Submitted By
Bill McKenna, Village Engineer
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Green Infrastructure Program Partnership Funding Opportunity Application for a Green Alley Improvements Project
End
Overview
Overview
This resolution authorizes staff to submit an application for a Green Alley Improvements project to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) for their Green Infrastructure Program which is a cost sharing grant program.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Approve the Resolution.
Fiscal Impact
The FY2019 budget is proposed to include $2,700,000 in the Capital Improvement Fund, Public Works - Engineering, for Alley Improvements account no. 3095-43780-101-570964. Additional design costs to be paid by the Village will be necessary if Oak Park is selected for the program as design of green infrastructure is currently not included for 2019.
The MWRD cost sharing program does not have a predefined local match cost sharing percentage requirement or maximum or minimum levels of funding. Final cost sharing amounts will be determined after MWRD selects grant recipients. Based on staff’s understanding of typical projects which have received similar MWRD funding in the past, staff is estimating that should the Village receive the grant that MWRD may fund the project at a 30/70 cost sharing split. The estimated construction costs for five green alleys is $950,000 for roughly $285,000 in MWRD funding and $665,000 in Village funds depending on final costs of the project once design is completed. Sharing the costs at this funding level would cost the Village about the same as a locally funded traditionally constructed concrete alley.
Background
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) encourages and supports implementing green infrastructure (GI). GI is a range of engineered installations that store, infiltrate, and/or evaporate stormwater by mimicking the natural water cycle. The MWRD also recognizes the vital role of local government in addressing flooding concerns through the innovative use of GI. Green alleys feature permeable brick pavement that allow rainwater to drain into the soil rather than the Village sewer system. The Village has a sandseam that is conducive to green infrastructure which runs from the southwest to northeast Oak Park. The five alleys proposed for this green infrastructure are within the sandseam and were tentatively slotted for traditional reconstruction in the 2019 alley program.
In 2014 the Village used an Illinois EPA grant to install 10 green alleys. Green alley materials and construction add considerably to the cost, so they can be considered only when funds are available from outside sources such as the Environmental Protection Agency or in this case, MWRD.
Grant applications are due on July 31, 2018 with an anticipated award notice in the fall of 2018 or spring of 2019.
Alternatives
The Village could decline the opportunity to submit a grant application for this project.
Previous Board Action
On February 20, 2018 the board authorized the Submission of a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Stormwater Management Phase II Flood Control Program Cost Sharing Application for the Berkshire Street Flood Mitigation Improvement Project. Selection to this program has not yet been announced.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Should the Village of Oak Park be awarded a MWRD grant, the Village will need to enter into an agreement for this grant.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
The MWRD Green Infrastructure Program involves MWRD working with the Village of Oak Park to provide funding for green infrastructure projects.
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
This work is in alignment with the Governance Priority for the Department of Public Works for Infrastructure/Capital Programs.