Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

TO:	David Corliss
FROM:	Matt Bond
CC:	Chuck Soules, Terese Gorman, Sheila Stogsdill
Date:	October 4, 2006
RE:	October 10 , 2006 Agenda Item

Please include the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for consideration at the October 10, 2006 meeting:

Engineering Contract - 13th & Oregon LOMR

A Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is necessary to change the floodplain limits which account for the improvements resulting from the 13^th & Oregon Stormwater Improvement project.  Hydraulic models will need to be developed which incorporate the original FEMA hydraulic models as well as the new “as-built” survey.

Project History:  The completion of the 13^th & Oregon project in December, 2005 facilitated the need to update the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).  Bartlett & West recently completed a LOMR in the same watershed just upstream from this location.  Bartlett & West’s recent completion of this task and knowledge of FEMA’s current policies qualify them as the best candidate to finish this LOMR in a timely and efficient manner.

Project Status:  The completion of the 13^th & Oregon Stormwater project has brought about several inquiries from the public about termination of the need for flood insurance in this affected area.

Project Details:  The scope of the engineering includes:

►	Investigation of existing hydraulic data
►	Conversion of existing hydraulic data to current FEMA standards
►	Development of new cross section data from the “as-built” survey
►	Preparation of a new FIRM map to detail changes in the floodplain
►	Preparation and submittal of LOMR application paperwork

Staff will contact affected property owners in the vicinity of the 13^th & Oregon Stormwater Improvement project to inform them of the possible floodplain modifications.  We anticipate that the entire process which includes FEMA approval will be completed by fall, 2007.

Project Funding:  This engineering contract and application process will be funded from the Stormwater Utility fund.

Action Request:  Public Works Department staff requests approval from the City Commission to authorize the City Manager to enter into an engineering contract with Bartlett and West Engineers in the amount of $16,055 for completion of hydraulic modeling, floodplain mapping and the preparation and submittal of a LOMR application to revise the floodplain for the area relating to the 13^th & Oregon Stormwater Improvement Project.