Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16th St Detention Basin) Public HearingCity of Dubuque
City Council
PUBLIC HEARINGS # 2.
Copyrighted
January 21, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16th St
Detention Basin) Public Hearing
SUMMARY: Proof of publication on notice of public hearing to consider
City Council approve the plans, specifications, form of
contract, and construction estimate of $25,400,000.00 for the
Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16th St
Detention Basin) project, and City Manager recommending
approval.
RESOLUTION Approval Of Plans, Specifications, Form Of
Contract, And Estimated Cost For The Dubuque Gate &
Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16th St Detention Basin)
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Adopt Resolution(s)
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16th St Detention Basin) - PH
MEMO
3. Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16th St Detention Basin) - PH
RESOLUTION
Page 468 of 740
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16th St Detention Basin)
Public Hearing
Project No- 5586500007
EDA No: 05-79-06277
SRF No: GNS 21-02
FEMA No: LPDM-PJ-07-IA-2024-001
DATE: January 13, 2025
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos is recommending City Council approve the plans,
specifications, form of contract, and construction estimate of $25,400,000.00 for the
Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16t" St Detention Basin) project.
The proposed Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (161" St Detention Basin)
(Project) involves construction of a new pump station that includes the following
elements:
• New flood gates;
• Replacement of the two existing flood pumps with four new pumps;
• Replacement and updating of the electrical service to current standards; and
• Installation of a back-up generator for the additional pumps to address the
needed resiliency being demanded by the storms of recent years.
The new flood gates will be constructed on the basin side of the levee (on the west side
of Kerper Boulevard) which allows for the pumps to operate more efficiently, eliminates
the environmental concerns on the river side of the levee, and allows for operation of
the existing facility to maintain flood protection during construction of the new facility.
Instead of utilizing the two existing 90,000 gallon per minute (gpm) pumps that are more
than 50 years old, the new facility will have four 90,000 gpm pumps. This allows for
redundancy in the event of a pump failure. In concert with the Bee Branch Creek
Restoration Project (including the Bee Branch Railroad Culverts Project), the proposed
project improvements will provide a system that can accommodate the flooding that
occurred between 1999 and 2011 — flooding that has resulted in six presidential disaster
declarations due to public and private property damage, flooding that has impacted
more than 1,300 homes and businesses. It also provides for additional resiliency
options as rainstorms increase in both depth and intensity.
Page 469 of 740
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Deron Muehring, Water & Resource Recovery Center
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Arielle Swift, Public Works Director
Bob Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Jim Bousley, Project Manager
2
Page 470 of 740
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16t" St Detention Basin)
Public Hearing
Project No: 5586500007
EDA No: 05-79-06277
SRF No: GNS 21-02
FEMA No: LPDM-PJ-07-IA-2024-001
DATE: January 7, 2025
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum requests the City Council conduct a public hearing for the Dubuque
Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16t" St Detention Basin) project.
BACKGROUND
Between 1999 and 2011, there were six Presidential Disaster Declarations which
impacted the Bee Branch Creek Watershed. The Drainage Basin Master Plan was
completed and adopted by the City Council in 2001. It identified a flood -prone area with
over 1,000 properties. And according to a subsequent study in 2009 by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there are 1,373 properties in the flood prone,
at -risk area. In addition to homes, there are over 70 businesses in the at -risk area with
over $500 million in annual sales. The flood prone area in the Bee Branch Watershed
encompasses historic neighborhoods offering some of the community's most affordable
workforce housing. Most residents are working families, many are elderly --those least
likely to recover from repetitive flood loss. Repetitive flood damage leads to
disinvestment: from 2004 to 2009, while commercial property values grew by 39%
citywide, they fell by 6% in the Bee Branch Watershed flood prone area.
Since 2001, the City has been working to implement the improvements outlined in the
Drainage Basin Master Plan. But since 2001 several intense storm events have occurred
in the Dubuque metropolitan area. Over a twelve-year period (starting in 1999), there
several statistically rare rainstorms: three 100-year storms, two 50-year storms, one 25-
year storm, and one 10-year storm. This prompted the City to update/amend the Drainage
Basin Master Plan for the Bee Branch Watershed.
In November of 2013, the City Council passed Resolution 335-13 adopting the 2013
Drainage Basin Master Plan Amendment. The amended Drainage Basin Master Plan
outlined several improvements throughout the Bee Branch watershed to mitigate the
Page 471 of 740
effects of future flooding and disasters. Collectively, the improvements form the basis of
the multi -phase Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project outlined below.
