TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MARCH 20, 2025
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Report on Conceptual Stormwater Project Submittals
Body
Dear Sir:
Between September 2024 and January 2025, the District solicited conceptual stormwater project proposals from municipalities, townships, and other governmental agencies for assistance through the District’s Stormwater Management program.
The Conceptual Project application is intended for communities that have stormwater problems affecting homes and businesses but lack the resources to investigate potential solutions. These projects could be submitted to the District for technical assistance in the form of preliminary engineering. For selected projects, the District would investigate the flooding issue, identify potential alternatives, and work with the community to develop a solution.
As is standard for stormwater project partnership opportunities, the District solicited pre-applications for Conceptual Projects. The pre-application process consisted of questions about the applicant’s flooding problem and provided an opportunity to conduct pre-application meetings with the District to obtain feedback for consideration when submitting final applications.
The full application process provided applicants the opportunity to confirm and expand upon their pre-application responses, present any technical analysis, and attach supporting documentation. The pre-application responses accompanied the full application to make a complete submission.
After the applications were posted on the District’s website, regular notifications along with a webinar video outlining the District’s Stormwater Management programs and detailing instructions on how to apply were sent to chief elected officials in each jurisdiction, as well as other agencies and government organization officials, The informational webinar was also presented at Watershed Planning Council meetings hosted by the District to explain the Stormwater Partnership programs and application process. Additional outreach was performed by the Environmental Justice Section to Disproportionately Impacted Area communities. As a result of this solicitation, the District received three pre-applications and associated full applications for Conceptual Projects, with one of these from a Disproportionately Impacted Area community.
The Engineering Department reviewed each Conceptual Project application and prioritized the eligible projects based on factors including: the frequency and extent of flooding, number of impacted structures, scope of assistance needed, community capacity, partnership history, potential for stormwater detention to be provided as part of a developed solution, whether it’s in a separate or combined sewer area, and the median income of the community. Attached to this report is a table summarizing the prioritization of the project applications received along with an exhibit depicting their locations.
Based upon the attached prioritization of the projects and current available resources, the Engineering Department will provide assistance on all three projects listed and will notify each of the applicants of the outcome of our selection. After these projects have been advanced to conceptual stages with input from the applicants and local stakeholders, and a preferred solution has been identified to address their respective problems, additional authorization from the Board of Commissioners will be sought to advance the projects resulting from this work toward final engineering and to negotiate and enter into Intergovernmental Agreements with the appropriate parties.
Requested, Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, KMF:JK
Recommended, Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for March 20, 2025
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