Bee Branch Creek Alignment StudyMEMORANDUM
May 14, 2003
TO:The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT:Consultant Selection for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project
Alignment Study
As approved by City Council, a request for proposals was issued to do preliminary
design and to conduct an Alignment Study for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration
Project from 16th and Sycamore Street to 24th and Elm Street.
The Bee Branch Creek restoration project has been divided into two projects (or two
phases). The portion of the creek from the 16th Street detention basin to Garfield
(Phase I) has been adopted as part of the Drainage Basin Master Plan. Phase I,
estimated at $6.9 million, will take up to three years to construct and is included in the
FY 2004 - 2008 (5-year) Capital Improvement Project budget with initial funding
available in FY 2006. Phase II of the project from Garfield to 24th and Elm, estimated at
$10.2 million, has not been adopted as part of the DBMP but remains under
consideration.
Before the City moves forward with Phase II of the Bee Branch Creek Restoration
Project from Garfield to 24th and Elm, several issues related to the project must be
addressed. The objective of the Bee Branch Creek Alignment Study is to address those
issues.
The Bee Branch Creek Restoration Alignment Study will:
1)Establish the optimum alignment for the proposed open waterway along
its approximately 4,500-foot length (from 16th Street detention basin to 24th
and Elm Streets) based .on existing environmental, utility, social, and
economic constraints;
2)Provide a preliminary design to a level that it establishes:
a. What the waterway will look like at different locations along its entire
length and
b. How the waterway will function before, during, and after rainstorms of
different magnitudes; and
3)Work with impacted residents in the form of a citizens advisory committee
to ensure that the recommended alignment location and waterway design
are based on input from the neighborhoods impacted by the proposed
open waterway.
A Proposal Review Committee consisting of Long Range Planning Advisory
Commission Member Dr. Chades Winterwood, North End Neighborhood Association
Representative Jerry AnderSon, Assistant City Manager Cindy Steinhauser, Finance
Director Ken TeKippe, Assistant City Engineer Gus Psihoyos, Neighborhood
Development Specialist Jerelyn O'Connor, Civil Engineer David Ness and Civil
Engineer Deron Muehring reviewed the five proposals submitted. After reviewing the
proposals, two firms were selected for interviews, Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM) and
Stanley Consultants. After interviews and careful deliberation of each firm's
qualifications, the Committee determined that CDM had the experience and expertise to
be successful and best responded to the objectives outlined in the requests for
proposals.
The Proposal Review Committee recommends City Council approval to retain Camp
Dresser & McKee to provide engineering and design services for the Bee Branch Creek
Restoration Project Alignment Study at a cost of $249,844.
CDM has teamed with the Dubuque office of WHKS, to provide Dubuque citizens a local
face and point of contact to get questions and concerns addressed or simply to get
information about the project. WHKS will be involved with the gathering of field data
required to refine the storm water models and will be directly involved with' the public
involvement facet of the project.
In addition, CDM has teamed with Conservation Design Forum, a nationally recognized
landscape architectural firm specializing in the creative integration of environmentally
and culturally sustainable land planning, design and development techniques.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
Mike Koch, Public Works Director
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
May 12, 2003
TO:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM:Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
SUBJECT:Consultant Selection for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project
Alignment Study
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to request that the City Council approve the
selection of Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc. (CDM) to provide engineering and design
services for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project Alignment Study.
BACKGROUND
Due to the concerns, the Bee Branch Creek restoration project has been divided into
two projects (or two phases). The portion of the creek from the 16th Street detention
basin to Garfield (Phase I) has been adopted as part of the Drainage Basin Master
Plan. Phase I, estimated at $6.9 million, will take up to three years to construct and is
included in the FY 2004 - 2008 (5-year) Capital Improvement Project budget with initial
funding available in FY 2006. Phase II of the project from Garfield to 24th and Elm,
estimated at $10.2 million, has not been adopted as part of the DBMP but remains
under consideration.
Before the City moves forward with the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project from
Garfield to 24th and Elm, several questions and concerns related to the project must be
addressed. The objective of the Bee Branch Creek Alignment Study is to address those
concerns.
On December 16, 2002 the City Council authorized City staff to issue a request for
proposals to do preliminary design and to conduct an alignment study for the Bee
Branch Creek Restoration Project from 16th and Sycamore to 24th and Elm.
