Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement for the Bioretention Hydraulic Performance Study with Associated Earth Sciences, Inc.
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing a Professional Services Agreement for the Bioretention Hydraulic Performance Study with Associated Earth Sciences, Inc. (AESI)
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution authorizing a Professional Services Agreement for Phase III of the Bioretention Hydraulic Performance Study with AESI.
Staff Contact:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director, Public Works, 360.570.3741
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
Water Resources has agreed to sponsor a team of consultants led by Associated Earth Sciences, Inc. (AESI) to conduct the third phase of a Bioretention Hydraulic Performance Study (BHPS), a controlled field study of bioretention facilities (engineered rain gardens). The objectives of this study are to:
• Assess bioretention lifespans and address practical questions about how quickly different sites age through facility infiltration rates, soil composition, vegetation and maintenance practices.
• Conduct a point-in-time checkup on up to 50 older (10 years or older) bioretention facilities.
• Communicate the long-range bioretention effectiveness to a broad base of Statewide jurisdictions.
• Gather a large dataset on different systems to understand the possible influence of the above factors on performance.
• Provide guidance from an engineering perspective on what lessons we can learn studying these older sites; what are the critical factors to prevent bioretention site performance failure in future designs; and build confidence in the longevity of properly designed/constructed bioretention systems.
Funding for the implementing consultant team is provided through an agreement from the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM) program. The City of Olympia receives the funding and then contracts with the AESI consultant team to perform the work. The consultant team made application for this project to SAM with the City of Olympia’s sponsorship.
This contract is being sole sourced. Water Resources sponsored the same team to conduct BHPS Phase II. The team players in Phase III will involve the same key players from BHPS Phases I and II. BHPS Phase III will add an important study set of older bioretention facilities to evaluate how they perform. Achieving this connection between Phase III findings and Phases I and II is most important in maintaining the continuity of the evaluating team.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Bioretention is an important stormwater best management practice. The local community supports improved stormwater water quality treatment.
Options:
1. Approve a Resolution authorizing a Professional Services Agreement for the Bioretention Hydraulic Performance Study with AESI.
2. Do not approve the Resolution.
3. Consider approval of the Resolution at another time.
Financial Impact:
Pass-through funding from the Department of Ecology in the amount of $614,159 will cover consultant costs. Staff time to monitor the consultant’s work and process invoices is manageable.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement