 minus $10M expended to
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Alternative Analysis Process
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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15 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Project Alternatives Analysis Activities
January
• Council decision to pursue
local treatment options &
reform the Sewer Project
Ad Hoc Committee – 1/21
• Ad Hoc Committee first
meeting – 1/30
February
• Public vendor solicitation
published – 2/18
• Water Board engagement
March
• Community Input Meeting
– 3/6
• Community Poll – 3/6-3/27
• PID participation in Ad Hoc
Committee begins
April
• Met with community
members & equipment
vendors about the project
May
• Staff & Council trip to
Washington DC
• Submitted Army Corps LOI
June
• Wastewater facility tours
– 6/3-6/4
• Virtual meetings with
additional agencies
• Project Alternatives
Workshops – 6/23-6/24
July
• Ad Hoc Committee
Recommendation
• Special Town Council
Meeting – 7/24
August
• Community feedback on
recommendation
• Special Town Council
Meeting – 8/14
• Town Council Approval of a
recommended alternative
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Community, Industry, and Public Agency
Input Meetings
Community Members
• Jeff Gillingham
• Cliff Jacobsen
• Bill Kellog
• Kelly Konzelman
• Dana Ripley
Public Agency In-Person Facility Tours
• City of Biggs WWTP
• City of Mt. Shasta WWTP
• Nevada County Lake of the Pines WWTP
• Placer County – North Auburn Sewer
Maintenance District 1
• Rio Alto Water District WWTP
Equipment Vendors
• AeroMod
• BioFiltro
• Cloacina
• Fluidyne
• Green Toilet
• Innovatreat
Virtual Facility Tours
• Amador County
• Butte College
• City of Eureka
• City of St. Helena
• Community of Robbins
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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16 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Community Input – Jeff Gillingham
• Low Pressure Force Mains
• Mains at ~40-50 psi
• Pumps at each service connection
• Does not require a leach field
(Photo courtesy of https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/8260/Pressure-Sewers-Intro?bidId=) TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Community Input – Cliff Jacobson
• STEP Collection System
• Pump wastewater from Septic Tank into collection
system
• Solids stay in tank
• Pressurized collection system
• Biotrickling Filter Treatment System
• Reuse Discharge
• Irrigation or Fire Cannon
• Recycled water back to homes
STEP collection
(Photo courtesy of Orenco Systems)
Fire cannon
(Photo courtesy of https://www.purityfire.com/other-fire-equipment/manual-fire-monitor.html) July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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17 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Community Input – Bill Kellog
• Constructed Wetlands
• Allows infiltration and evaporation naturally
• Removes pollutants through biological, chemical,
and physical means
• Would take place of leach lines
• Needs large area
Constructed Wetland Diagram
(Courtesy of https://www.globalwettech.com/about-constructed-wetlands.html) TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Community Input – Kelly Konzelman
• Jet Packaged Plants
• 35,000 – 50,000 gpd each
• 14 installations around Paradise for full buildout
• Smaller leach fields
• Smaller footprints
• Can be installed underground
Jet Packaged Plant Diagram
(Photos courtesy of Jet Wastewater Treatment Solutions) July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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18 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Community Input – Dana Ripley
• Orenco STEP systems
• Pump wastewater from Septic Tank into collection
system
• Solids stay in tank
• Pressurized collection system
• Attached-Growth Multi-Stage Trickling Filters
• Four tower system
• Wastewater sprayed over attached-growth media
• Purple Pipe Reuse
0.5 MGD Facility
(Photo courtesy of Dana Ripley)
STEP collection
(Photo courtesy of Orenco Systems)
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Vendor Input – AeroMod
• Pre-designed activated sludge plant
• Includes aeration, settling, recirculation, and
digestion
• Common wall construction
• Easily expandable
• Simple O&M
Paradise Phase 1 Proposal
Quincy, CA (1.1 MGD)
(Photos courtesy of Aero-Mod)
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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19 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Vendor Input – BioFiltro
• Biodynamic Aerobic BIDA Vermifiltration System
• Layer of soil and worms remove nutrients
• Layer of gravel for filtration
20,000 gpd installation
BIDA Layered Diagram
(Photos courtesy of BioFiltro)
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Vendor Input - Cloacina
• Packaged Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)
• Wastewater is filtered through membrane
• Pre-designed
• Built offsite, delivered on truck
