File #: Resolution 121-2024    Name:
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 11/13/2024 In control: City Council
On agenda: 12/3/2024 Final action: 12/3/2024
Title: Resolution 121-2024: Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Mile High Flood District, regarding design and construction of drainage and flood control improvements for Lee Gulch at Broadway - Amendment No. 1
Attachments: 1. 1. Resolution No. 121-2024, 2. 2. IGA Amendment A - Lee Gulch at Broadway

Agenda Date: 12/03/2024

 

Subject:

Title

Resolution 121-2024: Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Mile High Flood District, regarding design and construction of drainage and flood control improvements for Lee Gulch at Broadway - Amendment No. 1

Body

 

From:

James L. Becklenberg, City Manager

Prepared by:

Brent Soderlin, Director of Public Works & Utilities

 

Sarah White, Water Resources Manager

Presentations:

N/A

 

PURPOSE:

Approval of an amendment to the IGA with Mile High Flood District for design and construction of drainage and flood control improvements for Lee Gulch at Broadway.

 

LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:

Safe Community; Financial Sustainability; High-Quality Governance; Sustainable Community with Natural Beauty

 

DISCUSSION:

Lee Gulch has a drainage basin of approximately 2.42 square miles and stretches 3.98 miles from Highlands Ranch to the South Platte River.

 

The City of Littleton, in partnership with Mile High Flood District (formerly Urban Drainage and Flood Control District) and Arapahoe County, studied the Lee Gulch and Little’s Creek drainageways in a master drainage study call “Major Drainageway Planning Lee Gulch Little Creek” in 1978. At the time of the study the basin was only 42% developed. The 1978 master study recommended additional culvert capacity and channel improvements at the Broadway crossing. The South Suburban Parks Master Plan further envisioned a linear park along the Gulch from the South Platte to County Line Road.

 

The 66” culvert carrying Lee Gulch under Broadway is a mixed material of reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) and corrugated metal pipe (CMP). The culvert was repaired in 2016 when a portion of the pipe collapsed. A geospray lining technique was used to provided structural reinforcement in addition to repairing the collapsed section. Unfortunately, the geospray has not held and the culvert is experiencing failures that require immediate repair.

 

Mile High Flood District (MHFD) provides a Capital Improvement Program in partnership with the local jurisdiction to provide design and construction of drainage and flood control infrastructure.  The local jurisdiction must provide a minimum of 50% funding contribution. Capital funds are provided on a yearly basis from an available funding pool. After discussion with MHFD, they have determined to have available capital funds for the Lee Gulch at Broadway Project for 2024. Due to the urgent nature of the Lee Gulch at Broadway Project, not all estimates or design components are complete at the time of agreement with MHFD. Staff has been working with MHFD since early 2024 to get the Lee Gulch hydraulic studies completed. This was funded from the MHFD maintenance funds and did not require Littleton matching contributions. This allowed for the required analysis to begin as we worked towards a solution.

 

Resolution 102-2024 was approved by Council on September 17, 2024, to adopt the original IGA with MHFD, regarding design and construction of drainage and flood control improvements for Lee Gulch at Broadway. At the time of this IGA, MHFD had not completed the budget analysis to determine the full funding available for 2024. The MHFD Board has since meet and approved a 2024 CIP project budget of $2,522,182.35.

 

Total city contribution proposed at this time is $1,261,091.18. Resolution 102-2024 established the initial $665,000, as a transfer of overmatch funds from Jackass Gulch Channel Stabilization Project. This amendment will transfer $111,091.18 from completed City-MHFD project Littles Creek at Gallup, $100,000 transferred funds from Jackass Gulch Channel stabilization (overfunded) and an additional City of Littleton contribution of $385,000.

 

Staff and MHFD continue to work with the design team and contractor to get the design approved and construction started immediately. Due to the uncertain condition of the culvert, we are preparing multiple options of repair, including emergency repair options.

 

The Lee Gulch Trail is an adjacent amenity that does not currently connect across Broadway, except for the Jamison Street crossing. The Highline Canal also meets with the Lee Gulch Trail 600 feet to the west of Broadway. As noted in the original master plan, the vision for this Lee Gulch corridor was to provide Open Space from County Line Road to the South Platte River. Littleton and MHFD are looking into final design plans that may be able to incorporate a pedestrian underpass at this location. This will be further determined in the final design plans and budget.

 

BACKGROUND: 

The culvert under Broadway at Lee Gulch needs immediate repair. This intergovernmental agreement with MHFD will amend the original IGA for design and construction of drainage and flood control improvements for Lee Gulch at Broadway. This amendment will transfer funds from a completed project Little’s Creek at Gallup ($111,091.18), overfunding of the Jackass Gulch Channel Stabilization project ($100,000) and new contributions of $385,000.

 

MHFD would then also be providing up to 50% project matching funds. The project will be able to commence with the transfer funds to both begin emergency culvert repairs as well as allow time to complete final design and cost estimates. It is expected to have additional amendments to this agreement for additional project funding clarifications.

 

Prior Actions or Discussions

An IGA with MHFD for the Lee Gulch at Broadway 2024 Project was approved by Council on September 17, 2024, per Resolution 102-2024.

 

FISCAL IMPACTS:

Approval of this IGA authorizes not more than $385,000 be contributed by the city. The city will be responsible for a minimum contribution of 50% of the project costs, with MHFD also contributing approximately 50% of the project cost. The city has previously contributed funds towards other MHFD cooperative projects in the amount of $876,091.18 that are being transferred to this project. As a MHFD partner for this project, MHFD is able to provide contributing funds of $1,261,091.17. Total project funds available to date would be $2,522,182.35.

 

The total project cost is currently unknown. Emergency repairs for ground and pipe stabilization is estimated at $1,000,000. Emergency repairs would stabilize the ground from additional subsidence and decrease the size of the existing culvert. This option would require additional permanent solutions, with additional costs ranging from $2,500,000 to$7,000,000.

 

Staff will continue to search for additional funding sources as final design continues. This project will be funded from the 2024 Storm Drainage Enterprise Fund budget.

 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends approval of the resolution.

 

ALTERNATIVES:

If not approved, the city would need to fund the emergency repairs from the Storm Drainage Enterprise Fund without the $876,091.18 available transfer funds and $1,261,091.17 of MHFD matching funds. Additionally, the city would need to fully fund the culvert repair and flood control improvements, as well as additional engineered hydraulic studies.

 

PROPOSED MOTION:

Proposed Motion

I move to approve Resolution 121-2024 approving an Amendment with Mile High Flood District for design and construction of drainage and flood control improvements for Lee Gulch at Broadway.