HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-03-24; City Council; 8467-1; Encina Sewer Metering ProjectCI'COF CARLSBAD - AGENcQeiLL
AB#8467 Sup #1
MTG 3/24/87
DEPT. U/M
TITLE:
ENCINA SEWER METERING PROJECT
DEPT HD.^C^
O.ITY ATTY \j/&>
CITY MGR. V^
05cc.a.o-
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve Resolution No. P7 ^^ canceling the Encina Sewer Metering Project
and returning project funds to the Sewer Construction Fund.
ITEM EXPLANATION;
Council approved Resolution No. 8341 on January 7, 1986 which approved a project
to install a sewer meter at the Encina plant. The project was to benefit
Carlsbad primarilyjsince it would provide verification of flows metered by the
five other agencies and Encina. Carlsbad is the "deduct" agency which, simply
stated, means Carlsbad's sewer flows are calculated as the difference between
the Encina influent flows and the effluent flows from the five agencies. The
calculations are somewhat more complex than described, however, the process is
considered to be accurate and is within the accuracy limits of the meter (1 to 2%).
The original budget was established as $49,500 based on reasonable cost of materials
and an estimate of the complexity of the job. The project has been bid twice
by Encina; once as a single prdject; and as> a project combined with other lift
station work for Leucadia County Water District. Both bids were in the range of
$200,000 primarily because temporary diversion of influent flows would require
construction of a permanent structure rather than a temporary diversion structure.
A letter from the Encina Manager is at Exhibit #1 concerning this project.
Carlsbad, since it is the deduct agency, will most likely record higher flows than
actual since meter errors are most likely to read low than high. Since the lower
readings are deducted from the total flows, which may also have errors, Carlsbad's
readings will be higher than actual. This has a direct monetary effect since
40% of Encina charges are based on flow (60%are based on ownership). The cost
of the error to Carlsbad could be from $5,000 to $10,000 per year (worst case)
based on $500,000 charges for flows. It does not appear to be prudent to spend
$200,000 to save this amount at this time. The meter can be installed when the
Phase IV expansion occurs or the Vista-Carlsbad trunk is upgraded since either
project will require flow diversions. It is anticipated that one of these
projects will occur in the early 1990's. It is therefore recommended that the
metering project be deferred at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT;
Charges of $6,145 for engineering design have been made against the project
budget of $49,500. Cancellation of the project will return $43,355 to the
Sewer Construction Fund. Benefit of the design expenditures will be deferred
since the design will be appropriate for future construction.
EXHIBITS;
1. Resolution No.
2. Letter from Encina General Manager of March 3, 1987.
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RESOLUTION NO. 8994
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad,
California, Rescinding Approval of a Sewer Meter Project
and Reallocating Funds
WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad is a party to the Encina Joint Powers
Agency for the construction, operation and maintenance of the Encina Water
Pollution Control Facility; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad approved a project to meter sewage flows
bv Resolution 8341; and,
WHEREAS, the cost for construction of the meter facility is not cost
effective at this time;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad
as follows:
1. The above recitations are true and correct.
2. The construction of the sewage meter facilities approved by
Resolution 8341 is disapproved.
3. The Sewer Meter Project is cancelled and the Director of Finance is
directed to transfer all remaining funds to the Sewer Construction Fund Reserve.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of
Carlsbad, California held on the 24th day of March 1987, by the
following vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Pettine, Mamaux and Larson
NOES: None
ABSENT: None ///" // //? *7
W/As.
ATTEST
ALETHA L. RAUTENKRANZ, City Clerk)
ENCINA WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITY
March 3, 1987
6200 Avenida Encinas
Carlsbad, CA 92009-0171
Telephones (619) 438-3941
Reft IN.2333
City of Carlsbad
1200 Elm Avenue
Carlsbad, California 92008
Attention: Mr. Roger Greer
Subject: Carlsbad Metering Structure
The purpose of the subject meter was threefold as discussed in the attached July
12, 1985 JAC letter.
First, to provide redundancy of metering at Encina thereby improving metering
accuracy i.e. a constant comparison of measured flows would occur. This would
be in addition to the present method of scheduled meter calibration and trend
observations.
Second, the meter would assist in distribution of Joint System infiltration to
all the member agencies which occurs beyond their respective meters.
Third, by improving Encina metering accuracy it would aid in responding to the
1985 Vista request for a basin wide flow per EDU analysis.
The original (1986) engineering estimate of $60,000 for the meter and meter
structure presented a cost effective compromise of achieving the above purposes,
as compared to metering individual Carlsbad flows into the Joint System.
However, the project has been bid twice with both low bids at or greater than
$200,000. Since the majority of the project benefit is to Carlsbad and the City
would fund the entire project it is appropriate that Carlsbad determine whether
or not to proceed at this time.
One alternative is for the City to rebid the project as part of a future pipe
paralleling at the Encina headworks or as part of the Encina Phase IV. This
would in effect delay the project until at least 1990. In the meantime Carlsbad
flows would be determined by the existing method i.e. estimating until the Vista
meter is operational. Once Vista's meter is functional Carlsbad's flow would be
determined by subtracting the other 5 member agencies reported flows from the
Encina plant total.
SERVING THE CITY OF VISTA, CITY OF CARLSBAD, BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT, SAN MARCOS COUNTY WATER DISTRICT,
LEUCADIA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT AND ENCINITAS SANITARY DISTRICT
Mr. Roger Greer
Subject: Carlsbad Metering Structure
March 3, 1987
Page 2
It does not appear that the benefit to the other member agenices would warrant
the $200,000 expenditure.
The majority of costs to date involve design effort which is not lost as a
result of delaying construction.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call.
Very truly yours,
Richard W. Graff
General Manager
RWG:maj
Attachment
cc: Leucadia County Water District
Encina Joint Advisory Committee
Technical Advisory Committee
ENCINA WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITY
6200 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92008-0171 (619) 438-3941, (619) 438-3954
Serving North
San Diego County