• More reactors can be added on to increase capacity
Cloacina MEMPAC-M installation
(Photos courtesy of Cloacina)
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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20 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Vendor Input – Fluidyne
• Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR)
• Aeration and settling happens in the same tank
• Can be pre-packaged or custom designed
• 50,000 gpd for one packaged reactor
Underground installation Two packaged SBRs
(Photos courtesy of Fluidyne)
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Vendor Input – Green Toilet
• Composting Toilets
• No water or electricity needed
• Created in Finland
• Permitting is challenging in USA, dependent on
region
Composting toilet installation Composting toilet
(Photos courtesy of Green Toilet)
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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21 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Vendor Input - Innovatreat
• Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Skid
• Wastewater is filtered through membrane
• Pre-designed
• Major equipment assembled offsite
• More skids can be added to increase capacity
Typical miniMBR 3D rendering
(Photos courtesy of Innovatreat)
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Site Tour – Rio Alto
• Facility Size: 0.1 MGD ADWF
• Collection System: Gravity
• Treatment: Bar screens, oxidation ditch, secondary
clarifier, chlorine disinfection, sludge drying beds
• Discharge: Evaporation/percolation ponds & wetland
with public access walking trails
• Key Takeaways:
• Switched from river discharge due to changing NPDES
river discharge requirements
• Title 22 regulations apply due to public access, but the requirements are easier to meet than for river discharge Oxidation Ditch
Discharge Wetland
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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22 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Site Tour – City of Biggs WWTP
• Facility Size: 0.38 MGD ADWF
• Collection System: Gravity
• Treatment: Aerated ponds and rock filter
• Discharge: Percolation/evaporation ponds with onsite alfalfa irrigation • Key Takeaways:
• Facility switched from surface discharge to land
discharge due to changing NPDES permit conditions
• Simple operation with only one operator
• Disinfection not required for land discharge without
public access
Bubbler aerator
Aeration Pond
Treated Discharge Pond
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Site Tour – Mt Shasta WWTP
• Facility Size: 0.8 MGD ADWF
• Collection System: Gravity
• Treatment: AeroMod activated sludge with nutrient
removal, disc filters, and UV disinfection
• Discharge: Surface discharge to Sacramento river
(winter only); recycled water to neighboring golf
course; and land discharge to subsurface leach field
• Key Takeaways:
• Recently upgraded from ponds to AeroMod due to
changing surface water discharge requirements
• New facilities require more operations staff due to
complexity
• Permit violations include mandatory fines that quickly become expensive
Aero-Mod Structure
Aero-Mod Basins
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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23 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Site Tour – Nevada County Lake of the
Pines WWTP
• Facility Size: 0.3-0.4 MGD ADWF
• Collection System: mostly gravity with a few STEP
connections
• Treatment: Custom Designed MBR with UV
disinfection
• Discharge: Surface discharge to Magnolia Creek
• Key Takeaways:
• Facility was upgraded due to changing surface
discharge permitting requirements
• Process is more complex, but allows for more finetuned control of effluent quality Influent, Recycle Pumps
Solids Disposal
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Site Tour – North Auburn SMD1
• Facility Size: 600 STEP connections; gravity system
includes 55 lift stations
• Collection System: STEP and gravity sections
• Treatment & Discharge: Regional connection to
Lincoln WWTP
• Key Takeaways:
• Property owners are responsible for tanks, but County is responsible for O&M of STEP pumps
• STEP systems require more maintenance than gravity
• STEP users pay an additional monthly fee ($25-50) on
top of base sewer rate
• STEP septic tanks are pumped every 6-9 years
• Redundant power supply is a major concern
• Odor complaints at ARVs at each high point throughout system
Septic Tank & STEP pipe
STEP monitoring station
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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24 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Virtual Site Tour – Butte College
• Facility Size: 10,000 – 20,000 gpd
ADWF
• Treatment:
• Activated sludge (aeration)
• Settling clarifier
• Discharge: Evaporation Ponds
• Falls under Water Board’s General
Order
Treatment plant (left) and discharge ponds (right)
(Photos from Google Earth)
