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Lower Bee Branch Creek_Floating Island Enhancement InitiateMasterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project CIP #7201654) DATE: November 1, 2011 Dubuque httil All-A dcaCity 2007 City Engineer Gus Psihoyos recommends initiation of the bidding process for the Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project, and further recommends that a public hearing be set for December 5, 2011. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer Masterpiece on the Mississippi MEMORANDUM TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager , FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer SUBJECT: Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project (CIP #7201654) DATE: October 31, 2011 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memo is to seek authorization to initiate the public bidding procedures and establish the date of a public hearing for the Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project. BACKGROUND Dubuque herd 'TIPr� �► 2007 On October 4, 2010 the City Council passed Resolution 390 -10 authorizing an application for Vision Iowa River Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism (RECAT) grant funding specifically for amenities associated with the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project. On April 4, 2011 the City Council passed Resolution 114 -11 approving and authorizing the execution of the RECAT Grant Agreement. DISCUSSION The RECAT grant application and grant agreement include funding for a floating island to be constructed as part of the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project, located within the 16th Street Detention Basin. The proposed floating island is a form of a wetland which "bio- mimics" natural floating wetland systems invented by Nature. Vegetated with native plants, it is a beautiful, natural and sustainable eco- system which provides many benefits, from habitat restoration to water cleansing. A photo of a floating island is shown in Figure 1 below. When a floating island is launched, a whole diverse eco- system is created which attracts life in all its forms, from microbes to nymphs, to butterflies, to fish, birds.... all the way up the food chain. Figure 2 outlines the various environmental benefits associated with floating islands. Fi • ure 1. Photo of a small floatin • island. Figure 2. Environmental benefits of a floating island. Plants & Insects attract song birds Plants attract & sustain Insect populations Island surface provides wildlife habitat Plants provide wildlife habitat fr& aesthetic beauty Island material & root syste provide valuable surface area for beneficial microbes to proliferate & pull pollutants from the water shade & roots provide cover & allow fish to thrive Root systems pull problematic nutrients out of the water through hydroponics 2 The schedule for the Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project is as follows: Initiate Public Bidding Processing Advertisement for Bids Publish Notice of Hearing on Plans & Specifications Public Hearing Receipt of Bids Award of Contract Notice to Proceed Construction Complete RECOMMENDATION November 7, 2011 November 11, 2011 November 18, 2011 December 5, 2011 December 8, 2011 December 19, 2011 January 2, 2012 May 4, 2012 I recommend that the City Council establish the date for the public hearing and authorize the City Clerk to advertise for proposals for the Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project. BUDGET IMPACT The estimate of probable costs for the Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project is as follows: Construction Contingency Engineering Total Project Cost The funding summary is as follows: $ 179,995.00 9,000.00 9,500.00 $198,495.00 CIP No. Fund Description 7201654 Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project Vision Iowa RECAT Grant Funding (18.59 %) City share (81.41%) ACTION TO BE TAKEN Fund Amount $198,495.00 $36,900.22 $161,594.78 I respectfully request that the City Council adopt the attached resolutions that establish the date of the public hearing and authorize the City Clerk to advertise for proposals for the Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project. Prepared by Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer II cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Jenny Larson, Budget Director Marie Ware, Leisure Services Manager Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer II 3 This floating man -made island in Bruce Kania's back yard supports several people Islands help clean pollution By Tom Howard SHEPHERD — This tiny agricultural community on the arid plains of Eastern Montana seems like an unlikely spot from which to launch a business that aims to clean up the world's polluted waterways. But scientists, busi- nessmen and government officials from around the world are flocking here, hoping to learn how a small company has harnessed nature to clean up pollution. Bruce Kania, founder of Floating Islands International, believes his invention will play a major role in cleaning the world's polluted waters. The buoyant, plant- covered islands developed by his company mimic the crucial water purifying capabilities of wetlands. "It's hard to find a waterway that wouldn't benefit from more wetland effect," Kania said. He said it's appropriate that a Montana company should play a role in cleaning up water pollution. Studies show that runoff from Mon- tana — much of it from agriculture — represents the llth largest contributor to the Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone," a 7,000- square-mile area near the mouth of the