Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

 

TO:

David L. Corliss – City Manager

Cynthia Wagner - Assistant City Manager

Diane Stoddard - Assistant City Manager

FROM:

Melinda Harger – Utilities Engineer

CC:

Dave Wagner – Director of Utilities

Toni Wheeler – City Attorney

Mike Lawless – Deputy Director of Utilities

Philip Ciesielski – Assistant Director of Utilities

Bob Brower – Utilities Operations Superintendent

Mark Hegeman – Utilities Operations Superintendent

Dave King – Utilities Maintenance Superintendent

Date:

December 31, 2013

RE:

Agenda Item – Execute an Agreement with Baker University for Easements related to Project UT1304 Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant and Conveyance Corridor Facilities

 

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the January 7, 2014 meeting:

Authorize the Mayor to execute an agreement with Baker University for easements related to Project UT1304 Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant and Conveyance Corridor Facilities in the amount of $101,000 and including the construction of improvements as outlined in the agreement.

 

Project Description 

The 2012 Wastewater Utilities Master Plan and Capital Improvements Program recommend the construction of the Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and Conveyance Corridor facilities to be online in 2018. These improvements are required to mitigate wet weather surcharging of sanitary sewers along the 31st Street Corridor, provide for relief of wet weather overloading at the existing WWTP, and provide additional organic treatment capacity to provide for future growth of the community.

 

The recommended Wakarusa WWTP improvements include 2 MGD of organic treatment and 6 MGD of wet weather treatment. The Conveyance Corridor improvements include an 11 MGD pump station facility in the area of 31st and Louisiana and required forcemains and gravity sewers to convey sewerage to and from this point to the Wakarusa WWTP.

 

Project Status

March 12, 2013 – City Commission authorized staff to advertise a Request for Proposals for Engineering Services for the Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant and Conveyance Corridor Facilities. 

 

July 23, 2013 – City Commission authorized execution of the engineering services agreement with Black & Veatch Corporation for Phase 100/150 in the amount of $299,000.  Phase 100/150 for initial project design services included data acquisition, concept review, alternate force main evaluation, SLT coordination, regulatory review, and platting for the pump station and treatment plant sites.

 

October 22, 2013 – City Commission authorized execution of Supplement Agreement No. 1 with Black & Veatch Corporation in the amount of $1,566,900.  This supplemental agreement included [Phase 200] preliminary design for the WWTP and pump station as well as [Phase 300/350] final design of the force mains, roads adjacent to the WWTP, and WWTP site fill. 

 

December 16, 2013 – Planning Commission voted to approve the preliminary plat for the Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant Addition subject to conditions.  The conditions are being addressed, and we anticipate the final plat will be submitted in spring 2014.

 

December 18, 2013 – Planning Commission voted to approve the rezoning and preliminary plat for Pump Station 10.  There were no conditions of approval.

 

Project Details related to Baker Agreement

An evaluation of alternate force main routes between Pump Station 10 and the WWTP was completed in the Phase 150 initial project design services.  The benefits of two alternate routes were compared to the route identified in the 2012 Wastewater Utilities Master Plan.  A cost analysis showed that the route along the 35th Street Corridor and under the Baker Wetlands would result in significant long-term energy and maintenance savings when compared to the Master Plan Route.  In addition, the Wetlands Route would have lower upfront construction costs than either the Master Plan route or another more northerly route considered along relocated 31st Street.

 

City staff and the engineering services team met with KDOT and Southern Star as well as Dr. Roger Boyd from Baker Wetlands regarding the Wetlands Route and benefits of the force mains being placed parallel to relocated gas lines along the 35th Street Corridor.  It was determined that installing the force mains immediately after the gas main construction is complete in the summer of 2014 would be ideal with respect to Baker’s current plans to initiate long term wetlands improvements. 

 

The force mains proposed under the existing wetlands would be installed with horizontal directional drilling and other sections could be installed by open-cut trenching as suggested by Dr. Boyd.  Horizontal directional drilling has many environmental benefits, including minimal disturbance during construction.  Several installation locations along existing paths and near adjacent roads would also allow access to the buried force mains in the future without disturbance to the ground surface.  The pipe proposed for the force mains would be jointless, non-corrosive, and have wall thickness that exceeds typical design standards.  In addition, the proposed HDPE and PVC pipe materials have life expectancies of greater than 100 years. 

 

The force main route evaluation determined that the Wetlands Route is the most direct and shortest route, has the most favorable topography, and requires easements from a single landowner.  The topography of this route is flat compared to the other routes, so smaller horsepower pumps will be required.  Initial calculations using estimated pump sizes show that this route will reduce the electrical demand and resulting energy costs by approximately 50 percent when compared to the Master Plan Route.

 

Due to the benefits of long-term energy savings and decreased capital costs, the City negotiated with Baker University for temporary construction easements and approximately 10 acres of permanent easement for the wastewater force mains in exchange for cash payments that total $101,000 and the construction of certain improvements by the City as described in the attached agreement.

 

Project Schedule

Preliminary design is currently underway and expected to be complete by the end of March 2014.  We anticipate detailed design for the force mains, roads, and site fill will be complete by late spring for construction to begin Summer 2014.  The improvements within the wetlands will be designed and constructed concurrent with or after completion of the SLT project. 

                                                                          

Project Funding

The project is included in the Department of Utilities 2013 Rate Plan and Capital Improvement Program.

 

Action Request

Authorize the Mayor to execute an agreement with Baker University for easements related to Project UT1304 Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant and Conveyance Corridor Facilities in the amount of $101,000 and including the construction of improvements as outlined in the agreement.

Thank you for your assistance. Please advise if you have any questions.