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Virtual Site Tour – City of Eureka
• Facility Size: 5 MGD ADWF
• Treatment:
• Headworks & Screens
• Primary Clarifiers
• Biotrickling Filters
• Secondary Clarifiers
• Discharge: ocean outfall
• Key Takeaways:
• Process is robust with few upsets
• Changing NPDES requirements have
been challenging to meet
(Photos from Google Earth)
Biotrickling filters (top, white circles), clarifiers, and effluent storage (right) [Solids pond and ocean outfall not shown] July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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25 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Virtual Site Tour – City of St Helena
• Facility Size: 0.5 MGD ADWF
• Treatment: Transitioning from aerated lagoons to
packaged MBR
• Discharge: river discharge in the winter, spray
irrigation in summer
• Key Takeaways:
• MBR is very modular in operation
• Startup has been challenging and required more
chemical addition than anticipated
• Energy use increased 20-30%
Treatment ponds (top) and spray
irrigation (bottom)
(Photos from Google Earth)
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Virtual Site Tour – Community of
Robbins • Facility Size: Less than 100 connections
• Collection System: STEP only
• Treatment: Prefabricated Orenco activated sludge
treatment
• Discharge: Evaporation ponds
• Key Takeaways:
• STEP was implemented due to high groundwater that
limited construction depth for gravity
• County takes responsibility for O&M for septic tanks
and STEP pumps
• STEP tanks pumped every 4 years on average
• County employs a contract operator for STEP collection and treatment system O&M
Package Package
Treatment Treatment
System
Robbins Service Area & Treatment Plant
(Photos from Google Earth)
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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26 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Virtual Meeting – Amador County
• Have both STEP and gravity connections
• No longer allowing new STEP connections
• STEP users pay an additional monthly fee for O&M
• County receives 400 work orders per year for 500 STEP units TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Ad Hoc Committee:
Process Review Comments
Rio Alto Water District Lake of the Pines WWTP
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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27 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Summary of Alternatives
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Project Components
(1) Collection
(2) Treatment
(3) Dispersal
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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28 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Whole Project Alternatives
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Types of Collection Systems
Original Design
Gravity Sewer
• Pipelines installed at a
constant slope
• Minimum velocity required
• Manholes for change in
direction
• Lift stations for change in
elevation
Community Proposal
STEP Sewer
• On-site septic tanks with liquid
effluent pumps at every
property
• Low-pressure pipelines
installed at varying elevation
• Air release valves (ARVs) at
high points and blowoff valves
at low points
• Isolation valves at regular
intervals
Hybrid Proposal
Hybrid Gravity/STEP Sewer
• Gravity trunk lines down
primary corridors remain but
with low-elevation properties
connected via individual
STEP systems at each
property
• Shallower trunk mains than
a pure gravity system
Figures from Orenco Systems Effluent Sewer Design Manual, Rev 3.0, dated 07/2017 July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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29 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Modeled Maximum Pump Rate -
Gravity
• Majority of pump stations have a maximum
pumping rate of less than 100 gpm
• STEP pumps are typically 5-10 gpm for
single-family residences (Orenco Design
Manual)
Maximum Pumped Flow Count
Less than 20 gpm 18
20 to 50 gpm 9
50 to 100 gpm 2
100 to 150 gpm 2
Greater than 150 gpm 2
< 20 gpm
20-50 gpm
50-100 gpm
100-150 gpm
> 150 gpm
150 gpm
840 gpm
105 gpm
120 gpm
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Elevation and System Pressure
• Elevation change of over 810 ft (2,227 ft to 1,410 ft) • Static pressure at the WWTP of over 350 psi
• Orenco high-head pumps max of 108 psi
• Conclusion: A purely low-pressure (STEP) system is
not technically feasible for full-system buildout
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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30 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Collection System Implementation
• Capital Costs
• Installation costs expected to be 30% greater for traditional gravity vs. STEP • Constructability
• Open-trench construction is recommended for most of Paradise for STEP or gravity system installation. Directional boring is not compatible with cobbles/rocky geology and uncertain utility locations.
