I-JOBS Green Urban Stormwater Program FundingDubuque
THE CITY OF
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Master iece on tl ie Mississi i MEMORANDUM I I
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer GP
DATE: December 2, 2009
SUBJECT: Application for Funding through the I-JOBS Green Urban Stormwater
Program
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to present an application for $100,000 in funding for a
green alley through the I-JOBS Green Urban Stormwater program.
BACKGROUND
Governor Chet Culver and the DNR have been encouraging cities, schools, businesses
and other groups to apply for the 1-JOBS Green Urban Stormwater program which has
more than $1.4 million to help Iowa organizations design and build post-construction
green urban stormwater practices.
Urban green stormwater practices, such as bio-swales, rain gardens and permeable
pavement, help slow and filter rain water as it runs off urban surfaces. As it runs across
lawns and pavement, stormwater can pick up pollutants like soil, fertilizers, pet waste
and oil. Rain water washes into storm sewers, which dump the water into a local stream
or lake without any treatment.
DISCUSSION
To make way for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project, the City purchased ten
properties on Washington Street between 22"d and 24t" Streets. The properties acquired
on Washington Street are unique in that while the houses are on `J1,'ashington Street the
lots extend all the way to Elm Street. See Attachment I. The Bee Branch project
required a significant portion of the lots where they abut Elm Street. Instead of
demolishing the houses, the Housing and Community Development Department will
facilitate the refurbishing of the houses on Washington Street for resale to the public.
One of the neighborhood issues brought up at public input workshops conducted as part
of the Bee Branch project is the lack of off-street parking in the area.- And the back
portion of the Washington Street properties acquired for the Bee Branch Project is
where there was off-street parking for many of these houses. To compensate the loss of
can dramatically reduce the surface runoff from most rainstorms and snowmelt events
and virtually eliminate surface runoff from smaller storms. These reductions in runoff
volumes translate directly to proportional reductions in pollutant loads leaving the site.
According to the Manual, the average design pollutant reduction percentages for
phosphorus, nitrogen, and heavy metal are 80%, 80% and 90% respectively.
Funding through the program was limited to $100,000 or 50% of the design and
installation costs, whichever is less. Since the estimated project cost is $208,700, an
application for $100,000 was submitted on December 1, 2009 (see attachment). The
remaining $108,700 balance would be funded through the stormwater construction fund.
Moreover, the City's expense will be offset slightly with the sale of the Washington
Street houses as the off-street parking that the alley will provide should increase the
appeal of the houses.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the anticipated date to
announce successful applications is December 31, 2009. If successful, the City would
enter into an agreement/contract with the IDNR by March of 2010 pending the City
Council's authorization. Construction of the alley would be complete by November of
2010.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
No action is required at this time. The purpose of this memo is to provide information
only.
Prepared by Deron Muehring
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Jenny Larson, Budget Director
David Harris, Housing & Community Development Director
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer II
Attach.
APPLICATION SUMMARY FORM
I-JOBS Improved Green Urban Storm~vater Best Management Pl•actices
December 2009
Total Cost of Project: $ 208,700 Request fromDNR: $ 100,000
BMP(s) being installed: Permeable Pavers
Name City/County where practice(s) to be installed: Dubuque/Dubuque
Applicant Organization: Ci ty of Dubuque
Address: 50 West 13th Street
City, State, andZip:Dubuque, Iowa, 52001
Contact Person: Deron Muehring Telephone (563) se9-4270
Fax: (563) 589-4205 Email address (required):
dmuehrinpcityofdubuque.org
Estimated Project Duration: November 2010 Expected Start Date: May 2010
What funding sout•ce(s) do you intend to use as a match? Check all that apply
~ Existing funds 1r SRF Loan 1`" Local bank loan f Other:
Brief Project S:imma-•y (no greater than this space allows):
The Washington Street Green Alley Project involves the construction
of anew 1,100 foot long alley constructed of permeable pavers as
outlined in Section 2J-4 of the Iowa Stormwater Management Manual.
The new alley will provide off-street parking and garage access to 30
residential ,properties in a low-to-moderate income neighborhood.'
This past summer, both an existing alley and the streets in a new
residential subdivision were constructed with permeable pavers. The
Washington Street Green Alley Project will raise the public's
awareness of permeable pavements, a green stormwater best management
practice (BMP), so that more developers and property owners consider
the use of the permeable pavement BMP over conventional. pavements.
Applicant accepts all the terms and conditions stated in the Request for Applications, specifically,
but not limited to Section 3.2 of the }2FA, which is certified upon executing this document.
