Stormwater Mgmt Plan ProcessMEMORANDUM
March 1, 2002
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Stormwater Management Plan
On Thursday, February 28, I met with the Washington Neighborhood Council at
Comiskey Park, along with Public Works Director Mike Koch, Assistant City Engineer
Gus Psihoyos and Civil Engineer Deron Muehring, at their request, to discuss the
Stormwater Management Plan. Approximately 150 people attended the meeting. We
were informed by Washington Neighborhood Council President Dan Shireman that the
official position of the Washington Neighborhood Council was in opposition to the
construction of the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project. After the three and a half
hour meeting, it was apparent that all those attending were also in opposition to that
component of the plan.
Wayne Klostermann, President of the Northend Neighborhood Association, was in
attendance, and informed us that the Northend Neighborhood Association has also
taken an official position in opposition to the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project
component of the Stormwater Managemenf Plan.
While there were many issues identified and many questions raised which still need to
be responded to, I would say there were two general themes, First, there seems to be a
general belief that the problem that exists there related to stormwater management is
not as pervasive as originally thought. Many people said that May of 1999 was the first
time that they had any water problems, and the general consensus seemed to be that
the consultant's identification of up to 1,150 homes being at risk was a much greater
number than those that the neighborhood believes had a problem even in 1999.
Secondly, the group seemed to support all the other elements of the Stormwater
Management Plan including, it appeared, the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project
from the railroad tracks east to the 16th Street Detention Basin. However, they asked
that the City continue to pursue other alternatives to the Bee Branch Creek Restoration
Project from Comiskey Park east to the railroad tracks if, in fact, in the end it was
determined that the other elements of the Stormwater Management Plan did not provide
an acceptable level of protection.
March 1, 2002
Page 2
I would respectfully request that the Mayor and City Council consider taking the
following actions in relation to this project:
Accept the Long Range Planning Commission's recommendation to appoint a
chairperson to a task force to continue to explore the creation of the Stormwater
Utility to finance the Stormwater Management Plan,
Table the appointment of a chairperson for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration
Project.
Remove from the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Plan the budget related to the
construction of the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project from Comiskey Park
east to the railroad tracks, but leave the other elements of the Stormwater
Management Plan in the Fiscal Year 2003 budget.
Authorize staff to develop a process to survey and receive input from the
property owners and residents of the impacted area so that we have a greater
understanding of the scope of the problem.
Authorize staff to issue a Request for Proposals for an engineering firm to review
the study, as completed by HDR Engineering, and further examine potential
alternatives.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
CC:
Michael C. Van Milligen
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mike Koch, Public Works Director
Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
Proiect .Update
The Dubuque City Council is willing to commit a tremendous amount of public resources
to solving and/or reducing the stormwater problems in the north end of Dubuque.
While a conceptual Stormwater Management Plan has been approved, nothing is final
at this point.
The proposed City Budget (with creation of a Storrnwater Utility as a funding source)
includes enough money to do the following:
1. Carter Street Detention Basin ($875,000)
2. West 32nd Street detention basin improvements ($4,023,000)
3. In addition, there is $5 million available to build a portion of the Bee Branch
Creek Restoration Project or to match federal funds to build the entire project.
On February 27, the City completed the purchase of the property needed for element
#1, the Carter Street Detention Basin.
It would cost $7 million to build a
drainage way from the railroad tracks
near Dubuque Pack to the 16th Street
Detention Basin. (Thereby eliminating
the railroad berm acting as a dam and
keeping the stormwater trapped in the
north end.)
Currently, there are no funds to build the
$10 million Bee Branch Creek
Restoration Project from 24th Street to
the railroad tracks behind Eagle Foods.
This means that 650 of the original
1,150 homes and businesses are still at
risk of flooding if all the phases are built,
except this one.
While the City Council has approved the conceptual Stormwater Management Plan,
they have not approved any property acquisitions (other than the property mentioned
above), project designs, or construction plans. The Council's intention is to listen to
public input about the need and appropriateness of the different elements before
moving forward.
Planning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Sflceet
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4210 office
(563) 589-4221 fax
planning@cityofdubuque.org
February 25,2002
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Dubuque
City Hall - 50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Re: Stormwater Management: Community Planning Processes
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
The City of Dubuque's Long Range Planning Advisory Commission reviewed
information presented by City staff regarding the proposed community planning
processes for stormwater management. The staff reports and related information are
attached for your review.
Discussion
Staff presented the Stormwater Management Plan and summarized the proposed
community planning processes for Stormwater Management.
The Long Range Planning Advisory Commission reviewed and discussed the
Stormwater Management Plan and proposed community planning processes. Staff
discussed the timeframe and estimated time commitment for the Chairpersons of the
Bee Branch Corridor Study citizen input group and the stormwater utility citizen input
group.
Recommendation
By a vote of 6 to 0, the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission recommends that
the Council appoint Commissioner Charles Winterwood as the Chairperson for the Bee
Branch Corridor Study citizen input group and Commissioner Mike Portzen to lead the
stormwater utility citizen input group.
A simple majority vote is needed for the City Council to approve the request,
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Lynn Neumeister, Chairperson
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
Attachment
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
February 14, 2002
TO:
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Stormwater Management: Community Planning Processes
The City Council has directed that the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission to
lead a two-fold .community planning effort for stormwater management that will
implement the Drainage Basin Master Plan adopted in December, 2001,
The Drainage Basin Master Plan is summarized in the enclosed December 13, 2001
memo from the City Manager to the City Council. Engineering staff will make a
presentation at the Commission's February 20 meeting to outline the Commission's
anticipated role in the Bee Branch Creek Corddor Study, and the process of
establishing the stormwater utility.
Please review the enclosed memos regarding the recommended community planning
processes for the Bee Branch Creek Corridor Study and the stormwater utility.
The Commission will be asked to select representatives to lead each of these efforts as
the Chairperson of a citzen input group at the February 20 meeting.
Enclosures
CC
Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
Deron Muerhing, Civil Engineer
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
February 14. 2002
TO:
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
FROM:
Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
SUBJECT: Formation of the Stormwater Utility: Community Planning Process
INTRODUCTION
VVith the City Council's adoption of the Drainage Basin Master Plan on December 17.
2001, the Engineering Division was authorized to prepare an RFP to select a consulting
firm to help establish a stormwater utility for the City of Dubuque.
n addition, the City Council has assigned the Long Range Planning Advisory
Commission to lead a community planning effort to implement the Drainage Basin
Master Plan, working to mitigate any impacts on individuals and neighborhoods, and
providing input on the formation of a Stormwater Management Utility to finance the
implementation of the plan. Specifically the City Council directed the Long Range
Planning Advisory Commission to form a Citizen Advisory group to participate in the
process of establishing the stormwater utility.
DISCUSSION
This memo describes a recommended community planning process to establish a storm
water utility. A proposed process is attached, based on input from stormwater
consultants.
Stormwater Utility
Page 2
RFP (Request for Proposals) Committee
We propose hiring a consultant to assist City staff and a citizen committee with the
formation of a stormwater utility. The RFP Committee would develop and distribute an
RFP, review submitted proposals, interview firms, and then recommend a consultant.
The selected consultant would facilitate meetings, provide technical expertise, and help
us finalize the community planning process.
The RFP Committee will consist of the following City staff members:
1. Gus Psihoyos
2. Deron Muehdng
3. Ken TeKippe
4. Bob Green
5. Kyle Kritz
6. Susan Gwiasda
7. Pauline Joyce
8. Bill Baum
9. David Harris
Engineering
Ehgineering
Finance
Water
Planning Services
Public Information Officer
Administrative Services
Economic Development
Housing & Community Development
Technical Committee
The Technical Committee will go through many of the same steps as the Citizen
Advisory Committee. This committee will have additional tasks to perform; i.e., data
collection utility billing and other technical aspects that need to be evaluated.
The Technical Committee will consist of the same members as the RFP Committee,
with the following additions:
1. Engineering Assistant (TBD) Engineering
2. Dawn Lang Finance
3. Marge Schemmel Utility Billing
Citizen Advisory Committee
The Citizen Advisory Committee, working with the project consultant and the Technical
Committee will review stormwater needs and costs, draft a stormwater utility ordinance,
take public input, and present their recommendation to City Council. Their tasks are
outlined in the attached process.
We recommend the following groups and individuals be invited to participate as
members of the Citizen Advisory Committee:
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Representative Long-Range Planning Advisory Commission
Representative Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission
Representative Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Representative Dubuque Main Street Ltd.