Table 1. Twelve phases of the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project
Phase
Description
Status
1
Carter Road Detention Basin
Complete
2
West 32nd Street Detention Basin
Complete
3
Historic Millwork District
Complete
4
Lower Bee Branch Creek Restoration
Complete
5
Flood Mitigation Gate Replacement
Designed
6
Impervious Surface Reduction (Green Alleys)
1/3 of alleys converted to "Green Alleys"
7
Upper Bee Branch Creek Restoration
Complete
8
22nd Street Storm Sewer Improvements
Complete to N. Main St.
9
Flood Mitigation Maintenance Facility
Cleanup Initiated
10
North End Storm Sewer Improvements
Funding for design scheduled for FY28
11
Water Plant Flood Protection
Funding for design available in FY25
12
171h Street Storm Sewer Improvements
Complete to Heeb St.
The multi -phased Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project represents a fiscally
responsible investment that reflects a holistic approach to mitigate flooding: improving
water quality, stimulating investment, and enhancing the quality of life of watershed
residents.
On December 4, 2013, the Iowa Flood Mitigation Board voted to approve the City's use
of $98,494,178 for the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project. On February 3,
2014 the City Council adopted Resolution 31-14 authorizing the execution of an
agreement with the State of Iowa Flood Mitigation Board and authorizing the City's use
of sales tax increment funding for the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project.
The state grant funding and the subsequent debt issuances allow much of the protection
to be provided as soon as reasonably possible instead delaying the benefits for 20 years
or more. With a total estimated cost of $250 million, the Bee Branch Watershed Flood
Mitigation Project will prevent an estimated $582 million in damages over the 100-year
design life of the project. With more than $163 million in funding assistance, for every
dollar invested by Dubuque citizens it will prevent nearly seven dollars in flood damage.
The original scope of Phase V of the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project
involved replacing the gate structure associated with the pumping facility on Kerper
Boulevard just south of 16th Street that functions as part of the floodwall/levee system.
And the FY15 and FY16 CIP budgets identified $2,100,000 to replace the flood gates.
And in December of 2015, the City Council authorized the hiring of IIW, P.C. (now Origin
Design) for design and engineering services for the project. But as part of the engineering
design process, Origin Design was to identify and investigate possible modifications to
the existing 16th infrastructure that would "provide additional means for releasing water
from the Bee Branch retention under various circumstances such as when the gates are
open, when they are closed, and depending on the river stage."
Page 472 of 740
In April of 2017, Origin Design presented a series of possible enhancements that
improved access to the facility; provided an updated and more reliable electrical service;
and provided space for the use of additional, temporary pumps to augment the existing,
permanent pumps. The estimated cost for the improvements exceeded $3.3 million,
considerably more than the budget. Due to the record rainfalls in 2010 and 2011 that have
impacted the Bee Branch Watershed, it was prudent to consider if the modest
improvements were sufficient. Moreover, some of the facility elements (i.e., the two
90,000 gallon per minute pumps) pre -date the construction of the floodwall/levee system
completed circa 1974. Therefore, staff from the Public Works and Engineering
Departments worked with Origin Design to further develop improvements to the facility
that would indeed improve drainage when the gates are open and when operating under
Mississippi "flood" conditions when the gates are closed.
Of the five alternatives analyzed, the improvements associated with the preferred
alternative, now referred to as the Bee Branch Gate & Pump Station (16t" St Detention
Basin) Project, was selected because it would best handle the severe flooding that
between 1999 and 2011. In concert with the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project
(including the Bee Branch Railroad Culverts Project), the preferred option would provide
flood protection for the 500-year rainstorm.
The cost to build a new flood pumping station capable of handling flows from the Bee
Branch Creek was initially estimated to cost approximately $10 million. To better afford
the project improvements associated with all the phases of the Bee Branch Watershed
Flood Mitigation Project, and in particular the increased costs associated with the Bee
Branch Gate & Pump Station Project, the City sought additional financial assistance.
In December of 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution 368-18, approving an
application for $4,000,000.00 in U. S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant
funding for the 16th Street Detention Basin Flood Gates Project, otherwise known as the
Bee Branch Gate & Pump Station Project. The City was subsequently awarded
$2,500,000.00 in EDA grant funding for the Branch Flood Mitigation Gate & Pump Station
Project.
In May of 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution 152-19, authorizing entering into a
Financial Assistance Award Agreement with EDA as necessary for the City's use of
$2,500,000 in EDA grant funding for the Bee Branch Gate & Pump Station Project. The
City Council also pledged "the amount of $6,635,000.00 from state sales tax increment
or local stormwater utility proceeds...." Per the Agreement, the project must be complete
by April 11, 2024.