Gus N. Psiho City Engineer
Printed Chief Executi a Otfi er/Representative/Applicant
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Signature of Chief Executive Officer/Rep sentative/Applicant Date
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Construction of the alley using permeable pavers is consistent with the typical uses of the permeable
pavement BMP outlined in the Iowa Stormwater Management Manual (Manual). Section 2E-1(c) of the
Manual (2007) states that "surface infiltration can be achieved through the use of ...porous pavement
systems" and that "water quality treatment can be attained when pollutant removal occurs as water
percolates through the various soil layers. As the water moves through the soil, particles can be filtered
out. In addition, microorganisms in the soil can degrade organic pollutants that are contained in the
infiltrated stormwater." The Manual also points out that permeable pavements can dramatically reduce
the surface runoff from most rainstorms and snowmelt events and virtually eliminate surface runoff
from smaller storms. These reductions in runoff volumes translate directly to proportional reductions in
pollutant loads leaving the site. According to the Manual, the average design pollutant reduction
percentages for phosphorus, nitrogen, and heavy metal are 80%, 80% and 90% respectively.
WORK PLAN
The work plan for the Washington Street Green Alley project would begin with IDNR contract
negotiations in January 2010. Approximately thirty days would be required to prepare the construction
and bidding documents. Execution of the IDNR contract would be in March 2010. The City would take
bids in March 2010 with the intent to award a construction contract in May 2010. The project
completion date would be November 2010.
MAINTENANCE
The,City of Dubuque Public Works Department is responsible for the maintenance of the permeable
alley constructed in 2009 and the public street constructed in 2009 as part of a new subdivision.
Maintenance to the permeable alley will include bi-annual sweeping or vacuuming of the alley as
outlined in the Manual. The City does not apply sand to streets for snow and ice control. The
maintenance of the proposed alley will be performed by the Public Works Department in the same
manner as they maintain the two existing permeable pavements within the city.
JOBS
The project will create approximately seven green jobs, again referencing the number of jobs created to
construct the City's 2009 Green Alley Pilot project: one engineering job and six construction jobs.
Designing and installing permeable pavers are new concepts for many developers, engineers, and
construction contractors in the Dubuque area. With each additional permeable pavement project,
green alleys and streets become the norm for the City more companies will become involved and learn
enough to consider permeable pavement versus conventional impervious pavement systems.
FUNDING
The estimated cost for the project is$208,700. The funding request through the IDNR I-JOBS grant is
$100,000. Funding for the remaining $108,700 will come from the City's exiting stormwater
management utility fees.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/ SIGNAGE
One of the many advantages of the Washington Street Green Alley is the public educational
opportunities made available by using a sustainable BMP. The City will develop a brochure that outlines
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the benefits of green infrastructure such as permeable pavements, rain gardens, rain barrels, etc. The
brochure will also outline the locations of existing green infrastructure throughout the City of Dubuque.
The brochure will be distributed with utility bills to the more than 20,000 utility customers. A video will
be prepared that documents the project as it progresses toward completion. The video will be aired on
the City's local channel 8.Other outlets for public education are city council meetings and press releases
for the project. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be performed at the conclusion of the project, allowing
an opportunity to publically demonstrate the City's implementation of the permeable pavement BMP.
Two signs will be erected by the alley to draw attention to the project, outline its benefits, and identify
the organizations that contributed to the project.
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Budget Form
CONSTRUCTION
YEAR: 2010
PROJECT NAME• i ,._._._ ........................_._..._._......_............................................,.,.............,
..WASHINGTON STREET GREEN ALLEY CITY/COUNTY:!DUBUQUE/DUBUQUE '
..............................._..._....................._,......,..,..............................._..........._. s.................,............_..................................................................................I
Size in Square Cost Share Sponsor DNR Other
Component Feet Total cost Rate r.,~+ r..~. ~.._.,:__ ~_..___,_.
Information/Education $ 1,700 100°k $ 1,700
5ignage ~ 1,000 100% $ 1,000
Engineering Desi n $ 26,000 100% $ 26,000
Pro)ectAdministration $ 3,000 100% $ 3,000
Legal Fees ~ 2,000 100% ~ 2,000
Practices:
Permeable Pavers $ 160,000 38% $ 60,000 $ 100,000
Concrete ROW $ 15,000 10096 $ 15,000
r..+~~~ r
i ,~ wa,iuu i i ~~ 108,700 ~~ 100,000 ~