Representative Community Development Block Grant Advisory Commission
Representative Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
Representative Bluff Street Neighborhood Association
Stormwater Utility
Page 3
8. Representative
9. Representative
10. Representative
11. Representative
12. Representative
13. Representative
14. Representative
15. Representative
16. Representative
17. Representative
18. Representative
19. Representative
20. Representative
21. Representative
22. Representative
23. Representative
24. Merlin Langkamp
25. Greg Cigrand
Downtown Neighborhood Association
Histodc Bluffs Neighborhood Association
North End Neighborhood Association
Washington Neighborhood Council
Valley View Neighborhood Association
Holy Family Schools
Dubuque Area Congregations United
West Side Business Association
Dubuque Community School Distdct
Tri-Colleges
Developer's Roundtable
Dubuque Homebuilders Association
Dubuque Board of Realtors
Landlord Association
Mercy Hospital or Finley Hospital
Flexsteel Industries, Inc.
Impacted resident
Impacted resident
ACTION REQUESTED
We request that the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission rewew the proposed
community planning process, suggest any changes, and then select a representative to
serve as the Chairperson of the Citizen Advisory Committee,
Attachment
PROPOSED COMMUNITY PLANNING PROCESS FOR FORMATION OF A
STORM WATER UTILITY
· Retain a consultant - Spring 2002
II. Form Technical Committee and a Citizen Advisory Committee - Spring
2002
III. Technical Committee and Citizen Advisory Committee Objectives -
Spring 2002
A. Assess Stormwater Needs - Spring 2002
1. Review Drainage Basin Master Plan
2. Review Stormwater Detention/Management
3. Discuss Costs and Funding Options
4. Hold Public Meeting on Stormwater Needs
B. F~eview Formation of A Stormwater Utility- Summer 2002
1. Establish Recommended Policies
2. Establish Recommended Rate Structure
3. Establish Recommended Stormwater Utility Ordinance
C. Recommend Stormwater Utility Ordinance - Fall 2002
1. Hold Public Meeting on Proposed Ordinance
2. Revise Recommendation as needed
3. Present to City Council
D. Issue Bonds - Late 2002
E. Begin Billing - January 2003
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
February 14, 2002
TO:
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
FROM:
Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
SUBJECT: Bee Branch Creek Corridor Study: Community Planning Process
INTRODUCTION
With the City Council's adoption of the Drainage Basin Master Plan on December 17.
2001, the Engineering Division was authorized to prepare an RFP to select a consulting
firm to perform a corridor study and establish the likely location of the restored Bee
Branch Creek.
The City Council has assigned the Long Range Planding Advisory Commission to lead
a commuqity planning effort to implement the Drainage Basin Master Plan, working to
mitigate any impacts on individuals and neighborhoods, and providing input on the Bee
Branch Creek Corridor Study. Specifically the City Council directed the Long Range
Planning Advisory Commission to form a citizen advisory group to participate in the
process of establishing the likely Bee Branch Creek alignment.
DISCUSSION
This memo describes a recommended community planning process for the Bee Branch
Creek Corridor Study, based on similar experience with transportation corridor studies.
RFP (Request for Proposals) Committee
We propose hiring a consultant to assist City staff and a citizen committee with the Bee
Branch Creek Corridor Study and the community planning process for establishing the
likely Bee Branch Creek alignment. The RFP Committee would develop and distribute
an RFP, review submitted proposals, interview firms, and then recommend a consultant.
The selected consultant would help us finalize the community planning process,
facilitate meetings, conduct the comdor study, provide technical expertise, and prepare
Bee Branch Corridor Study
Page 2
and distribute a project newsletter. Since federal funding is anticipated for this project,
the consultant also would prepare the required environmental documentation and get
approvals from various government agencies.
The RFP committee will consist of ;~he following City staff members:
1. Cindy Steinhauser
2. Susan Gwiasda
3. Jerelyn O'Connor
4. Gus Psihoyos
5. Deron Muehring
6. Ken TeKippe
7. David Harris
8. Laura Carstens
9. Bill Baum
Assistant City Manager
Public Information Office
Neighborhood Development Specialist
Engineering
Engineering
Finance
Housing & Community Development
Planning Services
Economic Development
Community Planning Process
The main goals of the Corridor Study are twofold. The first goal includes identifying
feasible concepts to manage storm water along the Bee Branch Creek Corridor. The
second goal is to determine a preferred concept through public input, comparative
analysis, and refinement.