Sealed bids for the Bee Branch Stormwater Pumping Station Project (Phase V of the Bee
Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project) were received on May 19, 2022. There were
only two bids. The low bid was $24,650,000, which was $8,860,000 (56.1 %) over the
Engineer's Estimate and the budget for the improvements. As a result, the City Council
adopted Resolution 222-22 rejecting the bids for the project.
Page 473 of 740
The City was aware that rejecting the bids would likely preclude the City's ability to fund
the project using the $2.5 million in EDA grant funding. The City did discuss the possibility
of EDA providing additional time to complete the project. However, EDA representatives
indicated that the April 2024 deadline was a hard deadline and the City was forced to
send a letter in June of 2023 to EDA rescinding the $2.5 million EDA grant for the Bee
Branch Stormwater Pumping Station Project.
EDA representatives reiterated their desire to assist the City with the Project and invited
the City to reapply for EDA grant funding for the project. As directed by EDA, working with
ECIA with support from others such as the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation,
a new preliminary application was prepared and submitted by the July 28, 2023 EDA
deadline. In August of 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution 260-23 approving the
City's application for $7.7 million in EDA Disaster Relief Opportunity grant funding and
pledged providing the required local matching funds in the amount of $19,012,000.00
from GO Bonds or a State Revolving Fund loan.
On March 23, 2024, H.R. 2882, the "Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024," was
signed into law, providing funding for projects and activities of departments and agencies
of the Federal Government. This included $8 million in Federal Emergency Management
Agency's Pre -Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant program funding for the City's Flood
Mitigation Gates and Pumps Project (aka Bee Branch Stormwater Pumping Station
Project) as requested as Community Project Funding by U.S. Representative Ashley
Hinson. On May 22, 2024, the federal Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) was issued for
the Fiscal Year 2024 Pre -Disaster Mitigation Grant Program. And on May 28, 2024, Iowa
Homeland Security and Emergency Management (IHSEM), who administers the grant on
behalf of FEMA, invited the City to submit an application for the grant funding.
In October of 2024, the City was notified by IHSEM that the City was awarded $8,690,000
in grant funding for the Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16t" St Detention
Basin) project (aka Phase IV of the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project). The
legislation establishing the funding allows the state to utilize a portion of the federal
allocation for the state to administer the grant on behalf of FEMA. This reduced the federal
share to $ 7,900,000. But as part of the FEMA PDM Grant program, the state also
provides funding that is 10% of the federal share bringing the total funding assistance to
$8,690,000.
DISCUSSION
The proposed Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16t" St Detention Basin)
(Project) involves construction of a new pump station that includes the following elements:
• New flood gates;
• Replacement of the two existing flood pumps with four new pumps;
• Replacement and updating of the electrical service to current standards; and
• Installation of a back-up generator for the additional pumps to address the needed
resiliency being demanded by the storms of recent years.
Page 474 of 740
The new flood gates will be constructed on the basin side of the levee (on the west side
of Kerper Boulevard) which allows for the pumps to operate more efficiently, eliminates
the environmental concerns on the river side of the levee, and allows for operation of the
existing facility to maintain flood protection during construction of the new facility. Instead
of utilizing the two existing 90,000 gallon per minute (gpm) pumps that are more than 50
years old, the new facility will have four 90,000 gpm pumps. This allows for redundancy
in the event of a pump failure. In concert with the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project
(including the Bee Branch Railroad Culverts Project), the proposed project improvements
will provide a system that can accommodate the flooding that occurred between 1999
and 2011 — flooding that has resulted in six presidential disaster declarations due to public
and private property damage, flooding that has impacted more than 1,300 homes and
businesses. It also provides for additional resiliency options as rainstorms increase in
both depth and intensity.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
The schedule for the Project is as follows:
Initiate Public Bidding Process
Publish Notice to Bidders, Advertise for Bids
Publish Public Hearing Notice on Plans & Specs
Public Hearing on Plans & Specifications
Receipt of Bids (Bid Letting)
Award Construction Contract
Substantially Completion Date
Final Completion
RECOMMENDATION
December 16, 2024
December 17, 2024
January 10, 2025
January 21, 2025
January 23, 2025
February 3, 2025
March 19, 2027
July 2, 2027
I recommend the City Council conduct a public hearing and approve the plans,
specifications, form of contract and construction estimate for the Dubuque Gate & Pump
Station Flood Mitigation (16th St Detention Basin) project.
