One is a staff recommendation to pay $16,700 for engineering design services for the redesign of an East Street detention pond channel that is eroding due to unexpected water volume and velocity. Council members voted unanimously to delay approval until Consolidated Technologies Inc. (CTI) provided additional information explaining why the engineering consultant should not bear part of, or all, the extra cost.
The second item will be the further review of a request by Cleveland businessman Dale Hughes, owner of Mountain View Inn, for the city’s abandonment of .42 acres of property at the corner of Paul Huff Parkway and Frontage Road. Hughes co-owns an adjoining piece of property with Duane and Candace Goff.
Two weeks ago, no one attended the Council’s public hearing to support or oppose the abandonment request, but Councilman Richard Banks said he had been contacted by a couple of property owners who felt the city should be reimbursed for the small strip of property.
Banks said his concerns shouldn’t be interpreted to mean he opposes the abandonment request, just that he feels additional information is needed from Hughes in light of the concerns by other property owners.
On a unanimous vote, City Council delayed the Hughes request until Monday’s voting session.
Of the East Street detention pond redesign, City Manager Janice Casteel received a letter dated Aug. 17 from CTI senior project manager J. Gregory Wilson addressing the issue. The letter explains in detail the firm’s rationale in charging for the additional engineering design services. The channel’s redesign is mandated by the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, which claims periods of heavy rainfall are negatively impacting area vegetation.
Wilson’s letter details the process that was discussed by Council members two weeks ago. He noted that dry weather conditions at the time the East Street detention pond and channel were developed 2 1/2 years ago provided false readings on project water flow and drainage.
Under a “Pre-Construction Conditions” subheading, Wilson’s letter to the city manager explains, “During the design and permitting phases of work, the channel that passes through the current detention pond site was dry. There was no evidence of flow within the channel except for short periods of time associated with significant rainfall events. The upper portion of the channel was therefore designed to perform under those conditions, as a normally dry, wet weather channel.”
The CTI letter added, “Our hydraulic calculations indicated that storm water flow velocities in the steeper, upper section of the proposed channel would exceed the allowable velocity of an unlined, vegetated channel. To provide an effective, economical solution to these infrequent flow conditions, CTI designed the channel to have a grassed bottom protected by a permanent turf reinforcement mat.”
The engineer’s letter goes on to point out that conditions remained pretty much the same throughout the construction and early post-construction periods, thereby not signaling any design problems. But, the letter goes on to explain, “The channel appears to have maintained a continuous low flow of water since the completion of construction. The continuous, normal, dry weather flow is not substantial enough to cause erosion or damage to vegetation, but the persistent presence of water in the channel prevents the growth of grass in the channel bottom.”
The letter further reads, “This change in the channel’s hydrologic flow conditions is the reason the liner has not held up to major storm flows and why the turf reinforcement system is no longer appropriate for this channel.”
CTI’s proposed solution is to install an armored liner that will hold up to periods of heavy rainfall, continuously flowing water and high velocity. The liner would be a precast concrete block variety.
“The changed conditions warrant additional engineering and construction services to provide a permanent erosion prevention for the steeper section of the channel,” the engineer’s letter cites. “As you know, CTI has already spent a great deal of time and effort trying to resolve this matter at no cost to the City of Cleveland.”
Wilson said CTI understands City Council’s concerns about the costs. He said the firm will complete the redesign at no charge, but accompanying services such as the bid phase, construction phase engineering and providing a resident project representative will be charged. These services will cost $11,800, which is about $5,000 less than CTI’s original proposal.
“We understand the City Council’s concerns regarding additional design fees, and although the change in the design requirements of the channel could not be anticipated, CTI agrees to perform the design phase of work for the channel liner alterations at no charge to the city of Cleveland,” he said.
If City Council members favor the revised CTI fee proposal, they will be asked to authorize Mayor Tom Rowland to sign a letter authorizing the additional work and payment schedule.
At Monday’s 4 p.m. voting session, City Council will conduct public hearings on the Dale Hughes request, on a property rezoning request by Andrew Thompson on Juanita Street and North Street N.W., and on the 25th Street Roadscapes Grant Phase I.
Three new Cleveland Police Department officers will be sworn in. They are Julius Q.L. Porter, Christopher C. Allen and Darin L. Strong.
In the Consent Agenda, the Council will address a Mechanical Board ordinance; a $1,629 tax refund (2008 and 2009) for Mars Snackfoods U.S.; an animal rescue agreement with Dixie Spay/Neuter Express, Inc.; an $800,000 grant application with the Office of Criminal Justice Programs; a lease agreement with the Cleveland/Bradley County Emergency Management Agency for communicators tower usage; an agreement with Cleveland Housing Authority for supplemental police services; and a street light recommendation for Geremy Burke at 3533 Cedar Avenue N.W.
The Council will also hear bid updates and will review a series of appointments and reappointments for the Building Board of Adjustments & Appeals, the Health Education & Facilities Board and the Industrial Bond Board.
Council members will convene twice Monday, the first in a 2 p.m. work session and this will be followed by the voting session.
In-between the sessions, Council members will host a reception for outgoing Councilwoman Bambi Hines who did not seek re-election.
The public is invited to all sessions.