• Sewer pipelines must be installed at a lower elevation than all other utilities per CA regulations.
• Operational Considerations
• Gravity systems must maintain minimum scour 2-3 fps to prevent solids deposition.
Periodic system flushing can mitigate solids deposition for lower flows. • STEP systems have greater O&M demand due to more distributed pump stations (more points of failure, see examples on next slide)
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
STEP Agency Tours and Feedback
• Placer County – North Auburn SMD1
• County has O&M responsibility for STEP pumps and septic pumping • STEP users pay an additional monthly fee for STEP O&M service • New connections – builder pays for tank/pump, designed to meet County standards • Power safety shutoffs – sewer loses power but water does not • Air relief valves (ARVs) are source of odor complaints • Nevada County – Lake of the Pines & Penn Valley
• Septic effluent-only sent to treatment plants designed for full municipal WW cause operational challenges
• STEP works well after installation but has O&M challenges as system ages • Sutter County – Community of Robbins
• County takes responsibility for tanks and motors – costly to maintain • System not expected to expand due to outside factors (flood zone, treatment capacity) • Amador County
• High O&M and administrative burden – STEP users pay an additional fee • No longer allowing new STEP connections
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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31 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Septic Effluent-Only Treatment
• Treatment process difference is minimal for STEP or gravity at small flows • Primary treatment is typically not needed for typical domestic wastewater or for septic tank effluent for small flows (see Rio Alto, City of Biggs)
• Both STEP and gravity will require secondary and/or tertiary treatment to meet Water Board discharge requirements
• Solids management strategy is required for all secondary treatment processes to manage biological accumulation
Source: STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD ORDER WQ 2014-0153-DWQ TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Hybrid Gravity/STEP Sewer Concept
• Gravity trunk mains along Skyway, Clark,
Pearson with low-elevation areas/properties
connected via on-site STEP systems
• Most compatible solution for Paradise
• STEP system on individual properties in low
elevation zones
• Owners retrofit existing septic tanks, if in good
condition
• Replaces small grinder pump stations with
regions connected via STEP
• Main trunk lines installed at shallower depth
than original gravity design
• A phase 1 project prioritizing downtown may
not require any central lift stations
Small pump stations that may be able to be
replaced with individual STEP connections
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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32 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Collection System Design Criteria for Gravity
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Collection System Design Criteria for Hybrid — Scenario A July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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33 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Collection System Design Criteria for Hybrid — Scenario B TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Collection System Design Criteria for Hybrid — Scenario C July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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34 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Collection System Recommendation
• Hybrid Gravity/STEP Collection:
• Gravity trunk mains down Skyway, Clark Rd., and other hydraulic main-line corridors
• Flexibility for low-elevation areas or properties to connect via individual on-site STEP units at each property
• Gravity trunks set at higher elevation than previous gravity systems (set at an engineered depth just below conflicting utilities). • Incorporates benefits of STEP system while maintaining scalability for future system expansion and minimizing operational impacts and user rates
• Phase 1 project to serve downtown may not require any central lift stations
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Wastewater Treatment Alternatives
