Palm Coast’s next stormwater improvement efforts will come with a seven-figure price tag.
A combination of engineering studies, an odor-control design project and pipe replacement construction contracts amounted to nearly $1.5 million when the City Council approved five resolutions during the board’s June 16 meeting.
Three of these items involve feasibility studies — two of them are related to expanding stormwater storage capacity at both Dry Lake and Belle Terre Stormwater Park, while another study aims to evaluate a potential extension of the Lehigh Canal. Together, their price tag comes close to $700,000
The board also awarded a $618,000 contract to American Civil Construction and S.E. Cline Construction to upgrade and repair “aging, damaged, and deteriorated” stormwater pipes across multiple locations citywide.
Finally, the city awarded a $195,000 contract to Jacobs Engineering Group to “develop a framework” for “future master pump station odor control projects,” according to staff. The city needs to “standardize odor control equipment and design criteria for both existing and future master pump stations.”
Here’s what the work involves.
How does Palm Coast want engineering studies to help with stormwater improvements?
Among the engineering studies approved, two aim to explore expanding stormwater capacity at both Dry Lake and Belle Terre Stormwater Park.
The 46-acre city-owned Dry Lake parcel currently functions as overflow floodplain storage for the Little Canal.
“A previous feasibility study demonstrated that increased storage volume at Dry Lake could reduce flooding impacts for residential properties and decrease peak stages in both the L-1 and K-1 canal systems,” according to city staff.
A new feasibility study will be “built upon” the previous one and include “data collection, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, evaluation of environmental and regulatory constraints, and explore funding opportunities.”
The Belle Terre project aims to address “chronic street flooding” in the northern section of the city, where the London Waterway functions as the primary regional stormwater system.
The unfinished 1970s design that envisioned three major detention lakes totaling approximately 115 acres of connected water surface area has to be upgraded, according to staff, given that “only about 30 acres of storage were ultimately constructed.”
Detention lakes are different than retention lakes in that they temporarily hold runoff after rain and release it slowly through an outlet after a storm event, according to environmental firm SOLitude Lake Management. A retention pond permanently holds water, which filters into the ground and evaporates overtime.
Council asks Palm Coast staff reason for spending thousands in contractors
Before approving the five items, some board members asked about the reason for spending the amount on contracted work.
Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri asked about whether staff had the option to do the work “in-house.”
Carmelo Morales, a stormwater engineer with the city, said that the work involved in a feasibility study encompasses several areas of expertise, including environmental aspects, utilities, geo-technology, drainage and more.
“Even bringing one person in that could help out with that, they are probably not going to be an expert in all of these fields,” Morales said.
Mayor Mike Norris asked about the possibility of “cross-training” within the city’s organization.
“We do cross train, but it’s really just (for employees) to become familiar with (certain topics),” Morales said. “To become an expert in designing all this, it takes years.”
After the mayor encouraged staff to keep an especially watchful eye on expenditures, given the upcoming budget season constraints, City Manager Mike McGlothlin reiterated staff’s commitment to that goal.
“We will not be utilizing any services that we cannot defend,” McGlothlin said.
The vice mayor added that while she didn’t see the proposed contracts as unnecessary, “I do think it is incumbent upon us to not just rubber stamp everything that’s on the consent agenda and make sure that we are doing everything that we can for the taxpayers money and stormwater fees.”
— Brenno Carillo is a local government reporter covering Flagler County and surrounding communities for The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Next stormwater efforts amount to nearly $1.5M in Palm Coast
Reporting by Brenno Carillo, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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By Brenno Carillo, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
