City of Monroe, LA

EMERGENCY ORDINANCE

STATE OF LOUISIANA

CITY OF MONROE                                                                        NO.  12,009               

            The following Ordinance was introduced by Mr.  Harvey             who moved for its adoption and was seconded by Mr.  Wilson                       :

WHEREAS, the City of Monroe operates the Calypso Pump Station which is a stormwater pump station on the Ouachita River that provides flood relief and drainage control for most of the central business district, government center, and regional medical centers located in the City of Monroe.

WHEREAS, inspections of the pump station have identified cracks and spalling in the concrete floor of the pump station and some exposed rebar indicating degradation of the structural capacity of the floor.

WHEREAS, due to the extended high elevation of the Ouachita River it has been impossible to commence repairs or inspect current conditions of the pump station for several months.   

WHEREAS, an inspection on October 1, 2019 by structural engineers confirmed addition degradation and failure in the wetwell necessitating immediate shoring and stabilization for repairs to avoid imminent harm to persons and property and the public. 

WHEREAS, this Council previously declared an emergency related to the condition of the Calypso Pump Station on October 8, 2019 (Ordinance No. 11,962) and authorized the City of Monroe to seek necessary, emergency repairs to the Calypso Pump Station, including shoring and stabilization.

WHEREAS, the City of Monroe immediately undertook to solicit emergency shoring and stabilization and repairs in accordance with October 2019 emergency declaration. Specifications and contract documents were prepared for the emergency shoring and stabilization and limited emergency repairs and quotes were solicited from qualified contractors on November 19, 2019 and December 17, 2019.  Although several contractors reviewed the project documents, the City was unable to obtain a reliable or firm quote from contractors under either solicitation. The City engaged in additional outreach efforts to obtain a qualified contractor and refined the project documents in an effort to secure the emergency repairs as quickly as possible.

WHEREAS, in early 2020, the elevation of the Ouachita River increased to flood conditions such that the gates of the Calypso Pump Station and the other river pump stations were closed, thus making the site inaccessible for work or for inspection by prospective contractors.  The river remained in flood condition with the gates closed and the site inaccessible until June 2020 at which time solicitation of a qualified contractor resumed.  

WHEREAS, river conditions are currently adequate to accomplish the shoring, stabilization and repairs but subject to swift change with seasonal weather events in the winter and late fall, such that it is in the best interest of the public to commence repairs as soon as possible.

WHEREAS, a qualified contractor has been identified and negotiations are nearing completion for a contract to do the necessary limited emergency repairs, including shoring and stabilization and annual inspections. The estimated costs are $275,000 - $325,000, with some contingencies based upon unknown conditions. Funds being available in the Stormwater Maintenance Fund.

WHEREAS, it is necessary to declare a continuing emergency for the Calypso Pump Station due to the critical infrastructure, including hospitals, that it services and the need to conduct these repairs as expeditiously as possible so that the Calypso Pump Station is not at risk of total failure.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Monroe, Louisiana, in legal session convened, that the condition of the Calypso Street Pump Station remains an emergency posing a danger to the public necessitating shoring and stabilization, ongoing inspection and monitoring and other repairs and is hereby further declared a continuing emergency.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that such emergency repairs necessary to repair the condition are authorized and Mayor Friday Ellis of the City of Monroe is authorized to enter into such contracts as may be necessary to complete the project.

This Ordinance having been submitted in writing and was then submitted to a vote as a whole, the vote thereon being as follows:

AYES:            Harvey, Ezernack, Woods, Wilson & Dawson

NAYS:            None.

 ABSENT:      None.

   And the Ordinance was declared ADOPTED on the  11th     day of  August    ,

2020.

Juanita G. Woods                  

CHAIRMAN

Carolus S. Riley                     

CITY CLERK

Oliver Friday Ellis                 

MAYOR’S APPROVAL

MAYOR’S VETO