Stormwater Commission

STORMWATER COMMISSION MEETING SUMMARY Thursday, October 2, 2014 The following persons were present: Andrew Vitale, Steven Vinezeano, Mousa Nazzal, Jeff Wickenkamp, Fred Kudert, Richard Wlodarski, Chuck Ostman and Jack Grana. Absent were Robert Callero and Chair Joe LoVerde. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 p.m. Due to absence of Chair Joe LoVerde, a vote was approved to appoint Fred Kudert as Acting Chairman. I. Approve Meeting Summary for Thursday, July 10, 2014. Vinezeano requested updates on the Greenwood Restrictors and Chesterfield Catch Basins. Grana stated that the County permits had lapsed and require renewal before project can proceed. Grana stated that the Chesterfield system was reviewed and is working 100%. He is investigating the possibility of adding some catch basins that may improve area flooding. Hey and Associates will assist with modeling the area. Initially they look to be a good plan. Hey stated that some IDOT on Dempster may impact this area downstream as well. IDOT also identified some connections that were not mapped that could impact projects. Hey is waiting to hear about the IDOT study when it is complete. He warned that the basins couldn’t hurt, but are not the full solution to area. Jack Grana has a working list in place for sharing barricades as well. Emergency access maps will be provided to Grana from Hey and Associates that may assist. Mousa Nazzal will pursue getting the County permits for Greenwood and Grana will work to install the Chesterfield catch basins while Hey and Associates keeps an eye on IDOT study results. Summary was approved. II. Old Business: i. Flood Control Assistance Program Update. Wlodarski provided flood assistance handout of statistics as of September 29, 2014.  694 applicants  424 applicants approved  $1,080,200.72 paid out to date  $3,816.96 average cost  138 eligible approved applicants have not submitted for reimbursement to date  There is funding for 33 more applications   81 applicants have been approved; no permit has been submitted to date. There is no one on the waiting list at this time. Rich estimates $300k for funding on this program next fiscal year. There was a question about the number of flood control systems installed in past five years. This is being worked on by Vitale in GIS. There was a request to do a correlation of flooded homes (average in last three storms) and installed flood control programs. Many of the applicants had flooding, but did not qualify because their problems did not fall into the categories of the program. Many never had flooding in their home. There will need to be a recommendation for the program amount to budget for fiscal year 2016. Andrew and Wlodarski will report on results next meeting with an estimate of what the next budget could be for the cost share program. ii. Tier 1 Capital Improvements. a. Our Lady of Ransom. Nazzal reported on basin. He stated it was graded, seeded and blanketed. He stated all the pipes are installed, but not connected to Greenwood yet. He stated that the vegetation and trees are next and should be done in three weeks. Hey reiterated the system is not connected to Greenwood yet. Overflow from Bruce is connected, but the system is not fully connected yet. Retaining wall is in and framing the staircase. Vinezeano stated that a neighbor asked whether or not it is advantageous to have the connection between Bruce and Western installed. Hey stated it is unnecessary. Bruce has relief outlet into basin and there is no point to put it in. Mousa asked about a fence where the students play. The Commission restated the problems with fences and that the Church did not want a fence due to problems associated. This was to be revisited with Father Chris. b. Maryhill Cemetery. Nazzal reported the basin is completed and top soil going in. He stated all piping to Milwaukee in, but now need to cross Milwaukee by auger. They will pave the streets as best they can. Auger will be from east to the west due to the trench box and the space needed. Milwaukee will be to one lane for a period of time. Nazzal will put  information on the website. Middle of November is his professional guess on completion. c. Cleveland Sewer Project. Hey stated that the Engineering drawings are being wrapped up for review to Niles and start MWRD and IEPA process. Plans are in two pieces (east and west of Caldwell). This was done to get eastern portion done by fall, but this did not happen. Is there a cost estimate to keep project one piece when it goes to street? Glenview had to bid the project twice to make it work with a reduced requirement. Construction starting in March is optimal, otherwise it will not all be done in 2015. If contractors can say in writing that they cannot meet affirmative action needs, maybe we can get relief from it. Mousa will start meeting with contractors to see if they can get this project done as one or two projects and meet the requirements for affirmative action contractors – informational meetings about upcoming projects. a. Illinois State Revolving Fund Loan. Once final permits are secured, a public hearing is required, submission of a full application, board approval of authorizing ordinance, IEPA Planning Approval, then project can go out to bid for 45 days. During that time, the financial package is assembled and submitted for review. Once IEPA receives bidding package and all other information, they write loan. b. MWRD