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City selects Volkert for airport environmental assessment required for HUD-funded expansion; city to cover preliminary clearance work
Summary
The city selected engineering firm Volkert for NEPA/environmental and cultural-resource services tied to a HUD grant for development west of Fairhope Municipal Airport; staff said the environmental clearance contract is not covered by the HUD grant and asked council to authorize a not-to-exceed contract so the NEPA process can proceed.
City staff said they selected engineering and environmental consultant Volkert to perform environmental and cultural-resource assessments required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for an airport-area development grant, and staff requested council authorization of a not-to-exceed contract to begin the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) work.
Richard Johnson explained the airport has received a significant HUD grant to expand industrial/aviation-related development on the west side of the airport. Johnson said NEPA review for HUD projects involves a detailed cultural-resources and environmental study that typically includes archaeological survey, historical-resources review and GIS mapping.
"This is archeological, this is cultural resources, this is environmental. It is GIS as well," Johnson said, describing the scope. He told council members the city conducted an RFQ process and recommended selection of Volkert. City staff said the cost for this NEPA/environmental clearance is not eligible for payment from the HUD grant itself; the city must fund the initial assessment prior to obligating grant proceeds.
Nut graf: The selection of Volkert moves the city into the formal NEPA/environmental assessment phase required to use a HUD grant for airport-area development; staff asked the council to approve the firm and a not-to-exceed contract so environmental review can begin.
Staff said the scope and cost reflect the high level of documentation HUD requires and recommended prompt approval to keep the grant schedule on track. No final dollar amount for the contract award appeared in the work-session discussion; city staff said the item on the council agenda is a not-to-exceed authorization and that final invoicing will follow completion milestones.
