LTC 348-2009 Postponement of Coast Guard Wastewater Booster Pump Station Project1f, ,,, 4,.,r 4~, ¢ y. ..~
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 348-2009 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: December 10, 2009
SUBJECT: Postponement of Coast Guard Wastewater Booster Pump Station Project
The purpose of this LTC is to update the Mayor and City Commission on the Coast Guard
Wastewater Booster Pump Station Project (CGWBPS), and a County proposed utilitytunnel
under Govemment Cut that will replace an existing 54~ sanitary sewer line running from
Miami Beach to Virginia Key.
Until December 9, 2009, the Administration had been told repeatedly byMiami-Dade County
Water and Sewer Department (WASD) that a utility tunnel with three (3) pipes devoted to
sanitary sewer flow was to be the means to replace the existing 54" sewer line.
As indicated in the detailed background that follows, the planned utility tunnel could have
eliminated the need to build the CGWBPS. On December 9, 2009, the City was notified by
WASD that the utility tunnel was to be temporarily abandoned and relocation of the 54"
sewer line only in Govemment Cut was to be pursued. It is unknown when and if the utility
tunnel would be undertaken.
The Administration has contacted WASD and the County Manager to seek additional
information to be able to assess the impacts of the change in construction plans. The
change may have an impact on the need for the CGWBPS. As soon as additional
information is developed, it will be provided to the Mayor and City Commission.
The following background information on the utility tunnel was developed prior to receiving
notice from WASD that their plans had changed.
BACKGROUND ON UTILITY TUNNEL
On September 25, 2009, MDWASD requested an urgent meeting with City of Miami Beach
City Officials and the City's Coast Guard Wastewater Booster Pump Station (CGWBPS)
Engineer of Record, CDM, to present their revised connection point at the future CGWBPS.
The County felt the meeting was urgent as they had just finalized a design for the
replacement of the existing 54"sanitary sewer line and the design needed to be coordinated
with City plans for the CGWBPS.
It should be noted that in December 2008, CDM completed the final design of the CGWBPS.
The permitting of the same was completed in August 2009. When the County approached
the City with a final Design Criteria preferred alternative in September 2009, the City had
already entered the bidding phase of the project.
The County design criteria package (DCP) for the future Govemment Cut Wastewater
Transmission Force Main Replacement Project (GCWTFRP), was awarded on December 2,
2008, to the firm Earth-Tech Consulting, Inc. (now AECOM) by the County Board of
Commissioners. The scope of the design criteria package considered a variety of technical
services for a highly specialized tunnel project which included among other things the
development of a preferred alignment which required the coordination and assistance in
securing land rights with the communities of Fisher Island and Miami Beach.
The proposed sanitary sewage pipeline was needed in order to replace the existing 54-inch
sewer force main pipeline which now lies in conflict with the proposed US Army Corp of
Engineers-Miami Harbor (Govemment Cut) Federal Dredging Project. This dredging project
is expected to take place in 2013. As such, the proposed sanitary sewer force main pipeline
will need to be designed, constructed and placed into service prior to the decommissioning
of the existing pipeline prior to the start of the Miami Harbor (Govemment Cut) Federal
Dredging Project.
Given the County's urgent request to establish a connectivity point, both agencies
determined, at the September 25, 2009 meeting, that it was in the best interest of all parties
that the City's CGWBPS project accommodates the County's GCWTFRP revised
connection. The connection change based on the new design and would now be at a future
tunnel shaft located adjacent to the future pump station footprint along Jefferson Avenue.
Attachment A illustrates the future shaft location with connection points as envisioned by the
County's Design Criteria Engineer.
It was also at this meeting that MDWASD revealed their final Design Criteria preferred
alternative, which included the proposed future tunnel alignment, as well as its internal
configuration. See Attachment B which illustrates the proposed future tunnel alignment, as
well as a typical cross section of the tunnel housing all the required force main pipeline and
conduits.
The proposed 12-foot diameter encased tunnel is comprised of precast reinforced concrete
segments housing the required sewer force mains and additional conduits all encased in
grout. The County's original plan to intercept sewer flow via one (1) 54 inch diameter force
main was modified to three (3) independently-operating sewer force mains to convey
wastewater from the City of Miami Beach to the Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant
(CDWWTP) in Virginia Key. The original 54" hydraulic capacity requirement has now been
replaced by two (2) 48 inch diameter pipes. to addition, the County's Design Criteria
Engineer(AECOM)has proposed a third force main of 36-inches in diameterforfuture use,
as well as an additional 20-inch diameter reclaimed water line to return treated flow from the
CDWWTP back to Fisher Island and Miami Beach, as well as other empty conduits to be
used or to be leased at a later time.