Local Grant Funding Opportunity. The IGA is being finalized by MWRD. iii. Tier III Stormsewer Improvement Engineering Analysis. Jeff provided a memorandum for Niles Tier 3 Analyses (In Progress Report). The memorandum describes the flooding issues, potential benefits, concept planning cost estimate and a description of benefits for the problem areas. He stated how this is an analysis based on the flooding in 2013. These are a group of projects to see if solutions not prioritized or reviewed in the past. Can they be done near term or relief for these locations? There are 12 areas listed. There may be  time to two or three more if necessary. To go through and discuss all thoroughly, it would take two to three hours. Problem Area 1: 7700 Block of Oconto and Octavia. Mr. Vitale and his neighbor Mr. Michael (7747 Oconto) were present for this site. Vinezeano asked if Mr. Michael’s home floods through the doors or windows. He stated from the rear of the property it floods the basement. Did Mr. Michael check in on the cost share program? No. Vinezeano stated Mr. Michael should check in on the cost share program as an applicant and have his property reviewed. Mr. Vitale stated he already did the work on his property. He stated that he flooded three times since 2008. Vinezeano asked Rich to give him a pre-application. Jeff stated that his neighbor applied and was approved for overland improvements, but he chose not to move forward with the program. There were solutions designed for his neighbor. He stated water goes into the crawlspace. He is asking for a solution for the entire street. He stated that he did not have flood insurance when he moved in. He stated that he purchased a foreclosed home. Mr. Vitale (who also purchased a foreclosed home) stated that when he purchased his home in 2008, the Village did not tell him about flooding. Vinezeano reminded Vitale that the data was not available on flooding at that time and significant flooding started that year in September. Mr. Vitale stated that the flooding is caused by Harlem and now it pitches into Mulford. Jeff reiterated what was discussed in detail with Mr. Vitale and that his theories on why it floods are not technically correct. Mr. Vitale blames the new pool built on Milwaukee for the flooding on his street. He is also blaming the pipes put in on Mulford, which were discussed many times with Mr. Vitale. Mr. Vitale became very argumentative and insisted his theory for why it is flooding on his street is correct. Jeff reiterated the issues in this area. He stated the homes are in a depressional area where overland flow travels to the low spot from adjacent streets. Jeff showed old maps of where the river was before homes were built. This has been the lowest spot since the earliest mapping before homes built. There is no overland flow path for water in this area when the system is overwhelmed. The only solution is a new pipe or storing the water before it gets to the area. To store it would require buying more homes than are to be protected. Also, there is no safe outlet for a pipe so it would need to go directly to the river at an extreme cost of $2.9M. One option is a $100k upsizing pipe to reduce the duration of ponding by allowing the depressional area to drain faster once sewer capacity on Mulford is available, but flooding will still occur. The purchase of the three homes most subject to damaging flooding is approximately $900k. Mr. Vitale remained argumentative during the presentation and continued to interrupt Jeff. Mr. Vitale states that it is the Village’s responsibility that water comes into the area and cannot get out. Kudert stated that there is a difference of opinion and we should move on with the agenda. Kudert reviewed the two options and the issues with them technically (new pipe to river or storage, which are both very expensive). It was reiterated that the Commission is charged to do what it can to use the funds available to help the greatest number of homes. Mr. Vitale stated he did not care because it is his home that is flooding and it is costing him money. Jeff stated that no matter how the situation on this street was created, it is about the solutions and what is actually feasible. These are the conditions we have today. Mr. Vitale stated he did not create the problems. Mr. Vitale stated he flooded twice (once in June). Vinezeano restated the rain patterns before and after 2008. Mr. Vitale became very argumentative and did not agree with weather patterns. He insisted the Commission tell him right now what will be done. Vinezeano asked Mr. Vitale to stand down and allow the meeting to move forward. Mr. Vitale and Michael departed. Vinezeano informed the group that the County is working on a more lenient home purchase program based on number of first floor floods. Mr. Vitale may qualify if the program is implemented. Mr. Michael needs to submit for cost share program to see if a solution is available. Problem Area 2: Milwaukee/Kedzie/Ottawa. This is the area with the “flow berm.” Storage would cost $3.7M and a 17- foot sewer pipe to convey water from Kedzie to Milwaukee could cost $76k. This sewer would result in some minor decreases in flood depths during smaller storm events and little to no change in larger events. The attorney who came to the Commission stated he never flooded in his home from the water on the street. Problem Area 3: 8100 Block of Farnsworth. Due to sanitary problems at 8149 Farnsworth, this