Item B: EWEB Update - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Update on EWEB Roosevelt Operations Center Meeting Date: February 13, 2008 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Sue Cutsogeorge www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5589 ISSUE STATEMENT On February 25, 2008, EWEB plans to request authorization to issue Electric Utility System Revenue Bonds in the amount of $85.5 million for design and construction work associated with relocation of EWEB water and electric utility operations and engineering related functions to a new site in west Eugene. This work session will provide an update on the status of the project and background for the February 25 request for financing authorization. No action is requested at this meeting. BACKGROUND In February 2006, the EWEB Board of Commissioners authorized relocation of the utility’s water and electric engineering and operations functions currently located downtown to a new site at Roosevelt Boulevard and Beltline Road. Customer Service and certain administrative functions will remain downtown in the existing headquarters building. This decision followed a consensus board agreement that most of the existing downtown operations facilities have outlived their useful life and need to be replaced, and that long-term use of the riverfront site for EWEB water and electric operations, and equipment storage functions, was not in the best interest of the utility or the community. In April 2006, the board authorized issuance of $8 million in electric system revenue bonds under provisions of the Uniform Revenue Bond Act to help finance design and development work related to the relocation. In May 2006, the council approved that authorization. In July 2006, EWEB started final design of the new facilities. In February 2007, after detailed review, the board agreed the project cost estimate ($98 million) was too high and directed staff to reduce the scope and cost for the new facilities. In July 2007, after several months of review, including a space and cost reduction of approximately 15 percent and a third-party project review completed by several local contractors, the board approved a revised project budget of $83.5 million and authorized staff to proceed with the design and preparation of a cost estimate to use in project financing in early 2008. The “Roosevelt Operations Center Schematic Design Executive Summary” is attached (Attachment A). This document provides a detailed description of the project, program and space requirements, estimated costs, a review of proposed sustainability measures, and plans of the site and proposed buildings. F:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080213\S080213B.doc