Mississippi River where aquatic life is scarce because water is starved for oxygen. Nitrogen, phosphorous and other chemicals linked to human activity are blamed for the dead zone. New research also shows that the floating islands effectively remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, he said. Floating Islands International began producing the islands about three years ago. Since then, Kania has seen the potential for developing a worldwide market. "During the last 14 months, we have had visitors from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, the People's Republic of China, Mexico and Germany," Kania said. "They've come here to Shepherd Montana." A forum held in Billings last July attracted more than 60 professionals who are interested in the technology. "We're bringing some entrepreneurial energy. We attracted some big players who are interested in turning this concept of floating treatment wetlands into a major industry," Kania said. To date, more than 3,100 floating islands have been launched around the world, and they're used in a number of applications. A model the size of a card table is marketed for use in backyard ponds, but larger ones have been used to treat effluent from a sewage treatment plant. Clark Bosch, a production assistant at Floating Islands International, works on an island under construction. In New Zealand, a government agency is using one of the company's floating islands to remove heavy metals from water. In early September, the first floating island used in a saltwater environment was launched in Alaska. In November, the largest ever floating island is scheduled to be launched in Florida. The 22,000- square -foot behemoth is nearly half the size of a football field. The city of Billings also is investigating the technology to help manage its storm runoff. "We're looking to use it as a way to do a little water treatment for our storm system before the water is dis- charged into drainages," said City Engineer Vern Heisler. Floating Islands International has a small manufacturing facility in Shepherd, but it produces only a fraction of the islands that are put into use. Kania said the business is structured so that licensees are authorized to manufacture and distribute the islands within a specific geographic area. The company's location dictates the business model, Kania said. If Floating Islands International were located in a metropolitan area, he said, it might make sense to do more of the manufacturing in a centralized location. "We want the manufacturing to occur regionally so that ultimately the technology remains affordable," Kania said. "Some of the islands are bulky and they're difficult to ship cost effectively. At this point there's a facility going in Louisiana, and it looks like there's one going in China. There's a facility in New Zealand, and there's already one happening in Santa Fe." Natural floating islands, masses of living and dead plant matter that are common in the boggy stretches of north- ern Wisconsin, are the inspiration for Kania's invention. Instead of using plant material, Kania crafted islands from a buoyant polyester batting that's made from recycled carpet fibers. Kania has a number of inventions to his credit. While developing his concept of a man-made island, he consulted a number of engineers and scientists to see what would work and what wouldn't. The research could result in nearly two dozen patents. But Kania refuses to take all the credit. "It's not just me," he said. "We're a think tank. A lot of people have contributed to the success of this company." Several ponds in Kania's back yard act as a testing lab for floating islands. The buoyant structures, teeming with plants like cattails, watercress, monkey flower and willow, are thriving artificial wetlands. They act as floating filters that draw nitrogen, phosphorous and other pollutants from water. The floating structure allows native plants to take root. As the plants grow and tiny microbes cling to the island, they draw excess nutrients out of the water. The plant roots provide a vast surface area to remove pollutants. Although the man-made island is designed to mimic nature, it's much more efficient. For example, a 250- square- foot manmade island has the same filtering capability as an acre of natural wetland, Kania said. Under a $300,000 study from the Montana Board of Research and Commercialization, the company demonstrated that its floating islands effectively remove nitrogen, phosphorous and ammonia — all pollutants related to human activity — from water. And cleaner water leads to diversity of species, he said. Kania says research confirms that the floating island technology represents a cost effective strategy for treating some of the world's most vexing pollution problems. For example, the city of Helena estimates that it would cost $55 million using conventional technology to solve its wastewater problems. "Using our technology, we can get the job done for about $4.5 million," he said. RESOLUTION NO. 371-11 LOWER BEE BRANCH CREEK FLOATING ISLAND PROJECT PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST; SETTING DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST; AND ORDERING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA: The proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project, in the estimated amount of $198,495.00, are hereby preliminarily approved and ordered filed in the office of the City Clerk for public inspection. A public hearing will be held on the 5th day of December, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. in the Historic Federal Building Council Chambers at which time interested persons may