Schmitt Island Sanitary Improvements Project Consulting Engineering ServicesCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 021.
Copyrighted
July 1, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Schmitt Island Sanitary Improvements Project Consulting Engineering
Services [CI P# 5581500049]
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending the approval to negotiate and execute a
contract with Strand Associates for engineering services for the design of
the Schmitt Island Sanitary Improvements Project with an appropriation
amount of $218,380.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
MVM Memo
Staff Memo
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
THE C
DUj!BQTE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Schmitt Island Sanitary Improvements Project
Consulting Engineering Services [CIP# 5581500049]
DATE: June 25, 2024
Dubuque
WAWca 914
ii
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos is recommending City Council approval to negotiate and
execute a contract with Strand Associates for engineering services for the design of the
Schmitt Island Sanitary Improvements Project with an appropriation amount of
$218,380.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Bob Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Maxwell O'Brien, Civil Engineer
Steve Sampson Brown, Civil Engineer
Todd Irwin, Engineering Technician
Arielle Swift, Public Works Director
Deron Muehring, Water & Resource Recovery Center Director
William O'brien, Water & Resource Recovery Center Plant Manager
Wally Wernimont, Planning Services Director
Travis Schrobilgen, Assistant Planner
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
DATE: June 18, 2024
SUBJECT: Schmitt Island Sanitary Improvements Project
Consulting Engineering Services [CIP# 5581500049]
Dubuque
MI -America City
VSI1lxWLCNM_ F.V={,F
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to seek authorization to negotiate and enter into contract
negotiations with Strand Associates to provide engineering services for the Schmitt
Island Sanitary Improvements Project.
BACKGROUND
The City of Dubuque in conjunction with the Dubuque Racing Association (DRA) and
community participants have worked diligently for years to procure a Chaplain Schmitt
Island Master Plan and Schmitt Island Placemaking & Implementation Plan. The goals
of the plan were largely recreational focused and included connecting and expanding
access to the riverfront, creation of educational opportunities on the island, highlighting
the unique characteristics of the island, bringing new visitors to the island, and offering
activities and events for all seasons. The City is currently working with the DRA to
update the Chaplain Schmitt Island Master Plan to further pursue these goals.
With the additional anticipated developments, City Staff have investigated the public
infrastructure on the Island to identify any major defects or deficiencies and to confirm
there is adequate capacity to accommodate the anticipated developments. Staff have
identified deficiencies within the existing sanitary sewer system, specifically for the
sewer that serves the northern half of the Island. Deficiencies identified include
measured excessive inflow and infiltration, pipeline sags and reversed slope failures
caused by unsuitable subbase materials, and limited available capacity of critical sewer
assets that serve the Island.
On May 7, 2024, the City advertised a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to retain a
professional service consultant to aid the City in further evaluating the existing collection
and pumping systems that transport sanitary sewage in the Dog Track Lift Station sewer
service area, develop a facility plan with phased improvements to address identified
high risk infrastructure within the sewer service area, and to design and construct the
recommended improvements.
DISCUSSION
The City received four (4) RFP responses by the May 30, 2024, deadline. The
respondents to the RFQ consisted of: Strand Associates (Madison, WI), WHKS
(Dubuque, IA), Origin Design (Dubuque, IA), Veenstra & Kimm (Dubuque, IA).
The qualifications review committee consisted of the following staff members:
1. Bob Schiesl, Engineering
2. Steve Sampson Brown, Engineering
3. Maxwell O'Brien, Engineering
4. Todd Irwin, Engineering
5. Travis Schrobilgen, Planning
6. Arielle Swift, Public Works
7. Deron Muehring, Water & Resource Recovery Center
The consensus of the Committee was that Strand Associates demonstrated:
• Thorough understanding of the City's overall project objectives and scope for the
Schmitt Island Sanitary Improvements Project and the long-term goals of the
sanitary sewer system.
• Highest level of interest in the project along with creativity and problem -solving
ability.
• Experience of the project team working together on similar projects with Iowa
municipalities.
• Involvement in past and current ongoing projects on the Island that will facilitate
coordination with stakeholder groups.
• Performed downstream capacity and condition analysis of receiving sanitary
sewers in previous projects for the City of Dubuque.
RECOMMENDATION
The qualifications review committee recommends that the City enter into contract
negotiations with Strand Associates for engineering services for the design of the
Kerper Boulevard Lift Station Project. The specific scope of services will be negotiated.
BUDGETIMPACT
The project design will be funded with an appropriation in the amount of $218,380 for
the design of the Schmitt Island Sanitary Improvements Project [CIP# 5581500049],
with revenue from an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
I respectfully request authorization to negotiate and execute a contract with Strand
Associates for engineering services for the design of the Schmitt Island Sanitary
Improvements Project.
Prepared by Maxwell O'Brien, Civil Engineer
cc: Jenny Larson, Director of Finance and Budget
Bob Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Maxwell O'Brien, Civil Engineer
Steve Sampson Brown, Civil Engineer
Todd Irwin, Engineering Technician
Arielle Swift, Public Works Director
Deron Muehring, Water & Resource Recovery Center Director
William O'brien, Water & Resource Recovery Center Plant Manager
Wally Wernimont, Planning Services Director
Travis Schrobilgen, Assistant Planner
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