For Utilities Commission Meeting [January 16, 2024]
TO: Honorable Chairperson and Commission
APPROVAL: Stephen Dopudja, Interim Utilities Manager
Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
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Request that the Utilities Commission recommend the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Board Authorize the Release of Bids for the Rialto Habitat Nature Center 1) Plant Propagation and Procurement 2) Community Facility Building; 3) Shade Structures and Public Seating; and 4) Soil Retention Wall.
(ACTION)
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Rialto has secured $5.20 million to date in state and federal grant funds to construct the Rialto Habitat Nature Center (RHNC). The grant funds, secured by Senator Leyva in June 2022 under California's 20th State Senate District Priorities for $1,050,000 must be utilized by May 1, 2024.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The RHNC (Project) is proposed to be located adjacent to and south of the city's Water Treatment Plant. The Project's scope includes:
* Constructing approximately 10 acres of wetlands/vegetation, with an estimated 41 acre-feet of total seasonal recycled water storage.
* A lake that will be filled with recycled water from the city's adjacent water treatment plant. Currently, this tertiary treated effluent is discharged into a concrete-lined flood control channel that flows into the unlined Rialto Channel.
* Reengineering an existing dry pit to create a shallow marsh wetland (3 to 4 acres) that receives tertiary treated effluent, and a deeper lake (6 acres) that receives cleaned effluent once it has passed through the bio-filtration system thereby providing water temperature and nutrient management benefits.
Besides being aesthetically pleasing, the Project has the additional benefit of water quality improvements to water temperature and nutrient management. Before releasing effluent from the city's Water Treatment Plant into the flood control channel, the effluent will be stored in the Project area for several days...
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