DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: San Antonio River Flood Gate 4 Replacement
SUMMARY:
An ordinance, related to the San Antonio River Flood Gate 4 Replacement Project, authorizing the execution of two task orders in accordance with the existing Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) for scope development and bridging documents in an amount not-to-exceed $50,000.00 appropriated from the Riverwalk Capital Improvement Fund and for design and construction services related to the San Antonio River Flood Gate 4 Replacement Project in an amount not-to-exceed $1,500,000.00 in Storm Water Revenue Bond Funds, Riverwalk Capital Improvement Funds, and subject to future appropriations in the FY 2016 Storm Water Operating Budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On September 10, 2014, Center City Development and Operations (CCDO) Department staff was performing routine maintenance on Flood Gate 4 located at the International Center. The routine maintenance of Flood Gate 4 requires the electrician to exercise the gate by lifting the flood gate to the up position and then to the down position. In the process of lifting the gate to the up position, the flood gate froze. Electrical staff inspected the mechanical vaults where hydraulic pistons are housed and discovered the north flood gate hydraulic cylinder had been pulled away from the concrete vault wall; discharging hydraulic fluid. Staff contacted SARA to assist with disconnecting the gate and to place it in the down position, which is required to allow boat traffic to pass.
Flood Gate 4, located at the southern end of the River Loop, is a critical component of the Riverwalk. Not only could it be used to assist with flood control during an extreme storm event, it is also used to contain water in the River Loop during river clean-up events. Flood Gate 4 also is important in keeping the River Loop functional by containing water within the River Loop as long as possible.
CCDO, the Transportation and Capital Improvements Department (TCI), and SARA have discussed options to repair Flood Gate 4. The recommendation is a full replacement instead of rehabilitating any potentially useable parts (the existing gate was installed in 1986 and is approximately 30 years old, likely reaching its useful life). The project scope includes removal and disposal of the existing gate during the proposed January 2016 River Cleaning Program and installation of a new gate later in the project schedule, which will require a coffer dam around the gate location. The replacement gate and all ancillary equipment will be designed and fabricated by a gate equipment vendor. SARA has developed an order of magnitude design and construction cost estimate of approximately $1,500,000.00 for the replacement of Flood Gate 4.
Previous Council Action
An ILA between the City and SARA was approved by City Council on March 12, 2015, through Ordinance No. 2015-03-12-0202 to establish and promote cooperative and collaborative development, management and operation of storm water related programs, and to improve the management of public funding sources and ensure coordination of governmental resources and functions. This agreement also described roles and responsibilities between the City and SARA, and established procedures to allocate specific funding to support programs, projects, and activities. To date, three task orders have been authorized in accordance with this ILA.
ISSUE:
An ordinance, related to the San Antonio River Flood Gate 4 Replacement Project, authorizing the execution of two task orders in accordance with the existing Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) for scope development and bridging documents in an amount not-to-exceed $50,000.00 appropriated from the Riverwalk Capital Improvement Fund and for design and construction services related to the San Antonio River Flood Gate 4 Replacement Project in an amount not-to-exceed $1,500,000.00 in Storm Water Revenue Bond Funds subject to future appropriations in the FY2016 Capital Improvement Budget.
SARA shall develop the bridging documents needed to prepare for the solicitation of a design-build contractor for the San Antonio River Flood Gate 4 Replacement Project. SARA is an expert in design and construction management of flood control gates and has recently completed installation of two nearby flood gates in the San Antonio River, to include the lock and dam located in the Museum Reach and Flood Gate 6 located in the Mission Reach. The services under the first task order shall include, but not limited to, the following:
· Request for Design-Build Proposals
· Design Criteria Package
o Project Technical Specifications
o Project Drawings and Schematics
In addition, a future, subsequent task order will be issued to provide design and construction services for the San Antonio River Flood Gate 4 Replacement Project. The services will be more detailed once the design-build contractor has been selected. It is anticipated that construction will begin in January 2016 and end in July 2016.
ALTERNATIVES:
As an alternative, Council could choose not approve the two task orders, however, the City would lose the partnership opportunity with SARA to repair Flood Gate 4 especially since SARA is experienced with recent gate construction including Flood Gate 6 and the Lock and Dam.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes a task order payment to SARA in an amount not-to-exceed $50,000.00 for development of the scope and bridging documents, and will be appropriated from the River Walk Capital Improvement Fund.
In addition, this ordinance authorizes a second task order and payment to SARA in an additional amount not-to-exceed $1,500,000.00 and will be issued when a design-build contractor has been selected and after funds are appropriated as part of the FY 2016 budget process. Of this amount, funds in the amount not-to-exceed $200,000.00 will be appropriated from the River Walk Capital Improvement Budget, $1,000,000.00 will be appropriated from the Municipal Drainage Utility System Revenue Bonds, and the remaining $300,000.00 will be made available subject to future appropriations in the FY 2016 Storm Water Operating Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing the execution of two task orders in accordance with the existing ILA between City and SARA for bridging documents and project management services related to the San Antonio River Gate 4 Replacement Project.