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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStorm Water Utility Board Minutes 11-19-2020 Storm Water Utility Board Minutes 11-19-2020 Page 1 of 4 STORM WATER UTILITY APPEALS BOARD Minutes November 19, 2020 7:30 am Meeting held via Webex Present: John Kiefer, Paul Janty, Kyle Clark, Maureen Muldoon, Mike Norton Absent: Also Present: Justin Gierach, Engineering Division Manager / City Engineer; Dan Gabrilska, Civil Engineering Supervisor; Mike Wegner, Brown and Caldwell I. Call to Order. A. Mr. Kiefer called the meeting to order at 7:32 am. II. Approval of October 15, 2020 Meeting Minutes Motion to approve October 15, 2020 minutes. (Mr. Clark / Mr. Janty). Approved 5-0. III. General Discussion related to the October 22nd – 23rd storm event (staff and Mike Wegner, Brown and Caldwell). A. An overview of the rainfall from the October 22nd – 23rd storm event was provided by Mike Wegner from Brown and Caldwell. The presentation summarized rainfall information collected from the website Weather Underground and the Wittman Field rain gage for the storm event. Information on total rainfall depth, spatial variation of rainfall, the rainfall distribution, and comparison standard rainfall recurrence intervals was presented. 1. One finding of the investigation was that most private rain gages recorded more rainfall than the airport gage. Mr. Clark expressed he has used Weather Underground in the past, and this correlation was typical. He has observed that the airport typically reports less rainfall. 2. Mr. Clark expressed that from reading social media, people were generally expressing that flooding wasn’t as bad as the June 2008 event and that recent City projects seem to be helping. People also expressed that there was still flooding and improvements are needed. His observation was this seemed to match messaging from the City and appeals board. 3. Mr. Janty asked if information has been collected past rain events and if there is any comparison to past flooding. Mr. Wegner expressed that there is good rainfall data (from the airport) for the June 2008 event and this historical rainfall is used as part of City studies. 4. Ms. Muldoon stated that in her yard there was less ponding in this storm than in the June 2008 event. B. Mr. Gierach presented pictures from various detention basins that were collected on October 23, after the rainfall event. 1. Mr. Gierach also described that the most severe flooding that is known was experienced in the area of the 9th Avenue and Ohio Street intersection. This area is within the Stringham watershed, and is a known problem area. The City has been working within this area and has recently completed two project. A new, larger outfall sewer was installed. Installation of the larger sewer will continue in future years. The South Park ponds project was also a part of this watershed that added some flood storage. The storage available within the park does not provide protection from large events. 2. Most detention basins had significant water in them. The detention basin with the most water was the James Road detention basin, which had water still flowing into it on the following day. The water depth was about 8-feet in the detention basin and the outlet structure overflow was being used. 3. Justin had discussed the flood event with the Director of Public Works (James Rabe) and Streets Department staff. These individuals expressed that there were flooding areas, but it receded faster Storm Water Utility Board Minutes 11-19-2020 Page 2 of 4 than past storm events. This was observed in some of the detention basins pictures, such as Tipler Detention Basin, where 4. Mr. Wegner asked if any clogging and/or debris problems were experienced in the detention basins. Mr. Gierach indicated there were no major concerns. As part of the City’s stormwater program routine inspections are conducted after major storm events to inspect and clean debris as needed. 5. Mr. Gabrilska indicated that within Sawyer Creek, near the end of Westbrook Drive, there was substantial blockage of the creek from downed trees. City staff worked in this area last week clearing debris. The clean-up will be finalized in the coming months when the ground is firmer. The downed trees may have occurred after the storm event due to high winds in the days after the rainfall. 6. Mr. Clark said that he observed a clogging of the Sawyer Creek structure under HWY 41 on the morning following the event. Later is the day he observed City crews removing the debris. Mr. Gierach indicated this is a known problem area and the City cleans this area frequently, after even minor events. IV. Program and Project Updates (D. Gabrilska). A. 20-02 Southwest Industrial Park 1. This contract was just awarded to Vinton Construction by the Common Council. The award is contingent on approval of a Economic Development Authority grant approval. 2. Pending this approval, minor work would start in 2020, with the majority of the work occurring in 2021. 3. The total contract cost for this project is $2.6 million. B. 20-04 Snell 1. The contractor is currently working on finishing the landscaping for the project. Asphalt paving was completed yesterday. 2. The road is anticipated to be fully open to traffic prior to Thanksgiving, although traffic lights may not be fully operational (they may be flashing). C. 20-05 Oregon 1. Oregon Street pavement is complete and the road is fully open. 2. Sanitary sewer boring under the railroad tracks (west of Fond du Lac Road at 28th Avenue) is ongoing. Dewatering for the boring is challenging and the boring is slow. It will likely take longer than the original one month schedule. The boring started with sanitary sewer and then will proceed to water main. D. 20-15 Mini Storm #2 (includes completion of storm sewer for 2019 Ceape Ave Parking Lot) 1. The contractor is currently finishing restoration work at the 2020 work areas and will stop work for winter shortly. 