City staff drafted a "Request for Proposals" (RFP) that was reviewed and shaped by the
proposal review committee made up of Dr. Charles Winterwood, Long Range Planning
Advisory Commission Member; Jerry Anderson, North End Neighborhood Association
representative; Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager; Ken TeKippe, Finance
Director; Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer; Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood
Development Specialist; David Ness, Civil Engineer, and Deron Muehring, Civil
Engineer. While City staff sent correspondence to the Washington Street Neighborhood
Council throughout the selection process with the hopes that a representative could
serve on the committee, no representative attended any of the proceedings leading up
to the recommendation of a consultant.
On March 17, 2003 the RFP was presented to the City Council. The Council
subsequently approved the RFP for release to the public. As previously stated on March
17, 2003 the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Alignment Study will:
1)Establish the optimum alignment for the proposed open waterway along
its approximately 4,500-foot length (from 16th Street detention basin to 24th
and Elm Streets) based on existing environmental, utility, social, and
economic constraints;
2)Provide a preliminary design to a level that it establishes:
a. What the waterway will look like at different locations along its entire
length and
b. How the waterway will function before, during, and after rainstorms of
different magnitudes; and
3)Work with impacted residents in the form of a citizens advisory committee
to ensure that the recommended alignment location and waterway design
are based on input from the neighborhoods impacted by the proposed
open waterway.
DISCUSSION
Five firms submitted proposals:
1. Barr Engineering (Minneapolis);
2. Camp Dresser & McKee (Milwaukee) with WHKS (Dubuque), Conservation
Design Forum (Elmhurst, IL), Terracon (Dubuque), and Center for Business &
Social Research (Dubuque);
3. HDR Engineering (Omaha, NE) with IIW Engineers (Dubuque);
4. McClure Engineering (Ankeny); and
5. Stanley Consultants (Muscatine) with Buesing & Associates (Dubuque),
SchreibedAnderson Associates (Madison, WI), and The Longview Group
(Iowa City).
After reviewing the proposals, the selection committee short-listed CDM and Stanley for
interviews. Following the interviews, the committee carefully deliberated each firm's
qualifications and determined that CDM has the experience and expertise to be
successful and best responded to the objectives outlined in the requests for proposals.
CDM is a leader in the fields of flood control, hydrologic/hydraulic analysis and public
involvement; elements critical to the success of the project. While CDM has extensive
experience with project scopes similar to the Bee Branch Creek Restoration project, one
recent project illustrates CDM's qualifications.
Lincoln Creek, an approximately 9 mile long creek, was reconstructed through a
densely urbanized portion of Milwaukee. CDM provided the design services for the
Lincoln Creek flood control project. The goals of the Lincoln Creek project were to
reduce the hazard of flooding, enhance the environment of the creek corridor, and
stabilize/protect eroding creek banks with sustainable solutions. As a result of the creek
design and construction the floodplain was modified so that over 2,000 structures
(mostly single family residences) are no longer within the floodplain limits. As part of
the project, CDM hosted more than 40 meetings with a diverse Steering
Committee/Technical Advisory Committee. In addition, CDM met with citizens in
individual neighborhoods to gather input with regard to the design of the restored creek.
The final creek design varied between neighborhoods based on the input from
residents.
CDM has teamed with the Dubuque office of WHKS, to provide Dubuque citizens a local
face and point of contact to get questions and concerns addressed or simply to get
information about the project. WHKS will be involved with the gathering of field data
required to refine the storm water models and will be directly involved with the public
involvement facet of the project.
In addition, CDM has teamed with Conservation Design Forum, a nationally recognized
landscape architectural firm specializing 'n the creative integration of environmentally
and culturally sustainable land planning, design and development techniques.
Following the formation of the Bee Branch Citizen Advisory Committee the project will
proceed. CDM has established a period of nine months to complete the project.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the review of the proposals, presentations, and interviews the proposal review
committee recommends that the City retain CDM to provide engineering and design
services for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project Alignment Study.
BUDGET IMPACT
The engineering cost for the Bee Branch Alignment Study was estimated to be between
$250,000 - $400,000 depending on the level of design required to meet the objectives of
the project. CDM's scope of services has identified a strategy to meet the project's
objectives at a cost of $249,844. The project will be funded from a Fiscal Year 2003
General Fund Appropriation in the amount of $250,000.
ACTION REQUESTED
I respectfully request that the City Council approve the selection of CDM to provide
engineering arid design services for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project
Alignment Study and to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with
CDM for the project.
CC:Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
Ken TeKippe, Finance Director
Michael A. Koch, Public Works Director
Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
David Ness, Civil Engineer
Dr. Charles Winterwood, Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Member
Jerry Anderson, North End Neighborhood Association Representative
Dan Shireman, Washington Neighborhood Council President