- Members of CH2MHill discuss scope of study
- Ord. (039-14) An ordinance authorizing the purchase of a fee simple interest in, over, and upon certain real property within the City of Euclid and authorizing the Mayor to enter into a purchase agreement therefore, and declaring an emergency. (Sponsored by Mayor Cervenik)
At first, I was puzzled. Two other items are sitting in Committee. Council wants to roll back Sewer Rates to 2012. The Administration wants to hire Strand for Phase II of a Green Infrastructure Plan.
If you think about it, though, it makes sense. CH2 has reason to believe that if presented properly, the EPA might give Euclid a 'pause point' to reassess its current grey plan, offer green alternatives and potentially lower sewer rates. That's probably why the Sewer
If that happens, the City may not need to purchase the BP property for $495,000 (Item 2 on the Agenda). Well, they really don't need the property even under the current plan, since they plan to sell it after construction is finished on Lake Shore Blvd. But that's another story.
As to the hiring of Strand for Phase II, that's a ploy. If the Administration wouldn't inform Strand that its model changed (thereby rendering Strand's initial presentation basically worthless), what's to say it won't do it again?
Regarding tomorrow night's meeting, I received the following from Councilman Langman, "As a phase one program, it by definition falls far short of a comprehensive program, as per the instructions of the Administration. The natural question is what were the next steps taken since August, 2013? It appears that nothing more happened with
So, while there is ample evidence of Council’s desire to see
an integrated, green infrastructure program, and, much rhetoric from the
Administration for such planning, in about 2.5 years, very little has actually
been done, certainly nothing that can be deemed “construction ready” on the
green side.
With no feedback or communication from the Administration,
Councilman McLaughlin and I reached out to CH2Hill, a nationally recognized
engineering firm, experienced in working with communities under federal consent
decrees, and, experts in green infrastructure integration.
In their initial investigation dated June 26, 2014, based on all known documentation of
Euclid’s Long Term Control Plan, the following was stated:
“…There is new and
relevant information that could be applied to the City of Euclid’s long term
control plan to reduce costs, extend implementation schedules, increase
regional buy-in, and, increase community benefits by adding green solutions”
“In the 2012 update to
your Long Term Control Plan, green infrastructure was largely dismissed as not
having any real value to Euclid. These
finding are quite inconsistent with regional and national programs that have
demonstrated the benefits of a balanced green-gray approach.”
“We recognize that
Euclid has been in the Consent Decree game a long time and, that it may be
unfavorable to question the existing path forward. Fatigue is understandable but integrated
planning presents a new opportunity that is worth exploring, moving the
community improvements and benefits through the green infrastructure to the
front of program and, giving Euclid more time to evaluate and implement gray
investments, ultimately saving considerable money for the community.”
The City is about to begin construction at the Waste Water
Treatment plant. Once begun, those costs
will be locked in place for good, along with ever increasing sewer bills.
That last item is what we started with: can we save the rate payers of Euclid, and,
the neighboring communities money through the introduction of green
infrastructure to Euclid’s Long Term Control Plan?
Councilman McLaughlin and I firmly believe that this
question is absolutely critical for the long term financial health of Euclid
rate payers.
Please join City Council, the Administration as we discuss
further opportunities with CH2MHill on Wed, October 29,
2014, 6:30 PM, Euclid City Hall."
