Submitted By
Bill McKenna, Village Engineer
Reviewed By
Erin E. Baynes, Assistant to the Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Direct Technical Assistance (BRIC DTA) Grant Application for a Benefit to Cost Analysis for the Lombard Avenue Relief Sewer Project
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Overview
Overview
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a call for technical assistance grants for qualifying projects that will ultimately reduce damages from disasters or events. The Engineering Division is currently working on the design of the Lombard Relief Sewer project. By providing technical assistance for calculating the project’s benefits and potentially increasing the project’s scoring based on FEMA methodologies, this grant application positions the Village to receive future FEMA grants.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Approve the Resolution.
Background
The Engineering Division has started design work for the Lombard Avenue Relief Sewer Project which includes a proposed large-diameter sewer (approximately 6 feet in diameter) on Lombard Avenue from Erie Street to Greenfield Street. This will improve the capacity of the Village’s sewer system and reduce the frequency and severity of sewer backups in the northeast portion of the Village. FEMA recently announced a direct technical assistance (DTA) grant opportunity and the Engineering Division recommends applying for this assistance to calculate the benefit to cost analysis (BCA) for this project, a figure needed to apply for future FEMA grant opportunities. Calculating this project’s BCA for receipt of FEMA funding requires evaluating the benefits for individual private properties positively impacted by the project’s reduction in the occurrence and severity of sewer backups. This is a time-consuming process as it involves approximately 1,600 properties during a 10-year rainstorm event. Projects that participate in this DTA grant process also receive additional points on future grant applications for FEMA funding.
The design of the project is planned for 2024. Staff will pursue various funding opportunities for the project’s construction. The project will also include replacement of the water main on the included blocks and full reconstruction of the roadway, potentially usingf permeable pavers to reduce the amount of stormwater entering the sewer.
Fiscal Impact
There is no cost associated with the grant application or the technical assistance should it be awarded to the Village. The future relief sewer project has an estimated cost of approximately $15.6 million.
DEI Impact
The future construction project will potentially use permeable pavers for roadway pavements, reducing the volume of stormwater entering the Village’s combined sewer system.
Alternatives
The Village could decline the opportunity to submit a grant application for this project.
Previous Board Action
N/A
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Should the Village of Oak Park be awarded the FEMA Direct Technical Assistance Grant for this project, the Village will need to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with FEMA to proceed with the technical assistance.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
This grant opportunity involves the Village working with FEMA to help fund projects that reduce damages from weather events.