Given the unpredicted and considerable increase in hydraulic capacity of the new design,
the City's consultant, CDM, immediately engaged in a subsequent hydraulic analysis to
evaluate the impacts to the City's wastewater conveyance system as a result of these
proposed modifications.
The hydraulic evaluation conducted by CDM eventually concluded that the proposed dual
48-inch diameter replacement sewer force mains proposed by MDWASD, would significantly
alter the hydraulics of the City's sanitary sewer pumping system, by causing a reduction in
pressure at the City's connection point to the MDWASD transmission system; hence
warranting a reconsideration of the necessity to introduce an additional pumping system to
reduce pressures upstream. The Public Works Director and the City Engineer have
reviewed the hydraulic conclusions and concur with CDM's findings (see Attachment C).
2
In light of these findings, the City has requested that WASD provide a Letter of Agreement or
a Memorandum of Understanding, to be followed by a formal Interlocal Agreement, which in
principle will assure the City of Miami Beach that the preferred alternative of replacing the
existing 54-inch force main with dual 48-inch force main with an additional 36-inch force
main will remain consistent through the design-build phase of the Force Main Project and
that no significant deviations from the Design Criteria Package, as presented by AECOM
shall alter the derived hydraulics concluded by CDM, pursuant to the County's proposed
alternatives. The County has confirmed their intent to enter into a Letter of Agreement or
Memorandum of Understanding (see Attachment D). Based on the above, the City intends
to postpone the bid award and construction of the Coast Guard Wastewater Booster Pump
Station until such time the City and WASD have fully and successfully coordinated these two
important projects.
As the Commission was informed in a November 13, 2009 LTC regarding the replacement
of the Government Cut Sewer Line, the City met with potentially affected residents on
Monday, November 16~' at City Hall to discuss the project. City staff representatives were
also in attendance at a Wednesday, November 18~' meeting held by the County at Miami
Beach High School to discuss the project.
As a result of the two meetings, residents in the area have agreed to form an Ad Hoc
Committee titled "Sewage Tunnel Impact Committee" (STIC). The residents have agreed to
work collaboratively with the City to assure that resident and City needs are met as the
County Project proceeds. Among many questions which have been raised by residents and
by staff, a number have focused on the potential impacts of the projects construction in the
boundaries of the City of Miami Beach. Noise impacts, traffic impacts and business impacts
have all been raised as concerns for our residents. There are also concerns that have to do
with the system capacity and a guaranty from the County that if the future pump station is not
built the County will be responsible for any future additions and or modifications to the
system to handle the sewage flow from Miami Beach.
Attached is the most recent communication that was sent to Miami-Dade County that
indicates many of the areas of concern that need to be addressed for the utility tunnel
project. This a-mail has been shared with the STIC group and will be the subject of
discussion and a meeting to be held with STIC in the nearfuture. When the date is set, the
Mayor and City Commission will be notified.
A concern has also been raised by residents as to the source for funds associated with the
sewer line replacement project. At present, the County is proposing to use funds
accumulated by WASD through connection fees and rates which would have the effect of
spreading the costs across all sewage users in Miami-Dade County. A question has been
raised as to whether or not the Port of Miami should pay some or all of the project costs as it
is related to the dredging of the Port and it may be possible for private investmentto be used
to help offset some oral! of the project costs. This question is one which will require the
assistance of the members of the City Commission to work directlywith the Board of County
Commissioners if a change is to be made.
J M G/RCM/FHB/FAVJj m/sa m
F:\cmgr\$ALL\BOB\LTG PostponementofCoastGuardWastewaterBoosterPumpStationProj.doc
Attachment
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Attachment C
~ MIAMI~EACH
.__. City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miomi beach, Florida 33139, www.r;iamibeachfl.gov
Interoffice Memoral•Idum
TO: Fred H. Beckmann, P.E., Public Works Director
FROM: Fernando A. Vazquez, P.E, City Engineer
DATE: October 28, 2009
SUBJECT: CDM's Hydraulic Analysis of the Coast Guard Wastewater Booster
Pump Station and the newly proposed Government Cut Replacement Force
Main configuration,
Pursuant to our discussion, attached please find memo•andum of findings and
recommendations issued by CDM following a Hydraulic Analysis c•` the aforementioned pump
station in relationship to the newly proposed Government Cut Replacement Force Main
configuration.
In discussions with CDM, it is my professional opinion that CDM's fil•:dings are conforming to the
hydraulic modifications of the Government Cut Replacement Force Main, presented by WASD
to the City of Miami Beach during our meeting of September 25, 20!:13.
Please let me know if you have any further questions and/or require additional information.
F:\workl$ALU(t) EMPLOYEE FOLDERSIFERNANDO VAZQUEZ1Coast Guard Pump StationlCoast Guard Pump
Station- CDM Hydraulic Analysis.doac
•. ~ 1~1~
800 Brickell Avenue, Suite S00
Miami, Florida 33131
tel: 305 372-7171
fax: 305 372-9167
October 28, 2009
Mr. Fernando Vazquez, P.E.
City EnguZeer
City of Miami Beach
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Subject: City of Miami Beach
Hydraulic Analysis of the Coast Guard Wastewater Booster Pump Station and
the Government Cut Replacement Force Maul (ITB 50-08-09)
Dear Mx. Vazquez:
The City of Miami Beach h•ansinits its wastewater to the Central Dishict Wastewater
Treatment Plant (CDWWTP) through an existing 54-inch diameter force main under
Government Cut for h•eahnent by the Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department
(MDWASD). Previous hydraulic analysis and studies determined that an inline Booster Pump
Station in the South Pointe neighborhood was recommended to adequately meet wastewater
transmission needs from the City of Miami Beach (City). Accordingly, the City completed the
design and permitting of the Coast Guard Booster Pump Station (CGBPS) and advertised on
August 27, 2009 for receipt of construction bids. Following is a recap offering a background to
the CGBPS.
The CGBPS project was formulated as part of the Water and Wastewater Pump Stations
Upgrades Preliminary Design project initiated u11992. Based on the findings of this project,
the City and CDM concurred that the least disruptive and most economically feasible option
to meet the projected wastewater flows and subsequent Miami-Dade County Volume Sewer
Customer Ordinance (VSCO) requirements for the wastewater transmission system was to
construct a new booster pump station at the downstream end of the City's wastewater
transmission system. This approach was in lieu of performing the major structural and
electrical upgrades at six large existing pump stations located north of Alton Road and SW 5th
Street. The new pumps installed under the recently completed Pump Stations Upgrades
Program were designed specifically to work u1 concert with a new booster station (e.g.
CGBPS) and therefore maintain stable discharge pressure conditions in the City's
transmission system. The Puinp Stations Upgrades Program was successfully completed in
20061eaving the CGBPS as the remaining component to the City's upgraded pumping station
improvements and wastewater transnssion sh•ategy.
YS0610 Itr.docx
consulting • engineering • construction • operations
~~
Mr. Fernando Vazquez, P.E.
October 28, 2009
Page 2
Community meetings were held to discuss the aesthetics, performance and operation of the
proposed CGBPS. In November 2006, the City Design Review Board approved the current
design strategy for the CGBPS. In December 2008, CDM completed the final design of the
CGBPS with permitting completed ii August 2009. As previously mentioned, the project is
currently in its procurement for conshuction bid phase.
On September 25, 2009, MDWASD scheduled a meeting with the City to discuss their
Government Cut Wastewater Transnussion Force Main Replacement project. CDM attended
this meeting where representatives of the MDWASD and their consultant sought to
coordinate their project, seeking replacement of the existing 54-inch diameter force main used
by the City to transmit flows to the CDWWTP, with the bidding of the CGBPS. At this
meeting, it was established that it was in the best interest of all parties that the CGBPS project
accommodate the Government Cut tie-in connection. It was at this meeting that MDWASD
indicated that they are proposing two paralle148-inch diameter pipes and one 36-inch
diameter pipe on Jefferson Avenue in lieu of a 54-inch diameter line, similar to the existing
conditions. MDWASD intends to issue adesign/build request for qualifications and request
for proposal around Apri12010 and October 2010, respectively for their project. It was also
discussed that MDWASD would reimburse the City for associated costs to re-design and
construct modified force main tie-in to the CGBPS.
Subsequently, MDWASD sent a letter to the City on September 28, 2009 indicating their intent
to develop and enter into an niter-local agency agreement for coordination between the City
of Miami Beach CGBPS and the MDWASD's Government Cut Replacement FM projects. On
October 21, 2009, MDWASD accepted CDM's scope of services to perform engineering
services for the a) hydraulic analysis and b) design modifications associated with the
proposed multiple force mains at the coiulection poilt to the existng 54-inch diameter line at
the CGBPS site.
H~drarrlic Arxal~sis
The hydraulic evaluation focused on determining the interrelationship between the City's
wastewater transmission system, pumping units, and the newly proposed tie-in condition of
the CGBPS to the MDWASD project. Our analysis so far indicates that fine proposed dua148-
inch diameter replacement force mains and the alternate operational condition of 48-inch and
36-inch diameter replacement force mains proposed by MDWASD sigiuficantly alters the
hydraulics of the City's manifolded pumping system, including the CGBPS, by reducing
pressure (i.e head loss} at the City's connection point to MDWASD's transmission system.
YS0610 IV.docx
~~
Mr. Fernando Vazquez, P.E.
October 28, 2009
Page 3
Design Modifications
CDM is proceeding with design revisions to the CGBPS drawings to provide a connection
point for the three proposed force mains that accommodate MDWASD's proposed conceptual
Government Cut FM Project. Tlne design drawing revisions will be completed in time for the
current Uid closure of November 3, 2009.
