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Commission approves plumbing engineering study after flooding at 4th Street Garage
Summary
The RDC authorized Applied Engineering to study storm drains, lateral slopes and sump pump capacity at the 4th Street Garage after recurring flooding; commissioners asked staff to investigate whether design or construction errors could permit recovery from prior contractors or consultants.
The Redevelopment Commission unanimously approved a professional services agreement on June 1 for Applied Engineering to assess plumbing and stormwater systems at the 4th Street Garage following repeated flooding.
Jess Goodman, parking and garages manager for the Department of Public Works, told the commission the firm will evaluate existing storm drains and lateral slopes and determine whether the sump pump is properly sized for the garage. "This applied services is gonna assess the 4th Street Garage. They're gonna look at the existing storm drains, see if the laterals are sloped where they're supposed to be. They're also gonna assess the sump pump to make sure it is large enough for the size of the garage," Goodman said.
Commissioners pressed whether errors‑and‑omissions or bond claims might be available against original designers or contractors; staff said the engineering assessment will determine failure modes and whether recovery is legally viable given potential statutes of limitation. Bond funds (approximately $442,000) remain in a related garage bond account and may be used to fund repairs if recovery is not possible, staff said.
Next steps: Applied Engineering will produce a scope of work and cost estimate for repairs; staff will use findings to decide whether to pursue claims against designers/contractors or proceed with repairs funded from bond proceeds or other available funds.
