Presenter
Presented by Mr. Shields
Title
Resolution authorizing the City of Pittsburgh to be designated as the Local Sponsor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection's Streets Run Watershed remediation plan.
Body
WHEREAS, for decades serious flooding and resulting damages have occurred along Streets Run Creek in the Hays section of the City of Pittsburgh's 31st Ward.
WHEREAS, the flooding, documented as far back as 1953, has endangered the public's health, safety and welfare and has repeatedly caused private and public property losses, denigrated the quality of life of resident and business owner alike, disrupted commerce due to extensive damage to public rights-of-way, and has damaged and, at times, rendered a city fire station useless; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Environmental Protection ("PA DEP") of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has agreed to design and construct flood protection system along Streets Run Creek; and
WHEREAS, the PA DEP will undertake this project for 80% of the total construction cost and, furthermore, the Commonwealth's legislature has acted to secured the necessary capital funds to perform this public works project. Additionally, the PA DEP has already expended in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) on preliminary design efforts in support of this much needed flood control project; and,
WHEREAS, the last leg of Streets Run Creek goes into an underground channel from the present Galvtech steel galvanizing plant in Hays to the creek's terminus at the Monongehela River which is situated within the Borough of West Homestead. Portions of this underground conveyance have recently collapsed in two separate areas situated in the parking lot of the Sandcastle Waterslide Park. Portions of said lot are within both the City and the Borough of West Homestead. These collapsed areas now create a clear and present danger as an obstruction to the storm flow of the Streets Run. These significant obstructions act as a damn, which in turn will only worsen existing flood conditions.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby authorize the Mayor of the City to inform the PA DEP in writing that the city agrees to be designated as the Local Sponsor of the PA DEP's Streets Run Watershed remediation plan (as noted below) to the extent that it agrees to the cost sharing arrangement for all of the project area situated within the City of Pittsburgh.
It shall be reflected in the Local Sponsor's agreement with the Commonwealth that approximately One Thousand Feet (1,000') of the proposed Streets Run Creek flood channel to be constructed is situated within the Borough of West Homestead and the city reserves the right, as the Local Sponsor, to be exempted from any and all costs associated with the construction of this portion of the proposed flood channel.
SECTION 2. The City of Pittsburgh is hereby authorized to enter into agreement or agreements with the PA DEP to allow the Streets Run Flood Channel to be constructed by the PA DEP. In consideration of the work aforementioned and of the benefits to be derived, the Local Sponsor, does hereby agree to contribute twenty percent (20%) of the construction costs, acquire and furnish at the sponsor's cost, all lands, easements and rights-of-entry required for surveys, foundation investigations, construction and maintenance of the project, including the removal of buildings and other structures which interfere with the construction of the project, the relocation of the utilities, and borrow and spoil areas as may be required.
The local sponsor does hereby agree to all assurances and conditions of sponsorship specified by the PA DEP.
SECTION 3. The Mayor or the Mayor's designated representative is authorized to enter into discussions with the Borough of West Homestead and the County of Allegheny County and PA DEP in order to negotiate any necessary agreements related to cost sharing and coordination of this project.