Title
Consider/Discuss the Proposed FY 2010-2011 Scope of Work to be Performed by Urban Solutions as Part of the Ongoing Urban Solutions Center Contract (Julie Smith and Kyle Odom) (10 minutes)
Summary
MEETING DATE: September 21, 2010
DEPARTMENT: Office of Environmental Stewardship
Engineering
CONTACT: Julie Smith, Environmental Stewardship Manager
Kyle Odom, Storm Water Management Administrator
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Provide staff direction with respect to the proposed scope of work to be performed by Urban Solutions Center during FY 2010-2011.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• During the Work Session held on September 7, 2010, Council directed Staff to provide a scope of work to be performed by Urban Solutions Center for FY 2010-2011.
• Urban Solutions Center and City Staff have developed a draft scope of work with the following tasks:
o Storm water modeling utilizing the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to reflect watershed quality based on future developed conditions.
o Design of a bioengineered stream stabilization demonstration site.
o Staff training with respect to SWAT modeling as well as staff training for future bioengineering stabilization site design projects.
o Quarterly electronic updates and three Council Presentations.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• The City of McKinney is in its fourth year of a six-year contract (renewed annually) with Texas A&M Urban Solutions Center.
• During the first three years the scope of work was concentrated on water conservation efforts and resulted in the development of the McKinney Green Gardens and other environmental education outreach efforts.
• Staff recognizes the scientific expertise Texas A&M could provide in terms of watershed analysis and protection.
• As a result of meetings between Dr. Allan Jones and City Staff, Urban Solutions Center has developed a proposal to conduct an analysis of a McKinney watershed using the Soil and Water and Assessment Tool.
• Specifically, Urban Solutions Center proposes to evaluate floodplain and storm water management policies and practices including North Central Texas Council of Government’s iSWM™ guidelines.
• This program will aid McKinney in meeting the storm water permitting requirements of the Federal NPDES and the State TPDES.
• In order to broaden McKinney’s response to creek instability issues, Urban Solutions Center will work with and train City Staff to develop and implement a bio-engineered stream stabilization/restoration demonstration site.
• The demonstration site will consider natural in-stream stabilization practices such as J-hooks, W-weirs, cross vanes, root wads, and stream bank vegetation management.
• Urban Solutions Center will complete the proposed scope of work by September 2011.
Why Focus on Impact of Development?
• As we consider what McKinney will look like in the future, we typically think about the improvements; the streets and the actual development projects that are constructed. We should also consider the impact the development activity will have on our surroundings.
• Development and redevelopment increase the amount of paving and other impervious surfaces in our watersheds. This translates into loss of natural areas, more sources for pollution in runoff, and heightened flooding risks.
• These impacts affect water quality in our lakes, aesthetics of the landscape around us including trees, open spaces and increase the potential for flooding.
• Considering what we can do now to address these issues will allow us to take action now so our vision and our strategic plan can be realized for the future of McKinney.
• Urban Solutions Center has proposed to use software developed by Texas A&M to model various scenarios and identify the potential impact the development activity will have. These scenarios will incorporate the integrated Storm Water Management (iSWM™) criteria developed by North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) as well as our current Storm Water guidelines. Using this information, they will be able to compare and offer guidance for development of McKinney.
What is Integrated Storm Water Management (iSWM™)?
• iSWM™ is an initiative developed by participating members of the NCTCOG. The iSWM™ program provides practices that help communities meet their construction and post-construction obligations under their state Phase II storm water permits with a regionally-based approach of water quality protection, stream bank protection, and flood mitigation.
• McKinney’s EPA mandated and TCEQ approved Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) requires evaluation and consideration of the iSWM™ components. Urban Solutions proposes use of the SWAT modeling to meet this requirement of McKinney’s SWMP.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• With approval of the FY2010-2011 budget, $132,000 will be available for the proposed scope of work. This amount includes $32,000 as a rollover from the current year.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A