TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to proceed with needed improvements to the alley westerly of Euclid Avenue between Stearns Street and 23rd Street; and increase appropriations by $400,000 in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Department of Public Works (PW). (District 5)
DISCUSSION
During this period of challenging financial constraints, staff has tried to identify creative means to fund certain critical infrastructure improvements. After the successful effort to fund and construct the Arlington Storm Drain, preventing flooding and property damage during recent significant storm events, staff has focused on another location also subject to serious flooding and property damage during rain events.
The attached Exhibit A identifies an alley westerly of Euclid Street and easterly of both State and Federal property, between Stearns Street and 23rd Street. This unpaved alley is used for access by property owners, refuse vehicles, utility trucks, and provides emergency access for public safety vehicles. In ongoing efforts to try to improve the condition of the alley, Public Works periodically scrapes the alley and spreads asphalt cuttings from other street projects to even out the surface. Over time, this effort has served to raise the level of the alley even higher in relation to adjoining garages, increasing the amount of runoff onto private property. This issue cannot be resolved without the "installation of a storm drain and paving of the alley.
Public Works reviewed other alleys with calls for service for flood related events involving property damage. The top five alleys that logged the most flood-related calls for service are as follow:
1. West of Euclid Ave. between Stearns and 23rd Sts. 18 calls for service
2. South of Market St. and west of Orange Ave. 12 calls for service
3. Banner Dr. and Goldfield Ave. east of Orange Ave. 10 calls for service
4. 2114 East Bermuda (rear alley) 3 calls for service
5. 778 Molino (rear alley) 2 calls for service
It is staff's opinion that the Euclid Alley is the top alley candidate for improvement in order to protect private property from damage due to flooding. The improvement to the Euclid Alley will improve the City's infrastructure, eliminate future flooding of private property from a public right of way, and respond to a community that has registered a constant stream of complaints over many years, while patiently waiting for the City to act. The design for a storm drain system and paving is complete and ready to be bid out or assigned through the Job Order Contracting method. Costs are anticipated to be approximately $400,000.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang and Amy Burton on February 19, 2009 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on February 18, 2010.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 9, 2010, in order to initiate and complete alley improvements in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds to cover the projected cost of $400,000 will be transferred to the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Department of Public Works (PW) from the General Fund from proceeds related to the conversion of City-owned land at 1850-1854 Atlantic Avenue.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MICHAEL P. CONWAY
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
LORI ANN FARRELL
DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
NAME |
APPROVED: |
TITLE |
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |