The Fillmore City Council is deciding on a couple of issues in the next few months. One is an upgrade to the water treatment plant, the other is selecting someone to operate the Fillmore Equestrian Center.

Water Treatment Plant:
Fillmore is inquiring on a new technology that proposes to lower the utility costs of the Fillmore Wastewater Treatment Facility (FWTF). Pasteurization Technology Group Inc. (PTG) gave a presentation at the November 10, 2016 Fillmore City Council Meeting outlining their M-1000 System and its capabilities. CEO & Co-Founder Greg Ryan stated the technology combines eco-friendly wastewater disinfection with the generation of renewable energy would save about $20,000 per month and grow to over $50,000 per month.

Ryan presented a chart with presumed savings per household based on a 1% increase in Fillmore's population. After seven years the savings is reported to be $19 per year. At eight years it climbs to $172 per year and continues: nine-$250, ten-$334, eleven-$423, 15yrs.-$837, 20 yrs.-$1,512.

Presently the FWTF meets California Title 22 which is the California Code Regulations of the California Department of Public Health related to recycled water. The M-1000 System also would comply with Title 22.

The process is claimed to generate approximately 192 kW of electricity and disinfect up to 1.0 million gallons of wastewater per day, with the intention of offsetting the operational cost of the FWTF. The saving is due to taking the Ultra Violet (UV) System now being used and putting it offline. The M-1000 system uses both the heat from the turbine and the heat from the exiting treated sanitized water. Two pre-heater units will pre-heat incoming wastewater by transferring thermal energy from outgoing heated and disinfected wastewater prior to discharge. The waste heat recovery unit increase temperatures of pre-heated wastewater by up to 3 degrees to the level required for disinfection.

How the pasteurization works is the treated sanitized wastewater exits from the turbine, it continues down the system and releases the heat it just received from the turbine to the waste recovery unit, that transfer of heat preheats the initial flow (in coming) wastewater. By increasing the heat of the wastewater before it reaches the hot exhaust air of the turbine, the turbine only needs to heat the wastewater three degrees to sanitize it, thus recovering the heat that would normally be lost by the exiting sanitized water.

The system operates during dry weather and normal conditions, but with wet conditions the flow increases and the Ultra Violet (UV) System will need to be brought back on line to properly treat the wastewater. With the UV System only being online during wet weather, it is expected to extend the life of that system plus save up to $100,000 in deferred electronic control upgrades and lower the $20,000 cost in replacement lamps and consumables.
The technology has not advance to the point where the bio-solids can be treated and they are hauled to the Toland Road Landfill.

Fillmore's Utility-Sub Committee has been in discussions with PTG for approximately 9 months. PTG stated that it has sufficient personnel, technical and financial resources to complete the design, fabrication and installation of the system.

The big question is the cost and the risk. To purchase the system outright is $1.5 million. There is a potential a $200,000 grant from Southern California Gas Company and another $55,000 grant which includes an additional $11,000 per year in rebates for the first five years from the California Public Utilities Commission's Self Generation Incentive Program.

The risk is that the technology and PTG are fairly new to the industry, the only type of a recovery system of its kind, with only eight years development and a slim track record, but the manufacturer credits the system with a great deal of savings in cost of operation and electricity. PTG will be providing the City with a Warranty and Performance guarantee that applies to the first five to ten years stating that if the performance of the unit is not met the City will receive an additional rebate or "make up" payment from PTG. But, the system and investment is expected to last least 20 years or more to achieve the $8,5000,000 and $1,500 per household savings claimed overall.

American Water, which oversees FWTF, along with city staff, believe the M-1000 System will work. The one million gallon per day M-1000 System provides less than the maximum design flow which would keep the initial capital cost affordable. The system can be expanded in the future if needed.

Should the City decide to move forward with obtaining the M-1000 System, there is still the question of buying it outright or leasing with an added interest rate and an option of seven or ten years.

Equestrian Center
The Council has authorized City Manager David W. Rowlands to find a new operator for the Fillmore Equestrian Center (FEC). The City's goal of promoting and maximizing the facilities, services and events, assumed operational responsibility in April of 2014. The facility had not been maintained properly in recent years and had fallen in disrepair. Clean up has began and much of deteriorated structures and abandoned property has been removed. As more of the borders with dilapidated stalls move out the stalls are being taken down. This will leave space for the new operator, with a future vision of the complex, to develop, improve and expand as the needed.

The FEC first opened 42 years ago in 1973 and today it has 120 stalls for stable horses and other ranch animals. At present there are a combination of 76 border owned and 44 city owned stalls.

The Lease and Management Agreement being offered is for ten years with four additional five year options, but alternative proposals will be considered. The income from FEC goes directly to the new operator with the City receiving a minimum annual rent and appropriate taxes.

Those being considered for the position of operator must have a minimum of two years experience or familiarity in equestrian center management operation and will be responsible for the complete management, maintenance and operational services. This will include hiring staff and working with the city staff when needed. It will be the new management’s responsibility to furnish, at their own expense, all tools, equipment, labor, material and services necessary for the proper operation of the facility.

The current FEC rates are; $90 per month for those that own their stall structure, $100 stall with no barn, $110 stall with a barn, $115 stall larger than 24'X24' with a barn.

A mandatory pre-proposal submission conference will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 10 a.m. at the FEC with is located at 308 Chambersburg Road in Fillmore.

The Request for Proposal began on November 15, 2015 with the last day of submission to the City Clear by 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2016. Proposals will begin for consideration on February 6, 2016. Evaluation of submissions will be completed February 10, 2016 with interviews completed February 28, 2016. The City will enter negotiations for lease and management services will be March 16, 2016 and the (proposed) effective date of the contract is to between April or May 16, 2016.