Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities 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 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant application for the Percival Creek Sewer Reroute Project.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a resolution authorizing a BRIC grant application for the Percival Creek Sewer Reroute Project.
Staff Contact:
Susan Clark, Engineering and Planning Manager, Public Works Water Resources, 360.753.8321
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
The BRIC 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 federal government cancelled the fiscal year 2025 BRIC Grant Program after the fiscal year 2025 applications had been submitted, including the Wastewater Utility’s application for the Percival Creek Bridge Sewer Reroute Project. In March 2026, the Federal Government reinstated the fiscal year 2025 BRIC Grant Program and combined it with a new fiscal year 2026 funding opportunity. This action allows the Wastewater Utility to resubmit its completed application for the Project.
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 due on June 15, 2026.
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, and perhaps an additional 12.5 percent covered by the State of Washington, for 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 $7,135,909, including an escalation factor. 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 ($1,783,977) will be covered by the Wastewater Utility. The State of Washington may provide 12.5 percent of the required cost-share, thereby lowering the Wastewater Utility’s financial commitment.
Options:
1. Move to approve a resolution authorizing a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant application for the Percival Creek Sewer Reroute Project.
2. 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 2027-2028.
3. Do not approve 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.
4. Move to approve the resolution authorizing a grant application for the Percival Creek Sewer Reroute Project but lower the financial commitment to be acceptable to the City. This would mean staff would not have the necessary financial commitment to 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.
Attachments:
Resolution
Resolution Designating Applicant Agent