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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9A Approval of Report Regarding Status of Current Water System Projects( A � U \rN1VE5 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake. MN 55372 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: APRIL 4, 2011 AGENDA #: 9A PREPARED BY: STEVE ALBRECHT, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR PRESENTER: STEVE ALBRECHT AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A REPORT REGARDING STATUS OF CURRENT WATER SYSTEM PROJECTS DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda is to update the City Council on the status of current water system projects. Hi story Over the past several months the City has undertaken the following Water System Projects /Studies: 1) Water Meter and Automatic Meter Reading System (AMRS) Replacement Project 2) City of Prior Lake and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Joint Northern Water System Study 3) City of Prior Lake Water Supply Options Report 4) Water and Sewer Rate Plan Current Circumstances 1) Water Meter and AMRS Replacement Project Staff delayed issuing the Request for Qualifications to AMRS vendors until additional information from the City's existing provider Aclara could be obtained. As part of that process the City now has the ability to read the battery strengths of the existing individual AMRS units which should allow the City to extend the replacement program timeframe. The ability to monitor battery strengths should allow the City to get up to 15 years of life out of the 6,000 units installed in 2002/2003 and the subsequent units installed prior to 2008. The units installed after 2008 should last 15 or more years based on battery technology improvements implemented after that date. The estimated replacement schedule is as follows: Year Units Replaced Year Units Replaced 2011 500" 2016 1400 2012 500* 2017 1200 2013 500* 2018 600 2014 500 ** 2019 600 2015 1 1400 2020 600 *Includes meter replacement * *Includes approximately 400 meter replacements The present value of the replacement over a ten -year period is estimated to be $1.8 - $1.9 million. This amount does not include any additional meter replacement beyond the 1,888 meters identified in years 2011 -2014. Staff proposes the following amended project timeline: April 2011: Solicit Requests for Qualifications from AMRS Vendors May /June 2011: City Council Accepts RFQ's Authorizes advertisement for bids for AMRS Replacement Program July 2011: City Council Accepts Bids and Approves Contract September 2011: AMRS Replacement Program Begins 2) Joint Northern Water System Study Last fall City staff presented a Water Supply Options Report that identified several options to meet the City's current "firm capacity" and emergency water supply needs along with future demand needs. The options discussed included construction of City Well No. 10, an upgraded interconnection with Savage and a Joint Northern Water System with the SMSC. Currently the City of Prior Lake and SMSC water models are being updated. The City of Prior Lakes water system was last modeled in 2003. Since that date, substantial improvements have been made to the system requiring the model be updated. Technology (software) and model advancements have also advanced making the 2003 model obsolete and less accurate. The process of updating the model is not anticipated to be completed until May. Once the City and SMSC models are updated the joint system model can be developed and run. Upon completion of the joint system model the study will be completed identifying the pros /cons of a joint system and the potential costs. The study is anticipated to be completed by July 2011. 3) Water Supply Options Report Once item 2 is completed, City staff will prepare a final report and recommendation on the best emergency and long -term demand options for the City's water system. This report will be presented in August in conjunction with final CIP and preliminary budget discussions. 4) Water and Sewer Rate Plan A preliminary water and sewer rate plan will be presented as part of the long range Water and Sewer System plans presented in the Capital Improvement Program in July /August. The plan will be subject to the final recommendations of the Water Supply Options Report. Conclusion The City Council should provide comment and direction on the Water System projects and proposed schedule. ISSUES: Public Works Director transition and City staff workload may impact the proposed schedule. 2 FINANCIAL The proposed projects and studies have either been previously approved IMPACT: by the City Council or are funded in the 2011 City Budget. ALTERNATIVES: 1) Provide Staff with direction on the projects and schedule. RECOMMENDED Alternative No. 1. MOTION: 3