Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing a Grant Application for the Percival Creek Sewer Reroute Project
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing a grant application for the Percival Creek Sewer Reroute Project.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Resolution authorizing the Wastewater Utility to apply for a State of Washington Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant for the Percival Creek Sewer Reroute Project.
Staff Contact:
Susan Clark, Engineering and Planning Supervisor, Public Works Water Resources and Drinking Water Utility, 360.753.8321
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program funds cost-effective mitigation projects that are designed to increase resilience and public safety, reduce injuries and loss of life, and reduce damage and destruction to property, critical services, facilities, and infrastructure. It is a cost-share grant, with 75 percent federal funds and 25 percent local funds. The State of Washington is expected to provide half of the non-federal portion.
The Percival Creek Utility Bridge was severely damaged on February 7, 2020 when a tree fell and struck the middle span breaking the existing sewer and water mains that are attached to the underside of the bridge. At the time, approximately 30,000 gallons of untreated sewage entered Percival Creek, Capitol Lake and Budd Inlet. Although the bridge and sewer main have been brought back to pre-disaster function, the bridge continues to be susceptible to storms, landslides and earthquakes. The Wastewater Utility is proposing to mitigate this risk by using horizontal directional drilling to reroute the sewer main under Percival Creek. Following relocation of the water main and private utilities, the Percival Creek Utility Bridge will be removed.
The existing 10-inch diameter sewer main, which currently crosses Percival Creek via the Percival Creek Utility Bridge, connects Evergreen Park Court SW to an existing LOTT Clean Water Alliance interceptor pipeline located adjacent to Percival Creek and the nearby railroad. It is a critical connection within the City’s sewer infrastructure. The sewer main is the only outlet for the sanitary sewer system for the area known as Courthouse Hill. Approximately 765 residential accounts and 42 commercial accounts, including the Thurston County Courthouse, are connected to this sewer main.
As part of the grant application, the Mayor must sign the form called “Resolution Designating Applicant Agent,” which allows the City Manager and Public Works Director to sign the required grant documents in the future.
The grant sub-application is expected to be due in early February 2024, revised from an original due date of December 13, 2024.
Climate Analysis:
The rerouting of the existing sewer line located on the Percival Utility Bridge is not expected to have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
Equity Analysis:
Obtaining a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant to fund 75 percent, not including the State of Washington’s 12.5 percent local cost-share commitment, of this critical infrastructure project will benefit all City of Olympia Wastewater Utility rate payers by allowing the Wastewater Utility to leverage its limited resources for other capital projects.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The goal of the proposed project is to mitigate the loss of an essential service (sanitary sewer service) to residential and business customers that would result from a storm, landslide or earthquake causing damage to the Percival Creek Utility Bridge. With the proposed rerouting of the sewer main under Percival Creek using horizonal directional drilling, the adverse impacts from a storm, landslide or earthquake will be minimized.
Financial Impact:
The total project cost is estimated at $4,725,000 in 2023 dollars. The maximum federal share is 75 percent of the total eligible costs. The minimum non‐federal cost share is 25 percent. The City’s up to 25 percent match ($1,181,250) will be covered by the Wastewater Utility.
Options:
1. Approve a Resolution authorizing a grant application for the Percival Creek Sewer Reroute Project. This will allow the Wastewater Utility to apply for a State of Washington Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant by the deadline and, if funded, implement the project in 2025-2027.
2. Decline the Resolution authorizing a grant application for the Percival Creek Sewer Reroute Project. Staff would not apply for a State of Washington Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant. Instead, an alternative source of funding, such as wastewater utility rates, will be required for the project.
3. Take other action.
Attachments:
Resolution
Resolution Designating Applicant Agent