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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Commitment of funds from Source Water Protection Plan for North River Valley Low Head Dam Improvements Project RESOLUTION NO. 17-118 RESOLUTION APPROVING COMMITMENT OF FUNDS FROM FY 2015/16 SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PLAN CIP PROJECT FOR NORTH RIVER VALLEY LOW HEAD DAM IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FOR THE CITY OF AMES WHEREAS, the City of Ames constructed a low-head dam in 1984 in order to create a pool of water in the primary recharge zone for the City's Downtown Well Field, providing a means to increase the capacity of these wells during periods of drought; and, WHEREAS, while the City has never promoted recreation at the dam, it is evident that the low head dam attracts members of the public who use the area for recreation, and low head dams can pose a serious hazard due to the recirculation effect which occurs immediately downstream; and, WHEREAS, a project to improve the safety of this piece of infrastructure that is critical to the overall management of the Ames drinking water supply was first proposed in 2008; the design has undergone several changes since 2008, which expanded the project to provide additional aquatic and recreational benefits, but that also increased the cost of the project; and, WHEREAS, In April 2016, RiverRestoration org was awarded a contract in the amount of $102,499 to begin design on the project, and prior to the start of design, staff hosted a stakeholder input meeting where representatives from the Skunk River Paddlers, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Prairie Rivers of Iowa, Parks & Recreation Commission, and an adjacent property owner were able to learn about the project and help develop a list of project goals beyond the first and foremost goal of improved safety; and, WHEREAS, River Restoration prepared three alternatives for the project: Alternative A is a project that addresses only the safety concern and is within the scope of current project funds available (in the estimated amount of $347,500); Alternative B allows for additional in-channel improvements that create two separate flow paths to allow aquatic species passage in all flow levels and boat passage during certain flow levels in the South Skunk River (the idea behind this alternative was to reduce costs compared to Alternative C and potentially allow the bank improvements to be done at a later date but finish all the in channel improvements to meet some secondary project objectives in addition to safety) (in the estimated amount of$537,500; and, Alternative C is the full, completed vision for the project that includes both in-channel improvements and bank improvements (this alternative meets all the primary and secondary objectives of the project) (in the estimated amount of$844,500); and, WHEREAS, on November 16, 2016, staff hosted a public meeting on the project, presenting the three alternatives, and those in attendance showed tremendous support for Alternative C, knowing that funding the project could be challenging and could result in a delay as additional finds were raised; and, WHEREAS, staff has submitted multiple grant applications to both state and federal programs; recently, staff was notified that the City will receive an additional$112,901, which brings total grant funding secured to date for the project to $288,901; and, WHEREAS, the funding shortfall is $279,599; and, WHEREAS, in order to best leverage grant funding, staff is recommending that $150,000 of the FY 15/16 available balance in the General Fund be allocated to the North River Valley Park Low Head Dam Improvements Project; and, WHEREAS, depending on the outcome of the pending grant application, additional local funds may still be necessary in order to allow the Alternative C option to proceed; therefore, staff is recommending that up to $150,000 in funds from the FY 2015/16 Source Water Protection Plan CIP project also be reallocated to the Low Head Dam project. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the coirnnitment of$150,000 from the FY 2015/16 Source Water Protection Plan CIP project to the North River Valley Low Head Dam Improvements is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 7t' day of March, 2017. A. Diane R Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor Introduced by: Nelson Seconded by: Corrier Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin,Nelson, Orazem Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 7t' day of March, 2017.