Aerated Lagoon/Pond
City of Biggs
Suspended Growth (Activated Sludge)
Rio Alto Water District Mt. Shasta
Fixed Growth (Trickling Filter)
Sewerage Agency of Southern Marin
Membrane Bioreactor (MBR)
Lake of the Pines
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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35 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Treatment Alternatives Summary
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Treatment Recommendation
• Recommended Alternative 1: Aerated Ponds
• Most cost effective (Capital and O&M)
• Simple operation – less operator experience required
• Less sensitive to smaller/inconsistent flows
• Largest footprint
• Expand or repurpose ponds to scale up
• Could produce water for agricultural reuse with disinfection • Recommended Alternative 2: MBR
• Highest capital cost and O&M cost
• Can be pre-engineered design and pre-fabricated for quick construction
• Future-proof – high quality effluent can produce tertiary treated water for reuse or surface discharge
• Smallest footprint, can be hidden inside structures
City of Biggs WWTP
St. Helena WWTP
Source: Cloacina
https://www.cloacina.com/municipal-system-upgrade
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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36 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Example Site Layout – Aerated Ponds
Total area = 17 acres
(including discharge)
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Example Site Layout – MBR
Total area = 12 acres
(including discharge)
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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37 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Project Examples – MBR
City of Hot Springs, Arkansas
Treatment plant is contained inside
facilities modeled after local barns
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Treated Effluent Discharge Alternatives
1. Surface Discharge
• Discharge to creeks, rivers, or
lakes
2. Land Discharge
• Evaporation & percolation
ponds or wetlands
• Crop irrigation (non-food crops)
3. Beneficial Reuse
• “Purple Pipe” or “Title 22” water
• Landscape/golf course irrigation
• Fire suppression
• Crop irrigation
City of Lodi
Rio Alto Water District
Bozeman Water Reclamation Facility
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
Presentation Slides ***COPY***
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38 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Surface Discharge
• All receiving waters near Town are expected to require tertiary treatment • NPDES Permitting Process
• Requires multiple studies of treated effluent and of receiving waters • Permit renewal every 5 years can have changing requirements • Mandatory Minimum Penalties (MMPs)
• $3,000+ per penalty for exceeding limits
• More difficult to meet limits with low or inconsistent flows • Metals limits can be difficult to meet even with more high-tech secondary treatment
• Permits require frequent sampling & water quality testing CVWQCB strongly recommends avoiding surface water discharge for a Phase 1 project
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Beneficial Reuse – CA Title 22
• Both STEP and gravity collection influent can produce water for reuse, reuse capabilities are dependent on treatment processes
• Agencies operating reuse systems report that it is easier to meet Title 22 requirements than surface discharge permit
• Reuse increases Phase 1 project costs
• Reuse can be implemented in a future project phase
• Specific requirements depend on end-use and potential for human contact:
Uses of Recycled Water CA Title 22
Water Quality Standard
Food crops, parks and playgrounds, schools, residential landscaping, unrestricted golf courses, decorative fountains, structural firefighting Disinfected tertiary
Restricted recreational impoundments Disinfected secondary-2.2 Cemeteries, restricted access golf courses, dairy pastureland, non-edible vegetation with controlled access, landscape impoundments, non-structural firefighting, concrete mixing, dust control
Disinfected secondary-23
Orchards, vineyards, seed crops not consumed by humans, sewer flushing Undisinfected secondary July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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39 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Reuse Implementation Challenges
