The Davis City Council on Tuesday night heard a presentation from Dr. Ed Schroeder and Dr. George Tchobanoglous that has the potential to change the way we proceed on the water project, but only if the council majority will let it. That became more clear after their presentation was over and the council proceeded to approve by a 3-2 vote a resolution authorizing the City Manager to Execute Consultant Agreement with West Yost Associates for Wastewater Reclamation Alternative Analysis as a SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT.
This means they are essentially allowing West Yost to have non-competitive bids for conducting Wastewater Reclamation Alternative Analysis. What is left up in the air now is how much this changes what seemed to be a very promising development earlier in the evening when Drs. Schroeder and Tchobanoglous made their presentation following the April 14 release of their consultant study.
“We have to re-examine all disposal and disperal options”
He continued with things that some of us have been saying for several years:
“I know you are good bit down the road with treatment plan designs but I just think we have to look at many more options.”
In essence we must consider all options.
Dr. Tchobanoglous suggested that we consider the following:
- A comperehensive review of all wastewater management options should be undertaken immediately
- Consider multiple dispersion options
- Dispersal of City land and contracts with other landowners
- Impact of conservation
- Types of secondary and advanced wastewater treatment
- Look for multiple solutions
Dr. Tchobanoglous suggested that we don’t want to go for all or nothing solutions but rather look for technically feasible solutions that could work. One such suggestion was the Conway Ranch suggestion.
Furthermore, he emphasized and more importantly explained the importance of conservation in this process in a way that was clear for all to understand. Basically, if we have to discharge and meet a standard, then one of the things we ought to do is minimize the size of the plant to meet that standard, that’s where conservation comes into play.
He also argues that the ammonious discharge requirements are too tight. He said, “meeting the half milligram per liter limit consistently is a challenge and meeting less than one consistently is almost an impossibility without some other intervention.” The general belief seems to be the water regional board is more reasonable than they have been and that they might be more willing than in the past to grant some sort of leniency.
The key to their recommendations:
- proceed with the water
- proceed with Conway Ranch
- proceed with the regional board and seek redress with these very restrictive limits
- open up the treatment and dispersal review
For many this was the type of revelation we had been hoping for a long time, a way to proceed with the water supply while looking at other cheaper options that could delay the building of a new wastewater treatment plant and thereby not leave the ratepayers with the bill for both projects–a prospect that likely would have doubled ratepayers water bills in the coming years.
Councilmember Sue Greenwald pressed the issue to her advantage and pushed through by a 4-1 vote a motion that directed City Manager Bill Emlen to work with the two consultants on an arrangement whereby they would help oversee existing policy to look for ways by which to save the city money and help to implement the ideas that they laid forth.
One member of the council was clearly not happy with these developments and that was Mayor Pro Tem Don Saylor. The Mayor Pro Tem was strangely silent throughout this particular discussion, declining to ask any questions, making a cursory comment, and largely not participating until Councilmember Greenwald’s motion came forth when he announced he would not support it. Thus the motion passed 4-1 with Saylor the only dissenter.
One might question the Mayor Pro Tem’s rationale on this vote and wonder why his opposition to what seemed to be commonsense given the presentation. But remember, Mr. Saylor is close political allies with West Yost Consultants. They were pictured next to him as his re-election kickoff event. They were donors to his reelection campaign and it will be very interesting to see how much they give to his upcoming race for County Supervisor to replace Helen Thomson.
Moreover as we saw later in the evening the city would enter into a sole source agreement with West Yost which precludes open bidding.
This is from the staff report:
Approve resolution authorizing a not-to-exceed $487,404 sole source agreement for the following reasons:
1. Conaway Preservation Group (CPG) originally included the firm in initial discussions and the firm has continued to participate in meetings since summer of 2008
2. Reclamation feasibility schedule as set forth in the Amended Order with the State will not accommodate the weeks necessary to solicit proposals and proceed with a selection process
3. If a firm other than West Yost Associates was identified to provide the subject services, several weeks would be required for the newly selected firm to review the work developed to date, which again the schedule will not accommodate.
Quick Comments:
How much does the 3-2 passage of this resolution undo what was done earlier? That part is less than clear, but it definitely takes some of the excitement out of the earlier part of the presentation. However, it does not detract from the importance. We now have the clear advice of noted experts telling us that there are other ways to proceed than we have set forth. Dr. Tchobanoglous’ advice was clear and unmistakable, no matter how far down the road we are with treatment plan designs, we need to look at more options and we can work with the water resource board. The belief is that they are now more amenable to finding ways through problems than they have been in the past. We can work with them to reduce some of the regulations placed on the city and we can utilize alternatives such as Conway to avoid right now the need to do simultaneous projects.
That development is critical for the ratepayers of Davis. However, at the same time, there needs to be a full exploration of the relationship between Mayor Pro Tem Saylor and West Yost Associates–is there a conflict of interest here?
The public now has the tools to get a far better deal but the public must remain vigilant. As I said last night at during public comment, the public comes in en masse when rates are scheduled to go up. By that point it is too late. Two weeks ago, we had 20 people at the meeting complaining about a relatively modest 10% rate hike. This week there were only consultants and the few regulars in the audience. No one was watching but these decisions will set the stage for what the city will do in the future. The only way the public is going to be represented in this process is to show up and be counted. Last night they did not show up and they were not counted.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
“That became more clear after their presentation was over and the council proceeded to approve by a 3-2 vote a resolution authorizing the City Manager to Execute Consultant Agreement with West Yost Associates for Wastewater Reclamation Alternative Analysis as a SOLE SOURCE AGREEMENT.”
How does this undo anything? Doesn’t West Yost still have to take direction from S & T (Ed and George) as to how the city will proceed? Am I missing something here? Please explain.
There should be a ballot measure asking the voters for their direction and input into this hugely expensive city program.
” 1. proceed with the water
2. proceed with Conway Ranch
3. proceed with the regional board and seek redress with these very restrictive limits
4. open up the treatment and dispersal review.”
“proceed with the water supply while looking at other cheaper options that could delay the building of a new wastewater treatment plant….”
Sounds reasonable to me.
“1. proceed with the water
2. proceed with Conway Ranch
3. proceed with the regional board and seek redress with these very restrictive limits
4. open up the treatment and dispersal review.”
“proceed with the water supply while looking at other cheaper options that could delay the building of a new wastewater treatment plant….”
Sounds reasonable to me.”
I thought so too! The fact that West Yost Associates will be involved does not necessarily mean the city will not follow direction from Ed & George. I think WYA almost has to follow these two consultants based on the current economy/political climate. So DPD, can you explain what your concerns are, other than the questionable connection between Saylor and WYA? Or that WYA wants to do the biggest, fanciest project possible bc it would maximize their profits?