Title
SUBMISSION OF PERMIT WL-000014140103 ISSUED BY THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (ODEQ) FOR THE INTERSTATE DRIVE EAST EXTENSION WATER LINE PROJECT.
Body
BACKGROUND: On August 22, 2006, City Council approved Contract K-0607-45 by and between the City of Norman, the Norman Tax Increment Finance Authority (NTIFA) and University Town Center L.L.C., regarding Development Agreement No. 1 for the Initial Project Activities associated with the Traffic and Roadway Improvements needed to mitigate the additional traffic generated by the University North Park (UNP) development.
In 2008, the City constructed 0.62 miles of the 1.7 miles of the I-35 frontage road (Interstate Drive East) from Mount Williams Drive to Conference Center Drive. During the design of the Rock Creek Road Overpass, the bridge was designed to span the future frontage road extension. On May 7, 2012, City Council and NTIFA approved Development Agreement No. 5 for the UNP Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District which includes funding to complete the frontage road (Interstate Drive East) from Conference Center Drive to 24th Avenue NW. During the summer of 2012, the I-35/Robinson Street Interchange NE Quadrant project tied the I-35/Robinson Street Interchange ramps with the frontage road. The attached map highlights the project boundaries.
Projects included in Development Agreement No. 5 are:
· Construction of the intersection of 24th Avenue NW and Legacy Park Drive (Complete)
· Construction of Legacy Park and Legacy Trails (Under Construction)
· Construction of the I-35/Robinson Street NE Interchange (Complete)
· Design of the I-35/Robinson Street West Interchange (Under Way)
· Construction of the Interstate Drive East Extension (Pending)
The I-35/Robinson Street NE Interchange project was completed in September, 2012. The intersection of 24th Avenue NW and Legacy Park Drive was completed in January 2013. Construction of Legacy Park and the design of the West Robinson Interchange are currently underway.
DISCUSSION: The Interstate Drive East Extension Project will extend the existing Interstate Drive from Conference Drive to 24th Avenue NW. The project will construct a new roadway paralleling Interstate 35, northbound from Conference Drive, passing under the Rock Creek Road Overpass, and eventually turning eastbound, tying back into 24th Avenue NW at an intersection with Commerce Avenue, which is currently being constructed within University North Park by the Norman Economic Development Coalition. Attachment A highlights the alignment of the new road. As a part of this project, a new public water line will be constructed on the east side of Interstate Drive East Extension. The new public water line will provide domestic water and fire protection needs for the future University North Park development. The cost of the water line project is proposed to be paid for by the Norman Water Utility and repaid by future developers of adjacent properties served by the waterline, under a Payback Agreement to be separately considered by the Norman Utility Authority (NUA) Trustees.
The public water line plans and specifications were developed by the City's design consultant, SMC Consulting Engineers of Oklahoma City. Staff has applied for and received the above-referenced permit from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) to construct the public waterline. ODEQ requires that this permit be recognized and acknowledged as a matter of permanent record in the City Council's regular minutes.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the NUA and City Council acknowledge this permit and that it be made a matter of permanent record in the City Council minutes.