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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. 6 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 7 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 9