Consent 1.C.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 07/11/2016
- TITLE
- Contract with HDR Engineering Inc. Leading to a Montana Stormwater Control Guidance Manual to Accompany the New State of Montana MS4 General Permit
- PRESENTED BY:
- David Mumford
- Department:
- Public Works
Presentation:
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
The City of Billings and the other six largest cities in Montana (Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena, Butte, and Kalispell) are working with Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to develop a new State of Montana MS4 stormwater general permit and a stormwater manual to meet our common needs. The seven cities (MS4 Cities) and MDEQ have previously formed an MS4 stormwater working group for this purpose. As a note of background, Council awarded a contract to HDR Engineering Inc. on December 8, 2014 providing the City of Billings and the other six cities with technical input and support for this working group, leading up to a new MS4 general permit. All of the MS4 Cities paid their share for this contract. That contract has concluded.
The City of Billings Public Works Department volunteered to carry this contract forward to City Council rather than asking one of the other MS4 Cities to bring the contract forward to their elected body. This is in keeping with the City of Billings taking the lead with the MS4 discussions with MDEQ.
The MDEQ will be issuing a new state wide General Permit for Stormwater Discharge associated with Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) in January 2017. One of the requirements in the General Permit will be a post-construction design requirement which requires retention and/or treatment of runoff generated from the first 0.5 inches of rainfall. The MS4 Cities have requested a manual which will provide guidance for compliance with this requirement. The manual will also provide technical guidance for selecting, designing, constructing, and maintaining post-construction stormwater controls which meet other requirements of the General Permit. The manual will serve as a guidance document and it is anticipated that individual cities will adopt the manual and make modifications in a manner similar to how they currently utilize the Montana Public Works Standard Specifications.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) for this project was advertised in the Billings Times on March 10 and 17, 2016, in the Missoulian newspaper, and the advertisement was sent to the firms on the Billings stormwater project prequalified list. HDR Engineering Inc. was selected from the three proposals received by a committee representing each of the MS4 Cities and MDEQ.
The City of Billings Public Works Department volunteered to carry this contract forward to City Council rather than asking one of the other MS4 Cities to bring the contract forward to their elected body. This is in keeping with the City of Billings taking the lead with the MS4 discussions with MDEQ.
The MDEQ will be issuing a new state wide General Permit for Stormwater Discharge associated with Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) in January 2017. One of the requirements in the General Permit will be a post-construction design requirement which requires retention and/or treatment of runoff generated from the first 0.5 inches of rainfall. The MS4 Cities have requested a manual which will provide guidance for compliance with this requirement. The manual will also provide technical guidance for selecting, designing, constructing, and maintaining post-construction stormwater controls which meet other requirements of the General Permit. The manual will serve as a guidance document and it is anticipated that individual cities will adopt the manual and make modifications in a manner similar to how they currently utilize the Montana Public Works Standard Specifications.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) for this project was advertised in the Billings Times on March 10 and 17, 2016, in the Missoulian newspaper, and the advertisement was sent to the firms on the Billings stormwater project prequalified list. HDR Engineering Inc. was selected from the three proposals received by a committee representing each of the MS4 Cities and MDEQ.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
The Council may:
- Award the Contract for Professional Services to HDR Engineering Inc. Engineering; or
- Do not award the contract. If the contract is not awarded, the manual supporting the new MS4 general permit will not be available for use with the new statewide permit.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost of engineering support services is $229,791. The MS4 Cities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sharing the cost of this new contract based on population. The cost for the City of Billings will be a maximum of $82,229. In addition, MDEQ is expected to contribute up to $18,000 for this manual. The City of Billings share will be paid using stormwater funds.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council authorize the Mayor to execute a Contract for Professional Services with HDR Engineering Inc. in the amount of $229,791 leading to a Montana Stormwater Control Guidance Manual to accompany the new State of Montana MS4 General Permit.