NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING, FACT SHEET AND REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
E. 364TH, E. 365TH & HARVARD STORM SEWER REPLACEMENT

The City of Willoughby will hold a Public Meeting on Thursday, May 30 2019, at Willoughby City Hall, 1 Public Square, Lower Level, Willoughby, Ohio 44094, at 7:00 PM.

The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss and seek public comment on the proposed E. 364th, E. 365th & Harvard Storm Sewer Replacement Project to be constructed in the City of Willoughby in the rights-of-way of E. 364th St., E. 365th St., Harvard Ave. and an adjacent existing easement.

Project Description, Location and Purpose

The project involves replacement of the existing storm sewers on East 364th Street, East 365th Street and Harvard Avenue. The project includes construction of approximately 7,790 feet of storm sewer ranging in size from 6 inches to 36 inches; 17 storm manholes; 29 inlet basins; service connections; 8,500 square yards of drive and pavement replacement; 27,600 square yards of sidewalk replacement; 1,362 feet of heavy sewer cleaning; pre-construction video documentation, storm sewer abandonment, restoration and other incidentals. The project is located between Vine Street and Stevens Boulevard in the Corporation Creek Drainage Basin in the City of Willoughby. The project will be constructed by the City of Willoughby as part of its storm sewer system and the City’s 2016 Storm Water Plan in which the project was identified as “High Priority.” The purpose of the project is to replace existing failing storm sewer infrastructure.
As noted above, the purpose of this project is to replace existing failing storm sewer infrastructure. This is consistent with the recommendations of the City’s 2016 Storm Water Plan, in which the project was identified as “High Priority”. The sewers were constructed in the early 1950’s and have never been rehabilitated. The existing sewers are not functioning as originally designed and need to be upgraded to current standards. The project will provide immediate health and safety benefits to eliminate basement flooding up to a 10-year storm
event. The project is a 100% replacement of the existing storm sewer system in the project area. The existing system is the source of repeated basement flooding in the immediate project area.

Potential Environmental Impacts
The site of the proposed project, as noted above, is located between Vine Street and Stevens Boulevard in the Corporation Creek Drainage Basin in the City of Willoughby. The proposed project involves replacement of the existing storm sewers on East 364th Street, East 365th Street and Harvard Avenue. The proposed project facilities will be constructed within the existing right-of-way of those streets. The new storm sewers on East 364th Street will discharge to the new existing Stevens Blvd. Storm Sewer. The new storm sewers on East 365th Street and Harvard Avenue will discharge to the Nason storm water retention basin adjacent to S.R. 2 in the City of Willoughby The entire project area is within fully developed municipal subdivisions. The proposed project, for the most part, will not impact sensitive features. However, due to the proximity of the proposed storm sewer replacement to trees in the right-of way, several trees will need to be removed during construction.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING &FACT SHEET