A comprehensive public involvement process ~s proposed for the corridor study. The
process includes formation of a Community Advisory Group, which would consist of up
to 20 individuals representing business, institutional, and neighborhood interests in the
study corridor. Input from the Community Advisory Group through workshop type
meetings would be an important part of the corridor study. At least three meetings with
the consultant and Community Advisory Group are anticipated. The first meeting would
introduce the project and seek input before project concepts have been developed
significantly. Additional meetings would be planned through the concept development
process to review concepts and seek additional input.
In addition to the Community Advisory Group, public information meetings would be
held during the corddor study. A series of newsletters also would be provided to
interested parties throughout the study.
The Community Advisory Group would meet at key project milestones, generally
coinciding with upcoming public meetings. The Study Team and consultant would use
the Community Advisory Group to offer nsights on areas of concern from a local
perspective and a neighborhood perspective, as well as provide reaction to the
information developed by the Study Team and the consultant. Specifically, we would
like the Community Advisory Group to identify elements of the alternative concepts that
the public is likely to support or are likely to have problems with, as well as the reasons
for these positions.
Bee Branch CorddorStudy
Page 3
Study Team
The Study Team will go through many of the same steps as the Community Advisory
Group. This committee also would be involved in the more technical aspects of the
corridor that need to be evaluated. The Study Team would meet more often with the
consultant than the Community Advisory Group.
The Study Team would consist of the same members as the RFP Committee, with the
following additions:
1. Engineering Assistant [TBD)
2. Joleen Patterson
Engineering
Housing & Community Development
Community Advisory Group
We recommend the following groups and
members of the Community Advisory Group:
individuals
be invited to participate as
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20,
21.
Re )resentative
Re )resentative
Re )resentative
Re )resentafive
Re )resentative
Re 3resentative
Re 3resentative
Re 3resentative
Re )resentative
Re )resentative
Re )resentative
Re )resentative
Re )resentative
Re )resentative
Re )resentative
Re ~resentative
Re 3resentative
Re 3resentative
Citizen
Citizen
Citizen
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Landlord Association
Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission
Housing Commission
Community Development Block Grant Advisory Commission
North End Neighborhood Association
Washington Neighborhood Association
Dubuque Area Board of Realtors
Holy Trinity & Holy Family Schools (Sacred Heart)
Dubuque Community Schools (Audubon)
Eagle Discount Supermarkets (Property Owner)
Perfection Oil Company (Proper~ Owner)
Wholesale Carpets (Property Owner)
I&M RailLink (Property Owner)
Blum Properties (Property Owner)
Junnie's & Rich's Coins (Property Owner)
Hardee's Restaurants (Property Owner)
Elm Street Area (Property Owner)
Prince Street Area (Property Owner)
Kniest Street Area (Property Owner)
ACTION REQUESTED
We request that the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission review the proposed
community planning process, suggest any changes, and then select a representative to
serve as Chairperson of the Community Advisory Group.
MEMORANDUM'
December 13, 2001
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Mi[ligen, City Manager
Stormwater Management Plan
In 1996, the City of Dubuque, through the Capital Improvement Project Budget,
committed to developing a City-wide Stormwater Management Plan. The need for the
plan arose from a growing number of citizen complaints related to stormwater m~ off and
that need was intensified with the significant amount of damage to hundreds of homes
in a major rainstorm in May 1999. Increasing public safety and reducing property
damage are the primary goals of the Stormwater Management Plan.
HDR Engineering, Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska was the selected consulting engineering
firm to produce Dubuque's Stormwater Management Plan. The Stormwater
Management Plan consists of four elements:
A Drainage Basin Master Plan that addresses flooding problems and issues in
specific watershed basins;
A Stormwater Drainage Criteria Manual that guides development to prevent new
drainage p~oblems and reduce pollution associated with stormwater runoff'
A set of ordinances and policies that specifically address stormwater runoff
issues; and
A skeleton National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Phase I1 permit
application to be refined by City staff.
To achieve the primary objective of increasing public safety and reducing property
damage related to stormwater runoff, the following steps were followed:
Determine the capacity of the existing drainage system for the 10-, 50-, 100- and
500-year return period storm events under future drainage basin characteristics;
Develop hydrologic and hydraulic models using aerial topographic system
mapping using the Dubuque Area Geographical Information System (DAGIS) for
major drainage segments within each watershed;
Identify areas where public safety is comprised and property damage occurs due
to stormwater runoff; and
Identify funding sources that might be available to construct the recommended
drainage improvements identified by the Basin Master Plan.
Assistant City Engineer Gus Psihoyos and Civil Engineer Deron Muehring are
recommending adoption of the Drainage Basin Master Plan, as previously presented to
the Mayor and City Council in a public Work Session, and subsequently presented to
interested parties. The Plan recommends $24.1 million in construction projects for
improvements that will remove over 1,200 homes and businesses from risk of flood
damage from heavy rainfall events. The improvements include:
1. North Fork Catfish 'Creek Basin improvements - $2,135,300
2. West 32"d Street Sub-basin improvements - $4,898,000
3. Bee Branch Creek restoration - $17,1.00,000
The recommended modifications to the Northwest Arterial Detention Basin have been
previously approved and were implemented this fiscal year.
The most significant cost item in [his recommendation is the $17.1 million for the Bee
Branch Creek Restoration Project. The creation of an open channel, beginning at 24th
and Elm Streets, and extending to the 16th Street Detention Basin, would eliminate the
dsk of flood damage to 970 homes and businesses. The cost of the channel includes
the purchase of approximately 70 homes and businesses.
Historically, the Bee Branch Creek meandered through the north end. Over the years
the creek was lined by limestone, eventually covered, and transformed into the existing
Bee Branch Storm Sewer. The proposed channel is, in reality, the restoration of the
Bee Branch Creek. W'rth a 76' bottom width, the channel would be designed with mildly
slopiflg lands~ped banks. It is anticipated that a 150' g teen corridor would be required
for the channel. The exact alignment of the channel is yet to be determined. Part of
this recommendation includes issuing a request for proposals for a corridor study to
establish the alignment of the Bee Branch Basir~ Flood Control Channel recommended
in this report.
An alternative to constructing this cha~nel was studied and it was determined that five
additional underground storm sewer systems, the size of the existing Bee Branch Storm
Sewer, which is 20' wide and 12' high at its largest point, would need to be constructed
at a cost exceeding $90 million. Therefore, this underground option is not being
recommended.
The City of Dubuque does not currently have the funding capacity to pay for these
improvements, totaling over $24 million. Therefore, through the City's Fiscal Year 2003
budgeting process, the Council will be receiving a recommendation to form a
stormwater utility to fund the stormwater activities of the City, and in addition, the City
will need to pursue federal funding in supper[ of these projects.
I concur with the recommendations and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
I further respectfully request that the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission be
assigned to lead a community planning effort to implement the-Stormwater
Management Plan, working to mitigate any impacts on individuals and neighborhoods,
and providing input on the formation of a Stormwater Management Utility to finance the
implementation of the plan. Part of the direction of the Long Ran'ge Planning Advisory
Commission would be to formulate a City Interest Group that will be comprised of
potentially-impacted property owners and businesses, as well as representatives from
such areas as neighborhood associations, the Environmental Stewardship Advisory
Commission, the Housing Commission, the Community Development Advisory
Commission, school, real estate, health officials, civic leaders and church organizations.
The key staff members I will be assigning to work with the commission are Planning
Services Manager Laura Carstens, Housing and Community Development Director
David Harris and Assistant City Engineer Gus Psihoyos.
Michael C. Van Milligen ~
MCVM/jh
Attachment
CC:
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Director
Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
Decemeer 11, 2001
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer
Deron Muehdng, Civil Engineer ~
Stormwater Management Plan
INTRODUCTION
The attached resolution provides for:
1)
2)
Adoption of the City of Dubuque Drainage Basin Master Plan (DBMP)
prepared by HDR Engineering, Inc.; and
Authorization to prepare a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a corddor
study to establish the alignment of the Bee Branch basin flood control
channel recommended in the DBMP.
BACKGROUND
In 1996, the City of Dubuque, through the Capital Improvement Project Budget,
committed to developing a City-wide Storrnwater Management Plan. The need
for the plan arose from a growing number of citizen complaints related to
stormwater runoff and the significant amount of damage to hundreds of homes in
a major rainstorm in May, 1999. Increasing public safety and red~cing property
damage are the pdmary goals of the Stormwater Management Plan.
In 1997, six consulting engineering firms formally submitted proposals to prepare
a plan for the City. After a second interview the team of engineers beaded by
HDR Engineering, Inc. of Omaha Nebraska was selected to produce Dubuque's
Stormwater Management Plan.
The Stormwater Management Plan consists of four elements:
A Drainage Basin Master Plan that addresses flooding problems
and issues in specific watershed basins;
A Stormwater Drainage Cdteria Manual that guides development to
prevent new drainage problems and reduce pollution associated
with stormwater runoff;
3. A set of ordir~ances and policies that specifically address
stormwater runoff issues; and
4. A skeleton NPDES Phase II permit application to be refined by City
Staff.
The accompanying document is the Drainage Basin Mater Plan, prepared by
HDR Engineering, for the Bee Branch and 'North Fork Catfish Creek watersheds
(see Figure 1). It should be emphasized that the Drainage Basin Master Plan
does not identify all areas within the City that experience poor drainage. In fact,
many drainage problems are of a localized nature. The City will continue to
investigate all drainage complaints on an individual basis, assess whether the
master plan addresses such issues, and assist property owners in any way
.possible to reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff. The remaining tasks will be
completed during the winter of 2001-2002.
DISCUSSION
A master plan is a plan for an entire watershed. When a modification is made to
a portion of a watershed's drainage pattern it usually effects, for better or worse,
the drainage of the entire watershed. The Drainage Basin Master Plan is
necessary to ensure that efforts to solve stormwater problems are efficient and
cost-effective and address the concerns of taxpayers and drainage system users.
To achieve the primary objective-increasing public safety and reducing property
damage related to stormwater runoff-the following steps were followed:
Determine the ca pacity of the existing drainage system for the 10-,
50-, 100- and 500-year return period storm events under future
drainage basin characteristics;
Develop hydrologic and hydraulic models using aerial topographic.
mapping using the 'Dubuque Area Geographical Information
System (DAGIS) for major drainage segments within each
watershed;
Identify areas where public safety is compromised and property
damage occurs due to stormwater runoff; and
Identify funding sources that might be available to construct the
recommended drainage improvements identified by the Basin
Master Plan.
North Fork Catfish Creek Basin Plan
Several problem areas were identified within the North Fork Catfish Creek
drainage system. Figures 3-14, 3-15, and 3-16 in the Drainage Basin Master
Plan outline the flooding extents under existing and proposed conditions. The
benefit of the recommended improvements (alternative 2) is reflected by the
proposed conditions. Outlined in Table 1 is the $2,135,300 worth of
improvements recommended, and the order in which they should be constructed.
Figure 1. Bee Branch and North Fork drainage basins within the City of Dubuque (corporate limits
~25 square miles)
Bee Branch Basin Master Plan
The problems that exist in the Bee Branch basin became evident to the City on
May 16, 1999. Reports throughout the City indicated that between two and a half
(2.5) and five (5) inches of rainfall occurred in a five hour period.
The Drainage Basin Master Plan identifies over 1,150 homes and businesses in
the Bee Branch basin that are in the 100-year flood plain, at risk of flood damage
(see Figure 2).
Outlined in Table 2 are the recommended improvements within the W. 32nd
Street drainage basin, a sub-basin of the Bee Branch drainage basin. The
reduction in flooding depths that result from the W. 32nd Street improvements are
3
shown in Figure 3; 185 of the 1,155 homes and businesses are no longer at risk,
however, approximately 970 remain at risk.
Table 1. Recommended North Fork Catfish Creek Improvements, listed in the recommended
order of construction,
Improvement Description Est. Cost
NCC Arterial Detention Basin Excavate basin to increase the storage 56% $587,300~
modifications to 81 Acre-feet
Penn/JFK CuNert Build concrete structural headwall $165,000
improvements
Channel modifications from Increase channel to 25-foot bottom width with $210,000
Keyway to 530 feet east 3(H):I(V) side slopes
Keyway culvert modification Remove existing culverts and construct 3- $332,000
10'x8' Reinforced concrete boxes
Increase channel to 25-feet bottqm width from
Channel modifications from KeyWay to Ellen and 10-foot from Ellen to $627,000
Keyway to Rosemont Rosemont with 3(H): I(V) side slopes the
entire length
Rosemont culvert modification Build an additional 6-foot culvert $81,000
Channel modifications from Increase channel to 10-foot bottom width with $133,000
Rosemont to the NW Arterial 3(H):I(V) side slopes
TOTAL $2,135,300
Funding for the modifications to the NW Arterial Detention Basin was approved by City
Council in a previous year's Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget. The basin will be
fully functional by March of 2002.
