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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Mark Phipps, Engineering Coordinator
DATE: November 2, 2020
SUBJECT:
Resolution to award a contract to HR Green, Inc. in the amount of $176,350.00 for final engineering and construction observation for the Mastodon Lake Dredging and Shoreline Restoration project. (Ward 3)
PURPOSE:
To improve water quality in Mastodon Lake, improve shoreline aesthetics, and make the shoreline less susceptible to erosion.
BACKGROUND:
Mastodon Lake was excavated in the 1930s during the construction of Phillips Park. Over the years, sediment and decaying organic matter have accumulated at the bottom of the Lake to an average depth of nearly 2 feet. The average water depth throughout the Lake is now only 2.5 feet. Such a shallow aquatic system is susceptible to warming, excessive nutrients, and becoming overrun with algae and other aquatic vegetation. These conditions are unsightly and limit recreational opportunities, such as boating and fishing. Representative photographs of the Lake during summer months are attached as Exhibit A. Within the past few years, the City has used an herbicide to control the growth of aquatic vegetation and has vacuumed the sediment near the intake for the Phillips Park Golf Course's irrigation system, but these are not long-term solutions to the problem.
HR Green, Inc. completed a Stormwater Master Plan for Mastodon Lake in early 2020. In order to improve the health of the Lake, the Plan recommends dredging, improving water circulation, and restoration of the shoreline.
Before selecting HR Green to work on the Stormwater Master Plan for Mastodon Lake, the City issued a Request for Qualifications to over 200 vendors in our Professional Services category. Statements of Qualifications were received from eleven (11) firms. A three (3) person panel from the Engineering Division rated HR Green as the most qualified firm for the Stormwater Master Plan project.
DISCUSSION:
Having recently completed the Stormwater Master Plan for Mastodon Lake, including a detailed analysis of dredging alternatives and a conceptual plan for the shoreline restoration, HR Green is uniquely qualified for this project. The conceptual plan for shoreline restoration is included as Exhibit B. The scope of services for this project includes: preparing final engineering plans for bidding, obtaining necessary permits, and construction observation.
HR Green’s proposal is included as Exhibit C. Project B049 account 280-1852-512.81-90 in the Stormwater Management Fee Fund has a remaining balance of $3,500,000. The construction cost of the proposed dredging, circulation improvements, and shoreline stabilization is estimated to be $2,800,000.
A separate project involving changes to the regulatory floodplain map for Mastodon Lake is also proposed at this time. Both projects were recommended in the Stormwater Master Plan for Mastodon Lake and they could be completed independent from one another; however, there are decided advantages to the City working on these projects simultaneously. The modeling involved in the LOMR project may prove that lowering the Lake’s normal water level slightly would remove more residences and businesses from the floodplain. The Lake’s outlet could be modified to lower the normal water level as part of the dredging project. This would allow a portion of the dredging project to be paid for using funds already collected by the City as a fee-in-lieu of stormwater detention.
Another benefit of starting the final engineering for the dredging and shoreline restoration project now is that it keeps the door open for a potential $550,000 grant from the IEPA. The City submitted an application for Section 319 funding for this project in August. Grant award announcements are expected in February 2021. If this project is awarded, the City will have 2 years to complete the dredging and shoreline restoration. If the design and permitting starts after the award announcement is made, the City may not be able to complete the project soon enough to take advantage of the grant. Ideally, design and permitting would begin in December 2020, the first phase of dredging would begin in the Fall of 2021, the second phase of dredging would begin in the Spring of 2022, and shoreline restoration would be completed in the Fall of 2022.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Fishing and boating opportunities will be limited during dredging operations. Also, the parking lot near the southeast corner of Mastodon Lake is likely to be used for dewatering dredged material, making that parking lot unavailable for parking throughout the duration of the project.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends the proposed resolution be adopted.
cc: Infrastructure and Technology Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution to award a contract to HR Green, Inc. in the amount of $176,350.00 for final engineering and construction observation for the Mastodon Lake Dredging and Shoreline Restoration project.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, sediment and decaying organic matter on the bottom of Mastodon Lake have begun to impair the health and recreational use of the Lake; and
WHEREAS, final engineering plans must be prepared for bidding, permits must be obtained from regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over the project, and assistance will be required for construction observation; and
WHEREAS, HR Green, Inc. of 2363 Sequoia Drive, Suite 101, Aurora, IL 60506 is uniquely qualified for this project based on recently completing the Stormwater Master Plan for Mastodon Lake; and
WHEREAS, project Project B049 account 280-1852-512.81-90 has sufficient funds for this project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the award of a contract to HR Green, Inc. in the amount of $176,350.00 for final engineering and construction observation for the Mastodon Lake Dredging and Shoreline Restoration project is hereby approved, and the Director of Purchasing is hereby authorized to enter into such a contract on behalf of the City.