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YMCA Dr Drainage Habitat HumaniMEMORANDUM December 12, 2002 TO:The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT:Drainage Problem on YMCA Drive (Habitat for Humanity) Public Works Director Mike Koch has met with Habitat for Humanity about their drainage concerns on YMCA Drive. While each property owner is responsible to convey stormwater through their property, some possible solutions to be implemented by the property owner were identified. MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer Michael A. Koch, Public Works Director MEMORANDUM TO:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM:Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer SUBJECT:Drainage Problem on YMCA Drive (Habitat for Humanity) CC:Michael Koch, Public Works Director November 27, 2002 INTRODUCTION Deron and I met with Mr. Carl Robey, representing Habitat for Humanity, at the site where the Habitat for Humanity recently constructed two homes on YMCA Drive. This memo outlines our findings and recommendations: BACKGROUND To construct Hwy 20 and YMCA Drive, four parcels were acquired by the State and the structures (three homes and an office building) shown in Figure 1 were razed. Figure 2 shows the site after the structures were razed, prior to the construction of Hwy 20 and YMCA Drive. Following the completion of the street construction project, the remaining portions of the four parcels were combined into two parcels and offered for sale back to the original property owners. One of the original owners purchased the two lots and subsequently resold them to Habitat for Humanity. Figure I illustrates that the construction project associated with Hwy 20 did not alter the drainage in the vicinity of the Habitat's property. In addition, Figure 2 reveals that vegetation remained on the lots. DISCUSSION The problem that Mr. Robey showed us is an erosion problem that affects both lots. Because there is no vegetation (grass) established, soil is easily washed away resulting in ruts across the lots. The solution to the problem, and most erosion problems, is to establish vegetation over the bare soil that is exposed to stormwater. Once grass is established, the erosion problem will be solved. Figure 1. Habitat for Humanity site prior to Hwy 20 reconstruction. As stated in their correspondence to the City Council, Habitat for Humanity has tried on more than one occasion to establish grass where the stormwater runs across the lots. All attempts have failed. There are two ways to overcome this situation. Erosion control blankets are available that protect the soil and grass seed from stormwater, allowing the grass to establish itself. The installed price for a blanket would be between $600 and $800 for the Habitat for Humanity site. This cost does not include the cost of seeding. Another way to establish grass in this case would be to install sod. Sod staked to the ground has been used in similar circumstances. This option would cost approximately $700. These cost estimates are based on an area 24-feet wide by 100- feet long. In either case, another cost would be associated with minor grading required to establish a swale for the stormwater to cross the properties. Figure 2. Habitat for Humanity site during Hwy 20 reconstruction. We advised Mr. Robey that the construction of a swale and the subsequent sodding would solve the erosion problem. Mr. Robey asked if the City could participate in this solution. While we expressed that we would like to provide more assistance than just our insight into solving erosion problems, we informed Mr. Robey that each property owner is responsible to convey stormwater through his/her property and because the City's actions did not create the current problem, we could not endorse the spending of public funds on Habitat's private property. Mr. Robey said he would report the essence of our discussion back to his Board.