The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About01-2022 MWMC Monthly ReportMWMC Communication Packet February 17, 2022  Operations/Administrative Building Project Update (P80104) Memo  Marketing of Biocycle Farm Memo  Regional Wastewater Program Monthly Report— January 2022 The next meeting will be Friday, March 11, 2022 at 7:30 a.m. MWMC Meeting will be held remotely via computer or phone M E M O R A N D U M DATE: February 17, 2022 TO: Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) FROM: Mark Van Eeckhout, Civil Engineer SUBJECT: Operations/Administrative Building Project Update (P80104) ACTION REQUESTED: Communication Packet _____________________________________________________________________ ISSUE This is an update on Project P80104, which will provide upgrades to the existing Administrative/Operations Building at the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF). The existing building was constructed in 1982 and is currently used as the central control for ongoing operations of the MWMC treatment facility. Details associated with project alternatives will be presented at the March 2022 Commission Meeting. BACKGROUND P80104 is a continuation of the deferred Administrative/Operations Building scope from the 2018-2019 construction of O&M Building Improvements (Project P80085). The previous project (P80085) provided the MWMC with a new laboratory building and expansion of the existing maintenance building. The scope for the (new) Administrative/Operations Building project (P80104) was deferred during the P80085 project due to limited bidding interest and elevated costs during bidding. At the July 9, 2021, MWMC meeting, the Commission approved Resolution 21-06 for P80104 to execute a planning/design contract with Jacobs Engineering. Since this approval, staff has worked with Jacobs Engineering to plan for three basic alternatives with sub options to meet MWMC space and resiliency needs regarding Operations and Administrative work. The details of the alternatives will be presented during the March 2022 Commission Meeting. The proposed building changes designed by MWA Architects under P80085 in 2016 were designed to basic seismic code requirements of Risk Category III. Subsequently in 2019, the MWMC conducted a comprehensive resiliency plan under the Resiliency Planning Study P80096 lead by Corollo Engineers. This work culminated in the creation of the MWMC’s Memo: Operations/Administrative Building Project Update (P80104) February 17, 2022 Page 2 of 2 -Communication Packet- Disaster Mitigation and Recovery Plan. In this plan, Carollo Engineers recommended constructing an MWMC Administrative/Operations Building for immediate occupancy/use after a major natural disaster, or to upgrade the existing building for immediate occupancy post-earthquake (Risk Category IV). DISCUSSION On January 24, 2022, the project team conducted a workshop to discuss the draft Jacobs Engineering Technical Memo and reviewed the project alternatives matrix. This exercise looked at three different alternatives: Alternative 1 Renovate the Operations Building, Alternative 2 Rebuild the Operations Building in place after demo, and Alternative 3 Relocate the Operations Building. Within these alternatives, sub-options were developed to look at varying levels of seismic resiliency to help guide the next step of design. During the workshop the design team described the sub-options within each of the alternatives. This description reinforced that all alternatives/sub-options are within seismic code, at or above Risk Category III, but most of the options are shown to be more seismically resilient than code. Carrollo Engineering’s report recommended building for immediate occupancy/use, which is interpreted to equate to a Risk Category IV within the building code and is above the minimum code for our facility/industry. Within Risk Category IV additional hardening of the facility can be proposed to strengthen systems such as communications, electrical, and mechanical systems etc. These hardened systems are being referred to as a Risk Category IV+ and are being reviewed for building locations such as the central operations center. Additional seismic resiliency improvements come with increased costs, and no design can account for every eventuality and specific earthquake. However, we expect through this project to build a more functional and resilient structure that will provide the workspace needed well into the future. Staff and the MWMC consultant will continue to evaluate the cost of upcoming construction and scope of work for this project. The project pricing will be impacted by increase/decrease in workforce, local construction bidding, materials, equipment, supply chain, etc., which has increased significantly within the past few years. Details about design alternatives and associated planning cost estimating with recommendations for Commission consideration will be presented at the March 11, 2022, meeting. Additionally, staff from Jacobs Engineering will be present to help answer P80104 planning and pre-design questions. M E M O R A N D U M DATE: February 17, 2022 TO: Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC) FROM: Loralyn Spiro, Lead Communications Coordinator SUBJECT: Marketing of Biocycle Farm ACTION REQUESTED: Communication Packet _____________________________________________________________________ ISSUE During the July 2021 meeting, the Commission discussed the desire to find ways to market and promote the Biocycle Farm to build more awareness and understanding of its existence and purpose within the community. This memo provides a summary of strategies and tactics that staff will pursue further to support that overall direction. BACKGROUND The Commission has adopted a set of Key Outcomes that are the guiding goals for the Regional Wastewater Program. Key Outcome #5 – Achieve and maintain public awareness and understanding of MWMC, the regional wastewater system, and MWMC’s objectives of maintaining water quality and a sustainable environment – is the guiding Key Outcome for the MWMC Communications Plan and its stated strategies and tactics. Any additional strategies and tactics pursued and ultimately implemented