area was smoked tested in 2013 and no problems were identified. Jeff stated that homes in this area should install overhead sewer or a flood protection product if they do not currently have them in order to prevent sewage backups. Wlodarski is to send a pre-application to the resident. Problem Area 4: 9400 Block of Western. Two ditches converging adjacent to the property. The solution is a one property option. His property is another buyout candidate under county rules if it is funded. A berm or floodwall around his him is estimated at $50k and would substantially impact the property value and not fail safe. Problem Area 5: 8500 Block of Overhill. The Lee Street improvement could benefit this area if it is done. The Notre Dame project was investigated and it did help the residents. It was noted that in previous meetings with the residents, they did not agree that the project was a benefit to the area. The planned improvements at Main/Milwaukee/Maryhill Cemetery and Lee Street planned will have some beneficial impacts to this area including reduced frequency and duration of street flooding and reduced frequency of basement backups (not eliminated). Without additional regarding of the Notre Dame property, raising the overflow weir would not have measurable beneficial impacts downstream. Problem Area 6: 8500 Block of Oleander. This is the lowest grade of the block and sits over the main sewer serving the area. When the sewer is at full capacity, the excess water is stored on the surface until pipe capacity is restored. This street is in the area that will benefit from potential Tier 1 improvements for the Lee St. corridor. This basement backup risk will be reduced, but not eliminated with implementation of the Lee Street relief sewer. Problem Area 7: Nordica Townhome Area. The area has street flooding of two feet before water can continue to flow overland either to the south along Nordica or to the east into the forest preserve. Options include a new relief sewer to the river, new sewer at low lying area and connect into the new sewer from Problem Area 1, new sewer at low lying area and new outfall to river independent of Problem Area 1, or install backflow preventers on north/south lines on Nordica connecting into east-west main sewer run. Problem Area 8: 800 Block of Churchill. This area is served by oversized storm sewers connected to a pump station on Ballard Road which pumps outflow through a 6-inch force main south to existing storm sewer on Washington Street. A 24inch overflow pipe may be favorable and must be estimated.  Problem Area 9: 8200 Block of Elmore. This location experiences over three hours of street flooding during 100-year 2 hour events. With Maryhill installation, the duration of flooding will be decreased to 1 hour of flooding. Street flooding could be further reduced by future improvements to the system that would tie into Maryhill improvements. Problem Area 10: 7400 Lawler. This area was previously studied as part of the east side modeling review. The most viable option discovered at the time was the installation of a 5 acre-feet of underground detention, this has an estimated cost of $5M. Problem Area 11: 8600 National (Chesterfield). This area is under review and may be analyzed as part of a nearby study on Dempster by IDOT. Problem Area 12: Carol/Crain at Grace. This area has been previously studied as part of the west side model review. Future improvements by the cemetery that involve expansion of the detention basin east of Cumberland will provide benefits to this area. Downstream improvements under consideration by MWRD may also assist. III. New Business: i. Possible Green Infrastructure Inclusion Tier One. Kudert provided a background on email exchanges regarding Hey research and Milwaukee’s program. He asked about adding pervious pavement on Cleveland since this project is opening the street. There was a question about MSR Green Infrastructure training required by Public Services staff. Kudert would like to see green infrastructure incorporated into the Stormwater Relief Program and should be a standing item on the agenda into the future. Vinezeano stated the IGA grant out for Oak Park that is a bio swale and pervious pavement project. Should this project remain in the budget even if the grant does not come through? The Commission agreed it should be considered for next fiscal year budget. There was discussion of a green infrastructure presentation to the Commission from Hey and Associates. Presentation by Hey and Associates to be planned in future. Oak Park green infrastructure project to be included in next fiscal year budget. Green infrastructure to be considered for future projects as Commission moves forward with Stormwater Relief Program.  ii. Hey and Associates Amendment Request. Mousa Nazzal shared a Summary of Out of Scope Work Related to Tier 1 Design and Tier 1 Funding from Hey and Associates. Jeff provided feedback on the issue as well. Kudert recommended approval. There was discussion about requesting additional funds for possible overruns in contract. IV. Open Discussion: Kudert made an observation regarding the Village considering a special newsletter for stormwater. He is suggesting more specific communication to the public on the subject. Jeff stated in Winnetka, the Public Works Director outlines the projects in Board meetings monthly. Consider special communications to public on stormwater program. V. Next Scheduled Meetings: TBD