• Priority to identify high-volume users (typically golf course, agriculture, parks, etc.) to reduce distribution infrastructure and administrative burden • Demand varies seasonally – requires additional discharge method or large storage reservoir
• Requires additional distribution infrastructure – pumps, piping, etc. (added capital cost and maintenance costs)
• Disinfected reuse distribution piping must maintain minimum horizontal and vertical separation from sewer pipe, per CA regulations Recommendation: Consider reuse in future project phases as more funding becomes available and potential customers are identified TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Land Discharge
Rio Alto Water District
City of Biggs
• Permit renewal every 10 years
• Expect to need to meet low total nitrogen
limits (<10 mg/L)
• Typical permit requirements include quarterly
groundwater monitoring
• Irrigation requires greater acreage than
percolation/evaporation pond discharge
• Irrigation may be seasonally limited, requiring
a seasonal storage pond
Recommendation: Land discharge via
percolation/evaporation ponds
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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40 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Phase 1 Alternatives for Evaluation
Alt Collection
System
Treatment
Process
Discharge
Strategy
1 Hybrid
Gravity/STEP Aerated Lagoon Land – Perc/Evap Pond
2 Hybrid
Gravity/STEP MBR Land – Perc/Evap Pond
3 Hybrid
Gravity/STEP MBR Surface Water
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Collection System – Phase 1
• Collection system can be reduced to serve
only Skyway from Town limits up to Elliott
and downtown (Pearson/Black
Olive/Elliott/Skyway block)
• 225 total parcels
• 83 currently occupied parcels
• Reduced Phase 1 SSA with hybrid
gravity/STEP collection system has no
central lift stations
• Treatment and disposal sized for 100,000
gpd ADWF
• Estimated startup flow = 40,000 gpd
• Phase 1 gravity main (with 88 STEP
connections) would be installed nearly at
same depth as a STEP pressurized main –
and more reliable!
Conceptual Phase 1 for cost estimate,
values are approximate
Current
Occupancy
Full Area
Buildout
Total Parcels Served 83 225
Gravity connections 62 167
STEP connections 21 88
ADWF (gpd) 40,000 100,000
PWWF (gpd) 110,000 260,000
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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41 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Whole Project Capital Cost Estimate
Project Cost Components
Alternative 1
Hybrid Collection
Aerated Lagoon
Perc/Evap Pond
Alternative 2
Hybrid Collection
MBR
Perc/Evap Pond
Alternative 3
Hybrid Collection
MBR
Surface Water
Engineering & Preconstruction $ 14,000,000 $ 15,000,000 $ 15,000,000 Town, OA (including Environmental) & Legal $ 4,500,000 $ 4,500,000 $ 4,500,000 Real Estate Acquisition & Professional Services $ 5,600,000 $ 5,500,000 $ 5,500,000 Environmental Permit / Agency Costs $ 100,000 $ 100,000 $ 100,000 Environmental Mitigation $ 500,000 $ 500,000 $ 500,000
Collection System Construction $ 51,000,000 $ 51,000,000 $ 51,000,000 Wastewater Treatment & Discharge Construction $ 19,300,000 $ 28,100,000 $ 24,600,000 Engineering Services During Construction $ 3,100,000 $ 3,400,000 $ 3,300,000 Construction Management & Inspection $ 8,300,000 $ 11,000,000 $ 9,900,000 Town Cost & Contingency $ 6,600,000 $ 7,500,000 $ 7,100,000 Estimated Total Project Cost $ 114,000,000 $ 128,000,000 $ 122,000,000 Notes: Costs are escalated to midpoint of construction in 2028 for system sized to 0.1 mgd buildout.
Range of estimate follows Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) guidelines for Class 5 cost estimate (-50% to +100%) – conceptual level estimate TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Cost Estimate Disclaimers
• Cost Exclusions and Disclaimers
• STEP pumps and lateral connections on private property are only included for currently occupied parcels. Lateral stub-outs to property line included for all parcels.
• MBR costs do not include aesthetic improvements (enclosure in a building, burying subsurface, etc.)
• Capital costs do not reflect the operational costs and complexities, especially related to surface discharge (see next slide) • Does not include startup operational costs (i.e., equipment, trucks, etc.)