appear and be heard for or against the proposed plans and specifications, form of contract and estimated cost of said Project, and the City Clerk be and is hereby directed to cause the attached notice of the time and place of such hearing to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the City of Dubuque, Iowa, which notice shall be published not less than four, days nor more than twenty days prior to the date of such hearing. At the hearing, any interested person may appear and file objections to the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract, or estimated cost of the Project. The Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project is hereby ordered to be advertised for bids for construction. The amount of the security to accompany each bid shall be in an amount which shall conform to the provisions of the Notice to Bidders hereby approved. The City Clerk is hereby directed to advertise for bids for the construction of the improvements herein provided, by publishing the attached Notice to Bidders to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the City of Dubuque, Iowa, which notice shall be published not less than four but not more than forty -five days before the date for filing bids before 2:00 p.m. on the 8th day of December, 2011. Bids shall be opened and read by the City Clerk at said time and will be submitted to the City Council for final action, at 6:30 p.m., in the Historic Federal Building Council Chambers (second floor), 350 West 6th Street, Dubuque, Iowa, on the 19th day of December, 2011. Passed, approved and adopted this 7th day of November, 2011 Attest: KFirnstahl, City Clerk Roy D. Buol, Mayor NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THE LOWER BEE BRANCH CREEK FLOATING ISLAND PROJECT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: The City Council of the City of Dubuque, Iowa will hold a public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost for the Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 26, Code of Iowa, at 6:30 p.m., on the 5th day of December, 2011, in the Historic Federal Building Council Chambers (second floor), 350 West 6th Street, 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: Project consists of the construction of a roughly 60 -foot by 80 -foot irregularly shaped floating island (bio island) with plantings. Contractor shall assemble, plant, launch, and anchor the bio island. Any visual or hearing- impaired persons needing special assistance or persons with special accessibility needs should contact the City Clerk's office at (563) 589 -4120 or TDD at (563) 690 -6678 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Published by order of the City Council given on the day of 2011. Kevin S. Firnstahl, City Clerk NOTICE TO BIDDERS CITY OF DUBUQUE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT LOWER BEE BRANCH CREEK FLOATING ISLAND PROJECT Time and Place for Filing Sealed Proposals. Sealed bids for the work comprising each improvement as stated below must be filed before 2:00 p.m. on December 8, 2011, in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall - First Floor, 50 West 13th Street, Dubuque, Iowa. Time and Place Sealed Proposals Will be Opened and Considered. Sealed proposals will be opened and bids tabulated at 2:00 p.m. on December 8, 2011, at City Hall - Conference Room A, 50 West 13th Street, Dubuque, Iowa, for consideration by the City Council (Council) on December 19, 2011. The City of Dubuque, Iowa, reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Time for Commencement and Completion of Work. Work on each improvement shall be commenced within 10 days after the Notice to Proceed has been issued and shall be completed by May 4, 2012. Bid Security. Each bidder shall accompany its bid with a bid security as security that the successful bidder will enter into a contract for the work bid upon and will furnish after the award of contract a corporate surety bond, acceptable to the governmental entity, for the faithful performance of the contract, in an amount equal to one hundred percent of the amount of the contract. The bid security shall be in the amount of ten percent (10 %) of the amount of the contract and shall be in the form of a cashier's check or certified check drawn on a state - chartered or federally chartered bank, or a certified share draft drawn on a state - chartered or federally chartered credit union, or the governmental entity may provide for a bidder's bond with corporate surety satisfactory to the governmental entity. The bid bond shall contain no conditions excepted as provided in this section. Contract Documents. Copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained at the City of Dubuque Engineering Department, 50 W. 13th Street, Dubuque, IA 52001, 563 - 589 -4270. There is no plan deposit. Preference for Iowa Products and Labor. By virtue of statutory authority, preference will be given to products and provisions grown and coal produced within the State of Iowa, and to Iowa domestic labor, to the extent lawfully required under Iowa statutes. Sales Tax. The bidder should not include sales tax in its bid. A sales tax exemption certificate will be available for all material purchased for incorporation in the project. General Nature of Public Improvement. Lower Bee Branch Creek Floating Island Project C I P: 72101654 Project consists of the construction of a roughly 60 -foot by 80 -foot irregularly shaped floating island (bio island) with plantings. Contractor shall assemble, plant, launch, and anchor the bio island. Pre -Bid Construction Conference. No Pre -Bid Conference is planned. Published in the Telegraph Herald, November 11, 2011.