TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 29, 2013
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to negotiate and enter into intergovernmental agreements with the City of Chicago for the design and construction of a Flood Control Project for Albany Park, with payment to the City of Chicago not to exceed $25,920,000.00 (As Revised)
Body
Dear Sir:
The Board of Commissioners authorized the District to enter into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Chicago (City) to study a flood control project for Albany Park on December 6, 2012. In the North Branch of the Chicago River Detailed Watershed Plan, the District identified a project consisting of a floodwall along the North Branch of the Chicago River at the City's Albany Park neighborhood to address overbank flooding. The City preferred a more costly alternative, a diversion tunnel, and expressed the potential ability to contribute funding towards that alternative provided there were further study as to the tunnel's approximate cost and technical feasibility. The District and the City subsequently entered into an IGA for this study with both parties contributing equally to its $250,000.00 cost.
The City's consultant has completed the study, confirming that the diversion tunnel is the City's preferred alternative, and estimating the construction cost at $47,200,000. Authority is now requested to negotiate and enter into IGAs with the City for the design and construction of the project, with the total contribution from the District not to exceed $25,920,000.00. The City will retain and direct a consultant for the design of the project, with payment split equally between the City and the District. The District will have the authority to review and comment on the design plans and specifications. The City will subsequently award the contract for construction, with contributions toward the construction cost made by the District at various intervals, up to a total contribution of $25,920,000.00, including the funds expended on the design. The IGA will require the City to assume responsibility for perpetual maintenance and operation of the facility.
Based on the foregoing, the Engineering Department recommends that the District be authorized to negotiate and to enter into IGAs with the City and make payment to the City up to $25,920,000.00 for the design and construction of the Albany Park Flood Control Project, and that the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, the Executive Director and the Clerk be authorized to execute said IGAs on behalf of the District, upon approval by the Directors of Engineering, Maintenance & Operations, and Monitoring & Research as to technical matters and by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Funds for the 2014, 2015, and 2016 expenditures are contingent on the Board of Commissioners' approval of the District's budget for those years.
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 August 29, 2013