• ROW costs assume purchase of adequate property to allow for Phase 1 and future expansion(s)
• Costs consider production rates, prevailing wage requirements, and industry standard contingency factors
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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42 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Operational Costs & Considerations
MBR
• More complex operation, requires higher level of operator experience • More energy intensive
• Receiving STEP-only influent would likely require chemical/carbon addition to achieve nitrogen removal
Surface Discharge
• Attaining NPDES permit will be a long and challenging process requiring studies on both the treated effluent and the receiving waters • NPDES requirements frequently change (5-year permit cycle) and can require process changes to meet new limits
• Violations will incur minimum penalty fines ($3,000+ per instance) TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Example Operating Costs
Agency Treatment Discharge
Flow
(MGD)
2024-25 Sewer
Operating
Cost
(Collection &
Treatment) 2025 Monthly Rates
City of Biggs Aerated
Lagoon Land 0.38 $475,431
Residential/Apartment Total:
$81.35
Base Charge: $72.65
Sewer Improvement Fee:
$8.70
Rio Alto Oxidation
ditch Land 0.1 $792,347 Single Family Residence: $115.52 Lake of the
Pines Custom MBR Surface 0.72 $3,292,509 $157.66/EDU
City of St.
Helena
Packaged
MBR
Surface &
Land 0.5 $4,983,225
Residential Base Charge:
$96.95
Residential Use Charge:
$10.71
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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43 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Committed Town Rate Subsidy
• On August 8, 2023, Paradise Town Council conceptually approved a rate subsidy plan...
• The Rate Study would establish potential average rates near $85.66/month (target 2% of MHI).
• The O&M Financing Assistance would establish an up-front operating reserve of $1,200,000 and commit $526,000 annually for the first ten years of the utility’s operation.
• This total commitment was estimated to be $6,460,000. • Source of funds being Paradise Recovery & Operations (PRO) Fund Project Reserves
Rate Subsidy will need to be reviewed in the lens of the revised project scale and project costs (part of larger rate setting requirements).
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Ad Hoc Committee Recommendation
Alternative 1: Hybrid Gravity/STEP collection system, aerated lagoon treatment, and land discharge to percolation/evaporation pond(s) • Serves Downtown where growth has lagged
• Optimizes operational costs and rate payer burden
• Serves the mission of the project to be fundable
(affordable), permittable, and scalable to meet
Paradise’s needs today and into the future
• Funding Secured and Probable is $84.8M
• Phase 1 Estimated at $114M
• Town Council has options to consider redirecting
funds to reach a constructable project now.
Mt Shasta WWTP
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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44 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Project Forecast
August
• Public
feedback on
proposed
alternative
• Special Town
Council
Meeting –
August 14th, 6-
8 pm
September
• Begin
Subsequent
EIR
• Begin
procurement of
treatment
facility designer
• Resume
funding
application(s)
Fall 2025
• Resume
collection
design
• Begin
wastewater
treatment
facility siting
2026
• Continue
design of
collection &
treatment
facilities
• Complete
Subsequent
EIR
• Begin
Environmental
permitting
• Begin ROW
Acquisition
2027-2029
• Complete
design
• Begin and
complete
construction
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Why is this time different?
• We have the most experienced and capable team to deliver the project with the insight and knowledge from professionals who have built these facilities before. • We know more now about what it takes to build a new sewer utility in Paradise than any preceding approach to this project.
• For the first time in the last 30+ years, the Paradise Sewer Project has a path to construction with funding secured, probable and available. • Town Council has already committed to a rate subsidy as the Sewer is an investment into our recovery.
• Project recommended is the most scalable and affordable to design and construct now and operate into the future.
• Town has full support of the Regional Board for a local option. • Further delays will reduce our ability to use critical CDBG-DR funds on the project with no replacement source in sight.
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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45 TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com Next Steps
• Receive Public Comments
• 3-Minute Limit (standard Council meeting)
• Need more time? Don’t want to present now? Couldn’t Make it? • To submit comments or schedule a meeting with Town staff to discuss this analysis prior to August 14th, contact Kieran Jellema at [email protected]
• Special Town Council Meeting – August 14th, 6-8pm
• Location: Paradise Performing Arts Center (PPAC)
• 777 Nunneley Road, Paradise, CA 95969
• Objective: Council to provide formal direction to commence efforts on a revised project description including resuming environmental and design efforts
TOWN OF PARADISE SEWER PROJECT | www.paradisesewer.com
Thank you for coming!
