HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated September 22, 2026ITEM #:23
DATE:09-22-26
DEPT:ELEC
SUBJECT:REGULATORY COMPLIANCE MONITORING AT POWER PLANT ASH
POND
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
For many years, the Power Plant boilers combusted coal as their primary fuel. A portion of the
resulting ash was then conveyed to ponds east of the Power Plant, where it accumulated and
was occasionally dredged for disposal. Following the U.S. EPA's adoption of the Coal
Combustion Residuals (CCR) rule in the 2010s, the Power Plant encapsulated all the CCR
material remaining on site.
The CCR rule requires the Power Plant to conduct routine groundwater sampling,
reporting, and inspections related to the permanently encapsulated CCR landfill by
qualified professionals. In 2024, staff issued a request for proposals seeking
professionals capable of performing the monitoring and reporting for the Power Plant.
On October 11, 2024, the City Manager's Office approved a contract to GHD Services Inc., of
Niagara, NY, for Annual Regulatory Compliance Monitoring at the Ash Pond with an option to
renew each year for up to five years. The amount of the initial contract was within the City
Manager's authority to approve. The first renewal, for the FY 2025/26 reporting period, was
approved by Council.
The requested action will be for a contract to produce annual reports due in July 2027.
This is the second of four possible renewal periods. The approved FY 2026/27 operating
budget contains $50,000 for these services. Additional funds to make up the remaining $4,300
will come out of the post-RDF burn account in the operating budget, which currently contains
approximately $200,000.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the contract renewal with GHD Services Inc., of Niagara Falls, NY, for
Regulatory Compliance Monitoring at the Ash Pond, for one-year in an amount not-to-
exceed $54,300.
2. Reject the renewal option and instruct staff to issue a new request for proposals for
monitoring and reporting services.
1
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The Power Plant is required to conduct monitoring and reporting to comply with the
U.S. EPA's Coal Combustion Residuals rule. The work is budgeted in the FY 2026/27
Power Plant operating budget. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that
the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1 as stated above.
2