Item 6E. Cooperative Agreement with Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission and City of Robbinsdale to Design and Construct the Sochacki Park Water Quality Improvement Project
Superintendent's Recommendation:
MOTION TO APPROVE A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH BASSETT CREEK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMMISSION AND CITY OF ROBBINSDALE TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THE SOCHACKI PARK WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WITH THE WATERSHED COMMISSION REIMBURSING THE PARK DISTRICT UP TO $600,000 WITH FUNDING FROM THEIR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
Prepared By: Jami Markle, Director of Natural Resources
Background:
The proposed Sochacki Park water quality improvement project is a collaborative effort between Three Rivers, City of Golden Valley, City of Robbinsdale, and Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC). The project is located within Sochacki Park and South Halifax Park and aims to improve water quality within MN DNR protected wetlands (Grimes Pond, South Rice Pond, and North Rice Pond) and Bassett Creek by reducing chronic erosion and sedimentation, improving aquatic vegetation, enhancing buffers and wildlife habitat, and improving recreation and educational opportunities. The park is operated by Three Rivers in cooperation with Robbinsdale and Golden Valley through the Sochacki Park Joint Powers Agreement.
At their March 16, 2023, meeting, BCWMC approved adding the Sochacki Park project to their five-year CIP for construction in 2025, with $600,000 budgeted for the effort. The Sochacki Park Water Quality Improvement Project Feasibility Study (based on a 2022 sub-watershed assessment) was completed by Barr Engineering and approved by BCWMC in September 2023, at which point, the project was officially ordered in their CIP process.
The next step is executing a cooperative agreement among project partners. Key provisions address authorizing Three Rivers as the design and construction lead, contract administration, environmental and regulatory reviews, ongoing operations and maintenance of constructed features, and reimbursement of up to $600,000 for design and construction expenses. Staff recommends approval of this cooperative agreement that will allow project partners to proceed into final design and implementation.
Relationship to the System Plan:
The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:
Goal 1: You Belong Here
Goal 2: Parks Matter
Goal 3: Lead by Example
Attachments:
Cooperative Agreement with BCWMC - Sochacki Park Water Quality Project.DOCX
