Resolution Authorizing a Contract with HR Green for Design Services 

7^th Avenue Creek carries stormwater from as far east as Kirk Road  all the way to the Fox River. The creek is entirely runoff fed and is prone to flash flooding. Because of its history of flooding, the City put together at master plan for stormwater improvements along 7^th Avenue Creek. At this time, the City has completed two of the projects identified in that plan. The first was completed in 2021 and involved channel and culvert improvements between 10^th Avenue and South Avenue. The second was completed in 2025 and increased the size of the culvert under IL-25, providing the capacity for future upstream improvements. The next section available for improvement involves replacing the culverts under 10^th and 11^th Avenues and improving the adjacent channel. This project will remove three businesses and five residences from the floodplain and reduce the floodplain on 11 more properties.  Design work for these improvements is budgeted starting this fiscal year with construction scheduled to take place in FY 28.

HR Green created the master plan for 7^th Avenue Creek giving them unrivaled knowledge of the watershed, its drainage, and the City’s goals. In 2022, they were chosen over six other consultants through a competitive SOI/RFQ process to design the Riverside Culvert Project. Not only was the project successfully designed and built, but HR Green was able to secure over $640k in IDOT funding for construction.  Based on their previous experience and the fact that this project is inherently related to, and an ongoing part of, the 7^th Avenue Creek stormwater improvement project, Staff recommends waiving the RFP process for this design and awarding directly to HR Green.  

Recommendation: Approve