in the effort to market and promote the Biocycle Farm will support Key Outcome #5. DISCUSSION To start this work, staff discussed existing and planned outreach for the Biocycle Farm, then brainstormed a list of potential other strategies and tactics. After creating a robust list, staff went back and rated the viability of each idea. Budget, staff capacity, timeline, and any potential regulatory requirements were considered when determining if the viability was low, medium, or high. The following are the tactics that received a high viability rating and likely could be achieved in the next one to three years: Memo: Marketing of Biocycle Farm Enter Date Page 2 of 3 -Communication Packet-  Signage or display at the Eugene Airport  Advertising at BRING Recycling, or in partnership with BRING Recycling, digital opportunities for co-marketing  Online/Digital Advertising including geofencing ads and optimized SEO  Earned media pitching including local podcasts and bloggers; offer speaker(s) to local podcasters & speech groups for interviews  Biocycle Farm/Poplar content in the MWMC's blog or podcast; after future launch  Radio advertising with Eugene Area Radio Stations (EARS)  Display and poplar ceiling grille installation in the new Education Center in the new or updated MWMC Administration Building  Tours of the BMF/Biocycle Farm/Open House  Partnership with City of Eugene, City of Springfield, and Lane County for promotion through sustainability communications Of these tactics that received a high viability rating, staff further determined which would first most likely achieve the greatest awareness of the Biocycle Farm and the MWMC overall. The following are those tactics:  Advertising and/or partnership with BRING Recycling; potentially signage or display at the Eugene Airport  Online/Digital Advertising including geofencing ads and optimized SEO  Tours of the BMF/Biocycle Farm/Open House  Partnership with City of Eugene, City of Springfield, and Lane County for promotion through sustainability communications RECOMMENDATION While none of the high viability tactics were eliminated completely and will be pursued as networking opportunities and staff capacity allow, staff recommends focusing first on the four that will most likely achieve the greatest awareness of the Biocycle Farm and the MWMC overall. Each complement an existing communication strategy in the MWMC Communications Plan and Key Outcome #5 overall. Advertising and/or partnership with BRING Recycling – This will build upon the new partnership being created with BRING Recycling for selling milled poplar boards as part of the latest poplar harvest and will directly reach community members interested in sustainability efforts occurring within the area. Online/Digital Advertising including geofencing ads and optimized SEO – This will capture those searching for sustainability and other environmental interest online. Targeted advertisements will be placed to reach them when they use keywords in the search function. Additionally, geofencing could occur around the Biocycle Farm such as those visiting Fiddler’s Green Golf Center. Geofencing is targeted advertising by zip code or specific geographical location. Memo: Marketing of Biocycle Farm Enter Date Page 3 of 3 -Communication Packet- Tours of the BMF/Biocycle Farm/Open House – This will provide direct interaction with the farm and help build word of mouth advertising among community members. This is currently listed as a tactic in the MWMC Communications Plan but has not been fully implemented due to COVID-19. Now that restrictions are loosening, staff will finalize the tour script and start promoting the opportunity for tours to community members. Partnership with the City of Eugene, City of Springfield, and Lane County for promotion through sustainability communications – This will provide direct messaging opportunities to community members through cross-promotion of the social media posts, coordinated newsletter articles, co-booths at events, and other outreach channels. Next steps are for staff to roll in or refine these tactics as part of the MWMC Communications Plan. Staff will create an appendix to the Plan for future reference that captures all high and medium viability tactics from the brainstorm list. Tactics will be broken into short-term, one to three years, and long-term, four to seven years, categories. Additionally, staff will include progress updates either through the annual Public Information Program presentation or future communication packet memos. ACTION REQUESTED This memo is being presented for informational purposes. No specific actions or decisions are being requested from the Commission at this time. ........................................................................................................................................ 2 .................................................................................................................................... 3 ........................................................................................................................ 8 .......................................................................................................................................... 9 ........................................................................................................... 9 ................................................................................................................. 10 .................................................................................................................................. 11 ............................................................................................................................................ 12 ........................................................................................................ 14 .................................................................................................... 15 ............................................................................................................................................... 16 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • o o o o • • . • . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •