Title
Resolution to Approve a CDBG Subrecipient Agreement with the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development for the Russell Street Improvements Project ($140,000.00) and to appropriate $140,000.00 from the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage Fund Balance (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to authorize an agreement with the
Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) for the Russell Street Improvements Project.
Russell Street is a 475-foot long gravel road extending from South Maple Road west and dead ending at South Maple Park. In the Fall of 2019, the Ann Arbor Housing Commission reached out to Engineering staff regarding concerns of stormwater runoff from Russell Street onto their Maple Meadows property at 800 South Maple. After investigating the issue, it was determined that the only way to adequately control the runoff in the long term would be to pave the street.
The City of Ann Arbor, as a member of the Washtenaw Urban County, receives an annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation determined by a formula that is applied to the Urban County’s overall grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Each year, an Annual Action Plan is prepared by OCED to outline the activities to be carried out using the HUD grant funds. The 2020 Annual Action Plan included a portion of Ann Arbor’s 2020 CDBG allocation to fund the Russell Street paving project; the Urban County Executive Committee approved the 2020 Annual Action Plan on May 6, 2020, and the County Board of Commissioners subsequently approved the Plan on June 3, 2020, after which OCED submitted the Plan to HUD.
After discussing implementation strategies with OCED, it was determined that the City Engineering Unit would undertake the design of the project and ultimately manage the construction, thus making the City a subrecipient of the HUD grant. The current agreement being proposed for approval is for the engineering design of the project only; the construction of the project will come in another phase under a separate agreement.
While project design will not begin until after the approval of this agreement, it is anticipated that the elements of the project will include paving the street, installation of curb and gutter to control stormwater runoff, installation of sidewalks on at least one side of the street, and stormwater improvements consistent with the City’s Green Streets Policy. The design phase of the project will also include a joint public engagement effort with the Housing Commission. Design work is expected to be completed in early 2022, and construction is anticipated in the summer of 2022.
The first time paving of a gravel street is normally paid for by the benefitting property owners through the implementation of a special assessment district. However, in this situation, the HUD grant is expected to cover the full cost of paving the road, therefore eliminating the need to specially assess the abutting property owners.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Funding for the design will be fronted by the Street, Millage, and Sidewalk Millage; however, will be reimbursed by the HUD grant funding on a quarterly basis. This project is included in the current Capital Improvements Plan as project TR-NS-22-01.
Staff
Prepared by: Nicholas Hutchinson, P.E., City Engineer
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Russell Street requires paving and installation of curb and gutter to adequately control stormwater runoff;
Whereas, The Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) 2020 Annual Action Plan included a portion of Ann Arbor’s 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation to fund the Russell Street paving project;
Whereas, The engineering design will take into account the City’s Complete Streets and Green Streets policies;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor will undertake the design and management of the project, thus making the City a subrecipient to the grant;
Whereas, A CDBG sub-recipient agreement with OCED is required to utilize the grant funds and lay out the terms of the relationship between the two parties; and
Whereas, The cost of the engineering design effort will be reimbursed by the grant;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the attached CDBG sub-recipient agreement with the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development for the Russell Street Improvements Project;
RESOLVED, That $140,000.00 from the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage Fund Balance be appropriated to the FY21 Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage Fund, thereby, increasing the Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Millage revenue and expenditure budgets accordingly;
RESOLVED, That the funds for the Project expenditure and revenue budgets be available without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute said agreement after approval as to form by the City Attorney and approval as to substance by the City Administrator; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution including execution of any amendments that do not exceed the amounts authorized herein.