Sparks City Council Meeting 7/27/2020 2:00:00 PM

Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/j/97760575235
Meeting Dial-in #: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 977 6057 5235

General Business: 9.3

Title: Consideration, discussion and possible approval of an amended agreement (AC-5529) with the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) for a no-cost extension to the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF) Enhanced Dissolved Organic Nitrogen Removal Pilot Project agreement.
Petitioner/Presenter: John A. Martini, P.E., Assistant City Manager/Michael A. Drinkwater, P.E., Treatment Plant Manager
Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the time extension to the existing agreement.
Financial Impact: N/A
Business Impact (Per NRS 237):
     A Business Impact Statement is not required because this is not a rule.
Agenda Item Brief:

Staff is seeking City Council approval of a no-cost time extension to an existing agreement with the University of Nevada, Reno for the Enhanced Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON) Removal Pilot Project at TMWRF. The Amendment will expand the performance period from October 22, 2020 to December 31, 2020 at no additional cost. The pilot study has been successful to date; however, due to circumstances related to COVID-19, UNR has been unable to perform the responsibilities according to the original schedule. Staff recommends approval.



Background:
TMWRF currently has a discharge permit that limits the daily mass of nitrogen that is released to the Truckee River. One of the limitations of the current treatment process is the inability to effectively remove dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) from the effluent.
 
The University of Nevada, Reno was contracted to perform analysis of three potential treatment processes. Upon completion of that work, the most effective process, advanced coagulation, was selected for pilot testing.


Analysis:

The original pilot testing agreement with UNR was approved by Sparks City Council at the October 22, 2018 meeting. The field work began in February, 2019 and continued through February, 2020. However, the final data analysis and report preparation was delayed due to the Covid-19 shut-down at the university when researchers were not able to access their laboratories from mid-March through mid June. UNR is now seeking a no-cost time extension to the agreement to allow for the completion of the work. The original completion date was October 22, 2020. UNR is asking for that date to be extended to December 31, 2020.



Alternatives:
  1. Council may approve the extension as presented by staff.
  2. Council may reject the purchase and direct the Manager to have staff investigate alternatives.


Recommended Motion:

I move to approve the no-cost time extension to existing agreement (AC-5529) with the University of Nevada, Reno for the Enhanced DON Removal Pilot Project at TMWRF.



Attached Files:
     01-Reno Staff Report.pdf
     02-Amended Agreement with UNR for Advanced coagulation DON removal.pdf
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