BUDGETIMPACT
The estimate of probable costs for the Project is as follows:
Description
Cost Estimate
Construction Contract
$ 25,400,000
Contingency
508,000
Administration and Construction Engineering
1,360,000
Total Construction Cost Estimate
$ 28,158,400
Page 475 of 740
The funding plan for the Project includes a combination of local, state, and federal funds
as follows:
Project Number
Fund Description
Fund Amount
5586500007
Federal EDA Grant
$ 7,700,000
FEMA Grant (Federal)
7,900,000
FEMA Grant (State)
790,000
State Sales Tax Increment
8,254,445
Stormwater User Fees
2,297,607
DRA Distribution
784,052
State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan
820,000
Total Project Funding
$ 28,546,104
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
I respectfully request the City Council conduct a public hearing and approve the plans,
specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Dubuque Gate & Pump Station
Flood Mitigation (16t" St Detention Basin) project.
Attach.
Prepared by Deron Muehring
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Arielle Swift, Public Works Director
Bob Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Jim Bousley, Project Manager
Deron Muehring, WRRC Director
Page 476 of 740
Prepared by Deron Muehrinq City of Dubuque Engineering 50 W. 13th St Dubuque IA 52001 (563)589-4270
Return to Adrienne N. Breitfelder City Clerk City of Dubuque, 50 W. 13th St. Dubuque, IA 52001 (563)589-4100
RESOLUTION NO. 23-25
APPROVAL OF PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND
ESTIMATED COST FOR THE DUBUQUE GATE & PUMP STATION FLOOD
MITIGATION (16T" ST DETENTION BASIN)
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
That the attached plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of total cost
for the Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation (16th St Detention Basin) in the
estimated amount $25,400,000.00, are hereby approved,
Passed, approved, and adopted this
Attest:
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, -City Clerk
21 st day of January 2025.
ra M.-vo, agh, Mayor
STATE OF IOWA SS:
DUBUQUE COUNTY
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION
I, Kathy Goetzinger, a Billing Clerk for Woodward
Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation, publisher
of the Telegraph Herald, a newspaper of general
circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County
of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the
attached notice was published in said newspaper on the
following dates:
01/10/2025
and for which the charge is 57.00
Subscribed to before me a Notar Y blic in and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this loth day of January, 2025
Notar/ Ptl�blic in and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
��Q,IAL dF JANET K. PAPE
o Y Commission Number 199659
€_ - My Commission Expires
12/11/2025
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Ad text :
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
OFFICIAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF
CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE DUBUQUE GATE & PUMP
STATION FLOOD MITIGATION (16TH ST DETENTION BASIN)
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the City Council of the
City of Dubuque, Iowa will conduct a public hearing on the
proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated
cost for the Dubuque Gate & Pump Station Flood Mitigation
(16th St Detention Basin), in accordance with the provisions
of Chapter 26, Code of Iowa, at 6:30 p.m., on the 21st day of
January 2025, in the Historic Federal Building Council
Chambers, 350 West 6th Street, 2nd floor, Dubuque, Iowa. Said
proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated
cost are now on file in the office of the City Clerk. At said
hearing any interested person may appear and file objections
thereto.
The scope of the Project is as follows:
The project includes the construction of a new stormwater
pumping station on the protected side of the flood protection
levee at the confluence of the Bee Branch Watershed with the
Mississippi River. The overall structure will have approximate
plan dimensions of 100' x 160'. The structure will be
constructed on the west end of the existing twin 12'x12'
culverts. The structure is planned to include four 90,000 gpm
stormwater pumps, two 12'x14' main gates for gravity flow from
the 16th Street Basin (end of Bee Branch watershed), and two
12x9' emergency gates. Additionally, the contract will include
an electrical controls building to control the pump and two
standby generators to provide backup power to the proposed
stormwater pumps. The project will also include the removal of
the existing stormwater pumps and demolition of portions of
the existing stormwater pump station. The anticipated
excavation limits for the proposed project is anticipated to
be approximately 140' x 200'. All excavation will be on the
protected side of the levee in the 16th Street basin. There
will be no excavation on the river side of the flood
protection levee. The excavated area will consist of an area
protected during construction by sheeting to allow the
excavation and construction of the structure. The proposed
bottom of the portion of the structure is planned to be
approximately 15 ft. below the flowlines of the existing
culverts.
Written comments on the public hearing may be submitted to
the City Clerk's Office by email at ctyclerk@cityofdubuque.org
or by mail to City Hall, 50 W. 13th St., Dubuque, IA 52001,
before the scheduled hearing. The City Council will review all
written comments at the time of the hearing.
Documents related to the public hearing are on file in the
City Clerk's Office and may be viewed Monday through Friday
between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Individuals requiring special assistance should contact the
City Clerk's Office as soon as feasible. Deaf or
hard -of -hearing individuals can use Relay Iowa by dialing 711
or (800) 735-2942.
Published by order of the City Council given on the 16th
day of December 2024.
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
It 1/10