HomeMy WebLinkAboutVIII-14 Accept Proposal and Authorize Work – Professional Hydro Engineering Support ServicesCity Council Memorandum
To: Mayor Fasbender & City Council Members
From: Ryan Stempski, P.E. – Public Works Director
Date: June 16, 2025
Item: Accept Proposal and Authorize Work – Professional Hydro Engineering Support Services
Council Action Requested:
The Council is requested to enter a contract with WSB for the purposes of utilizing their professional
services to assist with Hydro Engineering support, specifically surrendering of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) License and coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
regarding the City’s Hydro-Electric Plant.
Background Information:
At the May 19, 2025, City Council Meeting, the Council approved surrender of the FERC License and
propose transfer of the facility to the USACE. The next steps are to move forward with the license
surrender and ownership transition process. WSB has the experience and ability to serve as the
professional representative during this process and assist with strategic communications.
Financial Impact:
The not to exceed cost to begin this process is $25,000 and will be paid from the Hydro Fund as a cost
necessary to facilitate the surrender and transfer of the plant. Only hours spent on this scope of work
will be billed to the City. Additional scope will be reviewed with the City prior to proceeding.
Attachments:
·WSB Proposal for Hydro Engineering Services
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June 11, 2025
Mr. Dan Wietecha
City Administrator
City of Hastings
101 4th Street East
Hastings, MN 55033
Re: Proposal to Provide Professional Hydro Engineering Support Services
Dear Dan:
On behalf of WSB, we are pleased to submit this Supplemental Agreement to our Master
Service Agreement, dated November 2, 2023, to provide Hydro Engineering Support
Services to the City of Hastings. We anticipate beginning this work June 1, 2025 if
authorized in writing by the City. WSB will continue to serve the City through 2025 or until
such time as project support is no longer needed by the City.
We have developed an approach to support you with the license surrender of the project
or potentially an ownership transition if desirable and advantageous for the City. We will
provide options to the City for review based on our experience and expertise in the hydro
industry as well as our understanding of your needs and goals as well as our familiarity
with the City. Our approach includes the following:
Hydro Engineering, Licensing, and Operational Support Services
Christopher Rousseau, PE will serve in this capacity for the City of Hastings. Chris has
extensive experience both locally and nationally in the hydro industry. Please find
attached a copy of his hydro resume which documents his extensive hydro engineering
and operations experience.Notably, Chris is also currently serving on the Board of
Directors for the National Hydropower Association, which is a industry wide trade
association representing the hydropower industry.
We expect to provide the following services to the City based on our current
understanding of the needs in 2025:
VIII-14
wsb
Mr. Dan Wietecha
June 11, 2025
Page 2
G:\.Clients All\Hastings\Proposals\2025 Hydro support\WSB PROP Hydro Engineering Support.docx
Scope of Services:
•Attending meetings as requested by City Staff.
•Review the existing project assets and evaluation options to surrender the project
or transfer ownership of the project to another entity, including necessary
coordination with the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC).
•Serve as a professional representative in negotiations with federal entities as well
as potential project asset owners to meet the goals and objectives of the City.
•Advise the City Administrator on potential outcomes and strategic implications as
related to the goals and objectives of the City.
•Strategic Communications with the public as directed by City staff including the
attendance at public hearings if required or desired by the City.
This list is not all-inclusive, nor is it meant to be. We are comfortable working with you to
prioritize the time spent on specific activities to get the most out of the time allocated to
the position. Our goal will be to advise and support the City based upon our experience
and extensive hydro industry connections to meet the Cities objectives relative to the
hydro assets they are currently operating.
Basis of Compensation
For Hydro Support work, Christopher will be billed at an hourly rate of $230/hour. Work
tasks and objectives will be discussed with the Public Works Director to ensure
compatibility with the goals and objectives of the City. We are proposing a contract
amendment not to exceed $25,000, which will include expenses as well as up to 100 hours
of professional support services. If reviews by other technical experts are required, those
services will be provided by WSB staff and billed at their 2025 hourly rates.
Start Date
We propose having this contract begin upon authorixation. If you are in agreement with
this proposal, please sign below.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 952-843-8323. Thank you for
the opportunity to continue to serve the City of Hastings.
VIII-14
Mr. Dan Wietecha
June 11, 2025
Page 3
G:\.Clients All\Hastings\Proposals\2025 Hydro support\WSB PROP Hydro Engineering Support.docx
Sincerely,
WSB
Monica Heil, PE
Vice President, Municipal
Cc:Christopher Rousseau, WSB
ACCEPTED BY:
City of Hastings
By:
Its:
Date:
VIII-14