2. Work will resume in spring 2021 and be complete by June. The 2021 work includes the Ceape Avenue parking lot outfall. The City and WPS are currently finalized an easement for relocation of WPS facilities that will allow outfall construction. 3. Project complete June 2021 E. 21-04 W. 9th Avenue design/bid 1. This is the first project for 2021 and bidding is scheduled for December. 2. The project extents are from Oakwood Road to Linden Oaks Drive and includes a full road reconstruction, installation of storm sewer, spot water main relocation, looping of a water main, and sanitary sewer replacement. The project also includes easement and ROW acquisition. 3. Plans are currently at the 70% stage and the final design process is ongoing. V. 2021 CIP Budget (staff). 1. Mr. Gierach provided a summary of the 5-year storm water CIP. A PDF was included with the agenda of the the 5-yr CIP approved by council. The full document is available on the City website. Storm Water Utility Board Minutes 11-19-2020 Page 3 of 4 2. The 2021 projects include land acquisition for Sawyer Creek Rural Detention Basin #2. This project is located west of Clairville Road and south of 20th Avenue. The City currently is doing preliminary soil borings. The project is approximately double the size of the James Road detention basin in terms of storage volume. This basin will be located along both branches of Sawyer Creek and help to control runoff from all areas outside of the City. The is the last project from original Sawyer Creek study. 3. Construction of the Westowne detention basin is also funded in 2021. Land acquisition is being completed currently (previously budgeted). This project is located next to the Shell station along Westowne Avenue. A grant was previously obtained for the project, but expired because an acquisition agreement couldn’t be reached with the property owner. 4. Funds are included for spot storm sewer repairs in Fond du Lac Road and Oregon Street that will be completed as part of the sanitary sewer interceptor project in this area. 5. Major road reconstruction projects, and storm sewer reconstruction, are Ceape Avenue and West 9th Avenue. 6. Funding for the relocation of the City’s dump site at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). This project is in coordination with the wastewater department. a Ms. Muldoon asked for more information on the project. Mr. Gierach and Mr. Gabrilska have limited knowledge of the project, but understand it is connected to issues at the WWTP. b Ms. Muldoon asked what is taken to the area from the stormwater program. Mr. Clark said that street sweepers are dumped in an open area at treatment plant. When rainfall occurs the area flows directly into the WWTP. This causes a surge into the system and creates problems with their treatment processes. The dump site needs to be protected from rain, or moved offsite because of the problems created within WWTP. c Mr. Gierach confirmed that stormwater uses the dump site for leaf collections and street sweeping. 7. Mr. Kiefer asked if a map for the Sawyer Creek detention basin could be shown. Mr. Gierach showed the project location on google maps. Mr. Clark asked if it will impact the bridge/culvert at the intersection of 20th Avenue and Clairville Road. Mr. Gierach indicated that bridge/culvert was a prior flooding problems that was reduced with the construction of the James Road detention basin and should be further reduced with the second detention basin. VI. Review Discussion of Future Meeting Agenda Items. A. List of CIP projects that have been funded but not completed (Parkway Basin). 1. Mr. Gierach said that this is only the project he is aware of that is funded but not completed. The issue remains getting cooperation from the railroad. He is still hopeful it will get constructed. B. Update on 2020 Nuisance Animal Trapping for stormwater ponds. 1. The current trapping project is being finalized. Preliminary information was provided including that otters were found in the Southwest Industrial Park. Otters are beneficial as they prey on muskrats. The trapping numbers are up this fall in part because there was no spring trapping this year. As part of this project dams at Armory and James Road detention basin are being inspected. A full update can be provided at a future meeting. C. Mr. Clark ask if the committee could review the public facing information strategy. This topic was previously discussed with Emily (from Oshkosh Media Department) and he asked about continuing discussions with the new staff. Mr. Gierach indicated that the new staff has been helping the Engineering and Public Works Department with various media issues such as leaf collection and that this can be a topic for future meetings to look at new ideas. D. Mr. Gabrilska stated that the City is working on updating it’s storm water webpage. Storm water staff is meeting with IT staff to finalize updates soon and the new webpage could be discussed at a coming meeting. E. Mr. Gabrilska also said a presentation of the 2020 illicit discharge program could be provided in early 2021. The report for the 2020 program is being completed currently. Storm Water Utility Board Minutes 11-19-2020 Page 4 of 4 VII. Adjournment. Motion to adjourn: Ms. Muldoon / Mr. Clark (Approved 5-0). Adjournment at 8:28 am. Respectfully Submitted Dan Gabrilska; Civil Engineering Supervisor