It would require five times the size of the existing storm sewer to eliminate the
dskto the remaining 970 homes and businesses. Commonly referred to as the
Bee Branch storm sewer, the existing storm sewer is 20 feet wide by 12 feet high
at its largest point. The cost of building five such storm sewers exceeds $93
million.
Table 2. Recommended W 32"a Street sub-basin improvements.
Est.
Improvement Description Cost
Upper Carter Detention Build an earthen berm to create 182 acre-feet of $875,000
Basin storage.
W.32"~ Street Deter{tion Purchase 15 homes surrounding the existing basin
and excavate within the basin to increase the $4,023,000
Basin available storage 100% to 94 ac~'e-feet.
TOTAL $4,898~000
4
Altematively, it was discovered that an open channel originating at 24th and Elm
Streets and extending to the 16th Street detention cell would eliminate the risk of
flood damage to the remaining 970 homes and businesses. Therefore, the
Drainage Basin Master Plan recommends the construction of the open channel.
The cost of the channel, which includes the purchasing of approximately 7'0
homes/businesses, is estimated at $17.1 million. Figure 4 shows the channel
extents.
5
Figure 3. Proiected floodin~ depths with W. 32nd Street sub-basin improvements.
Historically, the Bee Branch Creek meandered through the North End. Over the
years the creek was lined by limestone, eventually covered, and transformed into
the Bee Branch storm sewer that exists today. The proposed channel is in reality
the restoration of the Bee Branch Creek.
With a 76-foot bottom width, the channel would be designed with mildly sloping
landscaped banks. It is anticipated that a 150-foot green corridor would be
required for the channel. The exact alignment of the channel is yet to be
determined. Depending on the alignment, between 60 and 80 homes/businesses
could be impacted.
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Figure 4. Extents of the recommended flood control channel.
The recommended flood control channel would start at I
terminate at 24t" and Elm Streets (2).
: detention cell (1) and
In summary, the Drainage Basin Master Plan recommends $24.1 million in
construction projects. Once the recommended improvements are constructed,
over 1,200 homes and businesses will no longer be at dsk of flood damage from
heavy rainfall events.
Table 3. Drainage Basin Master Plan recommended improvements.
Description
I Estimated Cost
North Fork Catfish Creek Basin Improvements $2,135,300
W.32r~ Street Sub-Basin Improvements $4,898,000
Bee Branch Creek Restoration $17,100,000
TOTAL $24,133,300
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Channel Corridor Study
For the purpose of estimating the cost of building a channel from 24th Street and
Elm to the 16th Street detention cell, a preliminary alignment was arbitrarily sited.
That alignment would require the purchasing of approximately 65 homes and 6
businesses. The estimate includes $7.1 million to purchase these properties.
At numerous public forums, City staff has informed citizens that the exact
alignment of the channel has not been determined. As can be expected, the
uncertainty of the channel location has caused considerable anxiety in the North
End neighborhoods.
A corridor study would establish the homes and businesses that the City might
buy to clear the way for the construction of the flood control channel. The
process of purchasing the necessary properties could proceed more
economically if negotiations can be minimized: This can be accomplished if the
City can purchase the property on the open market, Subject to an appraisal
RECOMMENDATION '
I recommend that the City Council adopt the attached resolution which has the
following effect:
1)
2)
Adopting the City of Dubuque Drainage Basin Master Plan as prepared
by HDR Engineering, Inc.; and
Authorizing the preparation of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a
consulting engineering firm for the purpose of establishing the
alignment of the Bee Branch drainage channel described in the
Drainage Basin Master Plan.
BUDGET IMPACT
The costs associated with hiring a consulting firm for the channel corridor study
and a separate consulting firm to establish the stormwater utility will be presented
in the FY 2003 ClP budget.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
The City Council is requested to adopt the attached resolution that:
1)
2)
Adopts the City of Dubuque Drainage Basin Master Plan; and
Authorizes the preparation of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to for a
consulting engineering firm for the purpose of establishing the
alignment of the Bee Branch drainage channel described in the
Drainage Basin Master Plan.
Prepared by Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
Cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Council
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Engineer
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
Ken Tekippe, Finance Director
Mike Koch, Public Works Director
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