TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 2, 2014
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to execute a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for work provided or performed prior to execution of a project partnership agreement for the Upper Des Plaines River and Tributaries Multipurpose Project
Body
Dear Sir:
Authority is requested to execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) for work provided or performed prior to execution of a project partnership agreement for the Upper Des Plaines River and Tributaries Multipurpose Project.
The Corps' Upper Des Plaines River and Tributaries Multipurpose Project will reduce flood risk in the communities across the Upper Des Plaines River watershed as well as restore the ecosystem in the area. The Corps is currently working towards finalizing its report for the project and seeking approval to make it eligible for federal funding. However, since the District may be proceeding ahead of the Corps' approval on various projects identified in their report, the Corps has prepared the MOU in order to allow for the possibility of future crediting of the District's design costs towards the local funding match required for federally funded projects. The terms of the MOU require the District to keep books, records, documents, and other evidence pertaining to costs and expenses for this work and to make such records available for review by the Corps. The MOU also subjects any future design work to a Corps compliance review for engineering, real estate, and environmental factors as they pertain to applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies. Though the MOU makes no guarantee of eventual acceptance by the Corps for cost sharing purposes, the intent is to ensure the framework for such an arrangement is in place at the time of performance of the work.
Based on the foregoing, the Engineering Department recommends that the District be authorized to execute a memorandum of understanding with the Corps for work provided or performed prior to execution of a project partnership agreement for the Upper Des Plaines River and Tributaries Multipurpose Project, and that the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, the Executive Director, and the Clerk be authorized to execute said memorandum of understanding on behalf of the District, upon approval by the Director of the Engineering as to technical matters and by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Catherine A. O'Connor, Director of Engineering, WSS:JPM
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Michael A. Alvarez, Chairman Committee on Stormwater Management
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for October 2, 2014