HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/17/2000 - STAFF REPORTS (16) DATE: May 17, 2000
TO: City Council
FROM: Assistant City Manager-Special Projects
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that City Council direct staff to commence discussions with US
Filter Operating Services (USFOS) on the expansion of the Wastewater Treatment
Plant,including den itrification facilities,and direct the CityAttorney to evaluate design-
build opportunities at the plant.
BACKGROUND:
The Palm Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant is in need of expansion within the next
36 months. During the recent privatization proposal process, it was clearly
demonstrated that the usual approach (Master Plan - Design Engineer- Low Bid) is
much more costly than working with the private sector. This demonstration was in the
form of a guaranteed fixed price design-build proposal for a 2-MGD expansion for less
than$5 million vs,the master plan estimate of anywhere from$9 million to$13 million.
The need to expand is upon the City now and staff recommends a two-pronged
approach. First, staff recommends that discussions be immediately undertaken with
USFOS, our Maintenance and Operations Contractor, to prepare a "Scope of Need"
for the upcoming expansion. This scope would include expected new regulatory
mandates such as nitrate removal, and could serve as a basis for a design consultant
contract or, if the design-build approach can be utilized, as the basis for that contract.
Second, as there are numerous California examples of substantial savings to the
ratepayers from design-build expansions,staff recommends City Council seek a legal
opinion from the City Attorney on a design-build approach for this expansion.
A Resolution providing the above suggested direction is attached for City Council
consideration.
ALLEN F. SMO T, AAE
Assistant City Manager- Special Projects
APPROVED
City Manager
ATTACHMENT: 136
Resolution
REVIEWED BY DEPT. OF FINANCE
.7,
RESOLUTION NO.
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING
STAFF TO OPEN DISCUSSIONS WITH US
FILTER OPERATING SERVICES
CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
EXPANSION SCOPE OF WORK, INCLUDING
DENITRIFICATION, AND DIRECTING THE
CITY ATTORNEY TO DEVELOP A LEGAL
OPINION ON THE AVAILABILITY OF
DESIGN/BUILD FOR THIS PROJECT.
WHEREAS the City's Wastewater Treatment Facility has been found to need expansion to
meet future growth of the City; and
WHEREAS the traditional masterplanning approach has been conducted revealing anywhere
from $13 million to $33 million worth of expansion; and
WHEREAS the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant privatization efforts revealed that a much
more cost-effective approach to expanding the plant would be a design-build contract; and
WHEREAS the Regional Water Quality Control Board for some time has been discussing the
importance of mandating denitrification at Coachella Valley wastewater treatment plants,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED as follows:
Section1. Thatthe Citystaff is hereby directed to workwith US FilterOperating Services,
the City's Wastewater Treatment Operations and Maintenance Contractor, to
develop a "Scope of Need" report, including denitrification,for the expansion
of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Section 2. That the City Attorney is hereby directed to prepare a legal opinion on the
availability of the design-build approach for the expansion of the Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
ADOPTED this day of 12000.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
By
City Clerk City Manager
REVIEWED &APPROVED AS TO FORM