Title
Resolution to Petition the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner for the Willard Street Stormwater Management Control Measures in the Allen Creek Drainage District (Total Cost: $630,000.00; City's Apportionment: $601,020.00)
Memorandum
Attached for your approval is a resolution to petition the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner (WCWRC) to undertake a project to design and construct stormwater management control measures on Willard Street, between East University Avenue and South Forest Avenue. The proposed project will construct a porous road surface that will be reconstructed in the existing corridor with management of offsite storm flow coming from a pollutant separation unit. This area is an excellent opportunity for stormwater treatment in a highly visible urban setting.
The existing, 700-ft long portion of street would be replaced with a new porous surface allowing stormwater infiltration and nutrient removal from the first flush. These improvements will reduce the amount of stormwater entering the City's stormwater piping network and reduce contaminant loading to the downstream creeks and the Huron River. The proposed improvements will improve water quality and reduce localized flooding in the project areas.
Nearly 36% of the land draining to the Huron River and its tributaries is impervious, and as a result, stormwater frequently enters the river too quickly, causing localized and regional flooding during certain rain events. These rain events also carry pollutants from impervious areas to the creeks and ultimately the Huron River, reducing water quality. The City falls within the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) area of the Huron River for phosphorus and E. coli from storm water.
Since the project's focus is on water quality improvement, it is eligible for low-interest State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan funding. This project has been included by the State of Michigan on the Project Priority List (PPL) for SRF loan funding. This project, along with four others submitted by the WCWRC within the City, has been classified as a "green project," which may result in up to 50% loan forgiveness.
A formal petition from the City is required to move this project to construction. The Allen Creek Drainage District is an established Chapter 20 County Drain. Therefore, the work to implement control measures falls under the jurisdiction of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner. As an established drain, the costs of the project are assessed to the governmental entities within the drainage district area. The total cost of this project is estimated at $630,000.00. The cost has been approved for a low interest (2.5%) State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan. The City's apportionment of this drainage district is 95.4% of the district. Therefore, the City's share will be $601,020.00, and the opportunity for loan forgiveness could reduce this share by an additional 50%.
Willard Street resurfacing was planned as part of our annual resurfacing project; therefore, that portion of the project costs (50%) will be funded via the Street Millage and will be paid at the time of construction. The remaining 50% of the project, which relates to the Stormwater benefit will be assessed to the City over a maximum of 20 years for this project. The City will not have to expend the full cost of the stormwater apportionment at the time of construction. Rather, the reimbursement of the Water Resources Commissioner will be paid over the financing period, with installments not to exceed $19,110.00 per year. The first payment is included in the proposed Storm Water Fund operations and maintenance budget for FY13 and subsequent payments will be included in the annual stormwater budget submittals. The resolution authorizes the annual payment to the County for this project from the Storm Water Fund (Fund 0069) pending annual budget approvals by Council.
Staff
Prepared by: Jennifer Lawson, Water Quality Manager
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, P.E., Interim Public Services Administrator
Approved by: Steven D. Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, There is a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for phosphorus and E. coli reduction within the Huron River;
Whereas, The Allen Creek Drainage District is within the area covered by the phosphorus and E. coli TMDLs;
Whereas, The City Council intends to file with the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner a petition to clean out, relocate, widen, deepen, straighten, extend, tile, interconnect, or otherwise improve the Allen Creek Drainage District pursuant to Section 482 of Chapter 20 of the Drain Code of 1956 (MCL 280.482);
Whereas, It is the desire of the City Council to have the Mayor and Clerk sign and file the necessary petition with the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner; and
Whereas, A suggested form of such petition is now presented to the City Council;
RESOLVED, The City Council hereby determines to proceed with the proposed drain project for the Allen Creek Drainage District as more fully described in the petition attached hereto as Attachment 1;
RESOLVED, The Mayor and Clerk be hereby authorized and directed to execute such petition for and on behalf of the City and to file the same with the Water Resources Commissioner of the County of Washtenaw;
RESOLVED, The City Council hereby consents to the location of the proposed clean out, relocation, widening, deepening, straightening, extending, tiling, interconnecting or otherwise improving the Allen Creek Drainage District within the limits of the City and the assessment of a portion of the cost of such improvements, so located, against the City; and
RESOLVED, That the stormwater assessment (approximately $300,510.00, plus interest) will be paid in twenty annual installments not to exceed $19,110.00/annum from the Operating Budget of the Stormwater Fund (Fund 0069), beginning in FY13.