On East 364th Street, it is anticipated that no trees will be removed. On East 365th Street, it is anticipated that three (3) tree lawn trees will need to be removed, including a 15” diameter tree and two approximate 8” diameter trees, all located in the tree lawn area of the street. On Harvard Dr., it is anticipated that eleven (11) tree lawn trees will need to be removed, including a 15” diameter tree and ten approximate 8” diameter trees, all located in the tree lawn area of the street. Following construction, the City arborist will make recommendations for the replacement of the tree lawn trees that are removed during construction. Trees will be removed between October 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020 to prevent any potential impact on endangered bat species, as recommended by the funding agency, the Ohio EPA, Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance, as part of its environmental planning review.
In regard to environmental resources, there are no streams or wetlands on the site to be used for this project. Accordingly, the project will not disturb any aquatic resources. The site, as noted above, is in an existing disturbed developed area. The project site is not in the ODNR Coastal Zone Management Area, as delineated on the Coastal Zone Management maps. Further, a review of the Flood Insurance Rate Map for the entire project area of East 364th St., East 365th St. and Harvard, Image 39085C0093F.png, shows that the entire project area footprint is not located in the floodplain. The area shows as “Minimal Flood Hazard.”
The project will not impact any surface water resources, groundwater resources, agricultural
land, air quality or aesthetics of the area.
The endangered species list of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service was checked. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service lists the following animal species in Lake County – Bats, including the Indiana Bat and the Northern Long Eared Bat; Birds – Kirtland Warbler, Piping Plover and Rufa
Red Knot; Mussels – Snuffbox. The noted species will not be impacted by this project. The endangered species list was also checked for plant species. There are no known Plant Endangered Species in Lake County, the area in which the project is located.
The closest known historical/ archeological site in the vicinity of the proposed project site is the Reeve Village, located near the mouth of the Chagrin River, which is approximately four miles from the proposed project site. The closest known historical architectural site in the vicinity of the proposed project is Historic Downtown Willoughby, which is approximately 2 miles from the project site.
Some additional construction traffic, noise and dust will be generated during construction of the improvements. Standard construction techniques will be specified to prevent erosion during and after construction and will also be used to control noise, dust, odor and traffic during the course of construction. Standard construction safety practices will be followed during construction to protect both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
The impact on the surrounding area during and following construction should be minimal. In addition, a positive environmental effect of the project, in conjunction with other improvements to the storm sewer system, will be the reduction of storm water damage due to present inadequate storm sewers.
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Costs, Funding and Sewer Rates
Total construction costs submitted with the WPCLF Construction Loan Application for the City of Willoughby E. 364th, E. 365th & Harvard Storm Sewer Replacement Project are presently estimated at $2,116,131.55, including estimated capitalized interest. The 20year interest on the principal amount at 2.12% is $491,258.20. When bids for the project are received in June, 2019, the loan will be recalculated based on the interest rate for August, 2019. The loan is presently scheduled for award in August.
Costs not covered by the Construction Loan include property acquisition costs, a portion of the construction costs covered by a grant and loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) construction loan fee. There are no property acquisition costs. The project is being constructed in the public right of way and in
an existing City of Willoughby easement in which a discharge sewer pipe to the Nason Retention Basin will be located. As noted above, property acquisition costs are presently estimated at $0. The presently estimated OWDA Loan Fee is $7,348.00. In addition, an OPWC grant and loan for this project will cover $400,000.00 in project costs. The total of $407,348.00 in non – WPCLF loan funds is being paid from the City’s Sewer Account and the OPWC. Accordingly, the total estimated project cost, including the 20year loan interest is $3,014,737.75.
For purposes of securing an Ohio EPA Water Pollution Control Loan Fund loan to finance the subject project, the City has pledged its Sanitary Sewer Funds to pay for the debt service for the project loan. As part of that commitment, the following information demonstrates the City’s ability to do so.
The current Sanitary Sewer rate for all user classes located in the City of Willoughby is $3.65/ccf plus a quarterly administrative charge of $8.25 per sewer account per quarter. Willoughby’s average residential customer uses 18.558 ccf per quarter, based on 2018 usage. The average annual sewer bill for a residential user is $304.00. Willoughby does not anticipate an increase in sewer rates to pay for the construction loan for this project. However, as explained below, the City will be executing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lake County Commissioners to pay for the debt service for the WPCLF and OPWC Loans for this project. Also, however, the city is presently conducting a rate review in anticipation of other sanitary sewer projects anticipated in the next several years, the cost of which will require an increase in sewer rates, based on anticipated increases in both O,M & R costs and an increase in debt service costs . This was verified by the projection of increases in debt service and O,M&R costs shown on the Projection of Revenues and Expenses submitted with the WPCLF Loan Application for the subject project. Accordingly, it is fair to say that future Willoughby rate increases are not needed to pay for this project, since project funding is anticipated to be paid from another source.
Although the City has pledged its Sanitary Sewer funds to pay the debt service on the construction loan for the referenced project, the City has also entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Lake County Commissioners, dated August 7, 2014, in which the County and the City have agreed to carry out their mandated responsibilities in fulfillment of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). That permit authorizes discharges of storm water from a “municipal separate storm sewer system” (MS4) under OEPA Permit Number 3GQ0068*BG. Under the MOU, the City has become a member community of the Lake County
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Stormwater Management Department (LCSMD) and, as such, the City may utilize the services of the LCSMD for all six minimum control measures mandated by EPA, as well as work with the LCSMD for funding assistance to maintain and upgrade the storm sewer infrastructure within the community. This work can include, but is not limited to, storm sewer cleaning and repairing, watershed studies, infrastructure improvements that reduce flooding and improve the quality of storm water runoff. As noted above, the City and the County plan to enter another MOU that provides for the LCSMD to pay the debt service on both the WPCLF construction loan with OEPA-DEFA and the 0% interest loan with the OPWC, noted above. The details of the draft MOU will be finalized by the City and the County following receipt of the bids for the subject project in June, 2019 and the award of the WPCLF construction loan for the subject project in August, 2019.

In regard to homeowner costs, the source of pledged repayment for debt service and other project costs for the subject project for the City of Willoughby is sanitary sewer rates, as supplemented by a pending MOU with the Lake County Commissioners for funding for the project’s debt service through the Lake County Stormwater Management Department. There will be no other charges, including assessments, tap-in fees or other charges to pay for this project. In addition, the project is the construction of replacement storm sewers. There will be no additional costs to the residential user for inside plumbing and/or lateral connections needed as a result of this project.

Please contact James Sayles, P.E., Willoughby City Engineer, at CT Consultants, Inc., 8150 Sterling Court, Mentor, Ohio 44060, Phone Number – 440-530-2348, if you want more information or care to comment on this project.

Environmental Review: The Ohio EPA will make available for public review an environmental report on this project. Upon its release, the document may be viewed at Willoughby City website address, https://www.willoughbyohio.com or Ohio EPA’s website at: http://www.epa.ohio.gov/defa/ofa.aspx (“Documents Available for Review and Comment” – WPCLF Documents for Review and Comment”) and at Willoughby City Hall’s office address, Willoughby City Hall, 1 Public Square, Willoughby, Ohio 44094 If you would like to receive either an electronic copy via e-mail or a paper copy of the document via U.S. mail upon its release, please contact Linda Merchant-Masonbrink of Ohio EPA at either l.merchant-masonbrink@epa.ohio.gov or (614) 644-3656.