TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 5, 2012
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to negotiate an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Elmwood Park concerning Lower Des Plaines River Detailed Watershed Plan Project GTCR-1
Body
Dear Sir:
The Village of Elmwood Park (Village) approached the District to explore various possibilities to allow for the construction of Project GTCR-1 of the Lower Des Plaines River Detailed Watershed Plan (DWP). As originally contemplated, the DWP project included a floodwall and large pump station with a Benefit-to-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 0.33 based on a benefit of $5,170,087.00 at a cost of $15,486,491.00.
Subsequent to completion of the DWP, the Village revised the project to include stormwater storage, which allowed for a smaller pump station than originally contemplated in the DWP. During development of the DWP, the Village indicated a stormwater storage facility could not be constructed at the Oak Park Country Club (OPCC) based on conversations between the Village and OPCC; therefore the DWP project did not include a stormwater storage component. However, since development of the DWP, the Village and OPCC have reached an accord that will allow for stormwater storage to be provided at OPCC. Attached for your reference is a site plan showing the project's location and components. The Village has indicated a willingness to handle maintenance and operations (M&O) of the revised project. The cost of M&O was included in the DWP cost estimate. As reconfigured, the project provides the same benefits, which includes the removal of 50 structures from the 100-year inundation area, as the DWP project. The project's conceptual level cost decreases to $8,750,995.00 when accounting for the smaller pump station and the Village assuming M&O responsibilities. Considering these factors, the revised project's BCR becomes 0.59.
While the revised BCR is not ideal as the costs still exceed the benefits, the Village has indicated it will fund any costs above the project's benefits, meaning the BCR to the District would effectively be 1.0. The Village is also willing to design and provide construction oversight of the project. We are amenable to this approach provided the District is given sufficient opportunity to review and comment on the plans and specifications at various interludes.
It is recommended authority be granted by the Board of Commissioner to commence negotiations with the Village for an Intergovernmental Agreement to include provisions allowing for the District to fund the project up to its benefits ($5,170,087.00) and requiring the Village to award the construction contract in conformance with the District's Purchasing Act, the Village to assume perpetual M&O responsibilities, and the Village to design and provide construction oversight of the project.
Requested, Kenneth A. Kits, Director of Engineering, WSS:JPM
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Debra Shore, 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 April 5, 2012
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