July 24, 2025 Special Town Council Meeting
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46 TOWN OF PARADISE
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF PARADISE TO CONCUR WITH THE PARADISE SEWER PROJECT AD HOC COMMITTEE’S
RECOMMENDATION TO DIRECT A REVISED PROJECT DESCRIPTION TO
INCLUDE HYBRID GRAVITY/LOW-PRESSURE COLLECTION SYSTEM, AERATED
LAGOON WASTEWATER TREATMENT, AND PERCOLATION/EVAPORATION
POND EFFLUENT DISCHARGE
WHEREAS, the 2018 Camp Fire caused unprecedented damage to the Town of Paradise and has necessitated a variety of recovery projects which are further guided by Paradise Community Long-Term Recovery Plan;
WHEREAS, the Paradise Sewer Project is by far the largest project in scale, cost and overall benefit to the community.
WHEREAS, a Paradise Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee was established to conduct an analysis of project alternatives and recommend a revised project description which is fundable, permittable and scalable to provide maximum benefit for the community.
WHEREAS, the three project alternatives analyzed are summarized as follows:
Alternative 1: Hybrid gravity/low-pressure collection system, aerated lagoon wastewater treatment, and percolation/evaporation pond effluent discharge. A hybrid gravity and low-pressure (STEP) sewer collections system would include gravity trunk mains following primary conveyance corridors and low-elevation areas or properties connected to the primary gravity trunk mains via low-pressure service
Wastewater treatment using a series of aerated lagoons followed by a nitrification/denitrification process unit
Treated effluent discharged to percolation/evaporation pond(s) for land discharge, regulated by a Waste Discharge Regulation (WDR) permit
Alternative 2: Hybrid gravity/low-pressure collection system, membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment facility, and percolation/evaporation pond effluent discharge.
A hybrid gravity and low-pressure (STEP) sewer collections system would include gravity trunk mains following primary conveyance corridors and low-elevation areas or properties connected to the primary gravity trunk mains via low-pressure service
Wastewater treatment using a pre-engineered, pre-manufactured membrane bioreactor treatment facility
Treated effluent discharged to percolation/evaporation pond(s) for land discharge, regulated by a Waste Discharge Regulation (WDR) permit
Alternative 3: Hybrid gravity/low-pressure collection system, membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment facility, and surface water discharge. A hybrid gravity and low-pressure (STEP) sewer collections system would include gravity trunk mains following primary conveyance corridors and low-elevation 47 TOWN OF PARADISE
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-____
2 areas or properties connected to the primary gravity trunk mains via low-pressure service
Wastewater treatment using a pre-engineered, pre-manufactured membrane bioreactor treatment facility
Discharge treated effluent to a local creek, regulated by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NDPES) permit.
WHEREAS, The Ad Hoc committee determined Alternative 1 to be best whole project alternative to meet project objectives of being fundable, permittable and scalable to provide maximum benefit for the community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Council of the Town of Paradise as follows:
Section 1. Concur with the Paradise Sewer Project Ad Hoc Committee’s recommended project alternative and revised project description of advancing a hybrid gravity/lowpressure collection system, aerated lagoon wastewater treatment, and percolation/evaporation pond effluent discharge (Alternative 1).
Section 2. Provide direction to staff to immediately commence and resume efforts to advance the project forward through environmental and design activities to the maximum and most efficient means feasible.
Section 3. Provide direction to staff to bring back formal revisions to the Town’s CDBGDR Infrastructure Action Plan which provides additional funds to the Paradise Sewer Project’s first phase, as well as coordinate with impacted funding agencies for action implementation.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Town Council of the Town of Paradise on this 14th day of August 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Steve Crowder, Mayor
ATTEST:
Melanie Elvis, Town Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Scott E. Huber, Town Attorney
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