Explanation
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract with Watershed Organic Landscape and Lawn Care for the Green Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance Project (formerly known as the Bioretention Basin Inspection and Maintenance Services). The City of Columbus is committed to investing in green infrastructure. As part of this commitment, the City has built a number of bioretention basins in the right-of-way and/or on City owned property.
Bioretention basins are engineered, shallow depressions that treat stormwater runoff using pollutant removal mechanisms that function in natural ecosystems: settling, filtration, absorption, microbial breakdown and nutrient assimilation. Surface runoff is directed into the bioretention area where it temporarily ponds before infiltrating through mulch and a soil media planted with vegetation. The infiltrated water percolates into soils and, if necessary, enters a perforated underdrain that discharges into a water body or storm drain system.
The City is currently responsible for the maintenance of 4 sites with 46 basins located in the Riversouth area of downtown and 16 sites with 36 basins/wetlands and 15 swales located at Griggs, O’Shaughnessy and Hoover reservoirs. Each site may have multiple basins, swales, or other types of green infrastructures. Additional sites may be added in the future. All facilities are located in Franklin, Fairfield, and Delaware Counties. The primary requirements are to inspect the green infrastructure components and repair or replace them if necessary, and to provide general maintenance. The contractor will work with Watershed Maintenance staff when performing maintenance at the basins located at the reservoirs.
The Department of Public Utilities advertised Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) for the subject services in the City Bulletin in accordance with the pertinent provisions of Section 329, Columbus City Codes, 1959. ...
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