Stormwater Management Program Consulting Engineering Services Contract Award RecommendationCity of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 10.
Copyrighted
February 2, 2026
ITEM TITLE: Stormwater Management Program Consulting Engineering
Services Contract Award Recommendation
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval to enter
into a contract with Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K) for
engineering services for the Stormwater Management
Program.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo Stormwater Management Program Consulting Engineering Services
Contract Award Recommendation
2. Stormwater RFQ Award Memo
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THE CITY OF
DUBE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Stormwater Management Program
Consulting Engineering Services
Contract Award Recommendation
DATE: January 26, 2026
Dubuque
AI WIN av
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Assistant Public Works Director -Project Manager Maxwell O'Brien is recommending
City Council approval to enter into a contract with Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K)
for engineering services for the Stormwater Management Program.
The program will be funded by a Fiscal Year 2026 appropriation in the amount of
$200,000.00 [CIP# 5586500045], supported by revenue from the Stormwater
Construction Fund. This is a multi -year program, with additional funding requests
planned in future fiscal years to ensure its continuation and ongoing support as the
program advances.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
I►VA [yT/►T 111111111
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Arielle Swift, Public Works Director
Maxwell O'Brien, Assistant Public Works Director - Project Manager
Alex Stein, Civil Engineer
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Nate Kieffer, Civil Engineer & Land Surveyor
Travis Schrobilgen, Assistant Planner
Jason Mouring, Environmental Coordinator
Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Page 207 of 865
THE CITY OF
Dubuque
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Maxwell O'Brien, Assistant Public Works Director — Project Manager
DATE: January 22, 2026
SUBJECT: Stormwater Management Program
Consulting Engineering Services
Contract Award Recommendation
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to seek authorization to negotiate and enter into a contract
with Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K) to provide engineering services for the
Stormwater Management Program.
BACKGROUND
The City of Dubuque has long invested significant resources in addressing flooding
challenges through stormwater management, with most efforts historically focused on
stormwater quantity and reducing flood risk. The 2001 Drainage Basin Master Plan laid
the foundation for the Bee Branch Restoration Project, which provided critical protection
for residents in neighborhoods historically vulnerable to flooding. Building on that
progress, the City is now advancing a comprehensive, citywide Stormwater
Management Program. This innovative and future -focused program, also being funded
and supported by municipalities across the country, is essential for managing the City's
MS4 permit, ensuring compliance with evolving stormwater quality requirements, and
guiding sustainable long-term growth.
Through this program, the City will evaluate the overall condition of its stormwater
infrastructure, conduct capacity analyses to identify bottlenecks and limitations, and
review existing policies, ordinances, and code requirements to align with current best
practices. The goal is to create a framework that balances flood protection, water
quality, infrastructure resiliency, and fiscal responsibility. By identifying and ranking
future stormwater projects, the City will ensure that public dollars are invested
strategically - maximizing community benefits, protecting City assets, and guiding long-
term sustainable growth.
The Stormwater Management Program will be organized around five primary studies in
two phases, consistent with EPA's Asset Management: A Best Practices Guide
(Document EPA 816-F-08-014). These include an assessment of the current state of
assets, an evaluation of the level of service provided, identification of critical assets, a
cost analysis, and the development of a long-term improvements plan. For each of
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these studies, the selected Consultant shall consider the full range of stormwater
system components, including storm sewers, swales, detention basins, green
infrastructure, and other conveyance and treatment facilities. The Program will
document current and emerging challenges, recommend short-, mid-, and long-term
solutions, and provide planning -level budgets for all recommendations.
The Consultant will also assist City staff in establishing a strategic and proactive plan for
managing the stormwater system that will:
• Develop repeatable and dynamic processes that enable staff to quickly evaluate
asset data to assess condition, level of service, and criticality.
• Rank stormwater capital improvement projects based on risk analysis and
system performance.
• Identify stormwater utility staffing and resource needs.
• Optimize operations and maintenance procedures.
On November 3, 2025, City Council authorized the release of a Request for
Qualifications (RFQ) for engineering services to support the Stormwater Management
Program, which was advertised on November 5, 2025. Qualification submittals were
due from applicants on December 19, 2025.
DISCUSSION
The City received eight (8) RFQ responses by the December 19, 2025 deadline. The
respondents to the RFQ consisted of: Fehr Graham (Freeport, IL), Rummel, Klepper &
Kahl, LLP (Baltimore, MD), Inversa Systems (Griffin, GA), Aqualis (Morrisville, NC), HR
Green, Inc. (Cedar Rapids, IA), MSA Professional Services (Baraboo, WI), HDR
Engineering, Inc. (Omaha, NE), Crawford, Murphy & Tilly (Springfield, IL).
The RFQ was prepared with the input of various city staff members. The following staff
members reviewed the qualifications of those firms that submitted qualifications-
1 . Alex Stein, Civil Engineer
2. Maxwell O'Brien, Assistant Public Works Director — Project Manager
3. Nate Kieffer, Civil Engineer & Land Surveyor
4. Travis Schrobilgen, Assistant Planner
5. Jason Mouring, Environmental Coordinator
6. Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
HDR Engineering Inc., HR Green, Inc., and Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K) were
identified as the highest scoring firms. Shortlist interviews were held with these firms
between the dates of January 16, 2026 and January 21, 2026. Upon further review and
discussion after the interviews were completed, the consensus of the Committee was
that RK&K demonstrated:
• Demonstrated expertise and experience in stormwater and municipal projects,
especially in Iowa.
• Clear, complete submittal showing strong understanding of City program
objectives.
• Strong design approach with creativity, problem -solving, and clear project
2
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engagement.
• Defined timelines for completing each scope component once initiated.
• Proven stakeholder engagement success and broad team expertise across the
RFQ scope.
RECOMMENDATION
The qualifications review committee recommends that the City enter into a contract with
Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K) for engineering services for the Stormwater
Management Program.
BUDGETIMPACT
The program will be funded by a Fiscal Year 2026 appropriation in the amount of
$200,000.00 [CIP# 5586500045], supported by revenue from the Stormwater
Construction Fund. This is a multi -year program, with additional funding requests
planned in future fiscal years to ensure its continuation and ongoing support as the
program advances.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
I respectfully request authorization to negotiate and execute a contract with Rummel,
Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K) for engineering services for the City's Stormwater
Management Program.
Prepared by Alex Stein, Civil Engineer
cc: Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Maxwell O'Brien, Assistant Public Works Director — Project Manager
Nate Kieffer, Civil Engineer & Land Surveyor
Travis Schrobilgen, Assistant Planner
Jason Mouring, Environmental Coordinator
Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Arielle Swift, Public Works Director
3
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