It is our understanding that the City leas not yet received the inter-local agreement from
MDWASD corrunitting to the design or conshuction of the proposed replacement force
mains. CDM recommends that the City obtain a formal agreement from MDWASD regarding
their commitment to pipe sizing, tunnel location, and construction schedule of the proposed
force mains. With this formal conunirinent, the City will be able to appropriately assess the
criticality of the construction of the CGBPS.
Based on the above developments, tine City is faced with several options at this time that
includes the following: •
^ Postponing or extending tlne bid period for approximately six months.
^ Receive bids per tine advertised schedule. However consider extending the period for
Acceptance or Rejection of Bids from 90 days to 180-210 days.
^ Cancel the Uid until formal commitments are made between the City and MDWASD.
In the meantime, CDM advises the City to continue discussions with MDWASD in an effort to
make the most informed long-term decision regarding the CGBPS. Furthermore, these
discussions will support the City's responsibility to provide adequate sewer collection and
hansmission capacity pursuant to Chapter 24 Section 24-42.2 of the Miami-Dade County
Code of Ordinances.
rsos~o iv.docx
•~
Mr. Fernando Vazquez, P.E.
October 28, 2009
Page 4
Should you have any questions or need any further assistance, please contact us.
V h•uly yo
:_-~ -
~son A. Jo on, P.E.
Principal
Camp Dresser & McKee Inc.
JAJ/ys
File: 9381-73797-009
cc: Fred Beckmann, P.E., CMB
Charles Carreiio, P.E., CMB
Hiram Siaba, CMB
YS0610 IV.docx
OCT-29-2009 THU 12 41 PM E, VEGA ASST, D I RECTOR FAX. H0, 786 552 8637 P, 02
At#achment D
Ve a, Eduardo A. WASD '~
From: Vega, Eduardo A. (I/VASD}
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:50 AM
To: 'Beckmann, Fred'
Cc: Vazquez, Fernando; Carreno, Charles; Hemstreet, Tim; Arrebola, Vicente (WASD);
Fernandez-Cuervo, Victor {WASD}; Leu, Sara C. {WASD); Renfrow, John {WASD)
Subject: RE: REPLACEMENT OF 54-INCH FORCE MAIN
I am glad to hear from you. Your yesterday e-mail accurately describe the telephone conversation we had Tuesday
afternoon. Hereby, I am confirming that MD-WASp`s request for atwo-h8-inch and one-36-inch tie-in connections to the
proposed City of Miami Beach Coast Guard Booster Pump Station is the final determination from this Department. We
will also paid the designer consultant (CDM) and selected construction contractor the fees associated with the
implementation of this tie-in connection requirement needed for the replacement of the existing 54-inch force main
serving Miami Beach and other northern municipal governments. At this time, I am requesting MD-WASD staff to start
preparing the Letter of Agreement of Memorandum of Agreement necessary to legally execute this understanding
between the CMB and MD-WASD.
I trust the aforementioned language satisfy your immediate requirement. At this time, I would like to express my most
sincere gratitude to you and City's staff for the patience you have shown in collaborating with our Department in the
implementation of the proposed Utility Tunnel across Government Cut and Norris Cut.
Best regards,
Eduardo A. Vega, P.E.
Assistant Director -Engineering and Capital Improvements
Miami-wade Water and Sewer Department
3071 SW 38 Avenue • Miami, Florida 33148
786-552-8103 phone 786-552-8637 Fax
www. miamidade.aov/wasd/hams. asa
"Aelivering Excellence Every Oay"
From: Beckmann, Fred [mailto:FredBeckmann@mlamlbeachfl.gova
ISent: Wednesday, October.ZB, .2009 5:18 PM
To: Vega, Eduardo A. (WASD)
Cc: Vazquez, Fernando; Carreno, Charles; Hemstreet,"Tlm
SubjecC: REPLACEMENT OF 54-INCH FORCE MAIN
Eduardo,
As discussed yesterday, please confirm that WASD will replace the existing 54-inch force main. with 2-48-inch and 1-36-
inch farce mains that will be availaf,le to service sewer flows from Miami Beach to the Virginia Keys Treatment Plant.
We request that WASD agrees to executing a Letter of Agreement or a Memorandum of Understanding assuring the City
of Miami Beach that the existing 54-inch force main will be replaced with 2-48-inch and 1-36-inch farce mains.
Please call me if you have any questions; cell: 786.412.8663
Thanks.
MIAMIIiSEA~II~
Fred N. Secknlane, P.E., DIRECTOR
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami 9each, f=t, 33139
Tel: 805.673.70801 Fax. 786.394.5472 / www.miamibeachfl,aov