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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - WIRB and SRF water resource restoration-sponsored project grant applications RESOLUTION NO. 14-105 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATIONS FOR WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT REVIEW BOARD (WIRB)AND STATE REVOLVING FUND (SRF) WATER RESOURCE RESTORATION-SPONSORED PROJECTS FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS, the City of Ames has a unique opportunity to make stormwater quality improvements in the downtown area by combining two state-funded watershed programs with a planned downtown street paving project; and, WHEREAS,two separate state grants are available and each address water quality within a designated watershed;the project staff have identified within the Squaw Creek Watershed is the area between 5t' Street and 61h Street, and includes City Hall, Parking Lots M, MM, and N, and the roadway right-of-way; and, WHEREAS, this project can be partnered with the 2014/15 Downtown Street Pavement Improvements Project(5t'Street from Grand Avenue to Burnett Avenue),which will be carried out in the 2015 construction season,and that project is funded with General Obligation Bonds and Storm Sewer Utility Funds from the Storm Sewer Improvement Program; and, WHEREAS, the first grant is through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is encouraging eligible groups to apply for grants to support projects that will improve water quality in the state; and, WHEREAS, approximately $1 million is available through the Watershed Improvement Review Board(WIRB)to support qualifying projects; and, WHEREAS, the second grant opportunity is through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) as a Water Resource Restoration-Sponsored Project; and, this program was created by the 2009 Iowa General Assembly in order to fund water quality protection projects; and, WHEREAS,this program has been implemented through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund(CWSRF), a loan program for construction of water quality facilities and practices, and on a typical CWSRF loan,a utility borrows the principal for a project from the state and repays both the principal and applicable interest and fees; and, WHEREAS,in contrast,on a CWSRF loan with a sponsored project,the utility borrows for both the wastewater improvement project and the sponsored project; and, WHEREAS, however, through an overall interest rate reduction,the utility's ratepayers do not pay any more than they would have for just the wastewater improvements and,instead,two water quality projects are completed for the cost of one; and, WHEREAS, in this case, the scheduled wastewater improvement is the Biosolids project administered by the City's Water and Pollution Control Department; and, WHEREAS, as part of the DNR Intended Use Plan,the Biosolids project loan is estimated at$1,885,400; therefore, the Sponsored Project application is estimated at $188,540; and, WHEREAS, through the WIRB grant and the SRF Sponsored-Project funding, this water quality project will essentially be a "no net cost" improvement for the City that can be used as a demonstration for area developers and residents to consider for their own properties. NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED,by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that authorization of applications for a Watershed Improvement Review Board project and a Clean Water SRF Water Resource Restoration-Sponsored Project is hereby approved, and Municipal Engineer Tracy Warner is hereby designated as the authorized representative to sign the grant applications. ADOPTED THIS 251h day of February, 2014. 1�a& /1-n-w tf/. Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor Introduced by: Goodman Seconded by: Betcher Voting aye: Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Goodman,Nelson, Orazem Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 251h day of February, 2014.