Subject:
Title
Municipal Services Taxing Unit funding for the Tierra Verde Community Association for repairs and upgrades to the landscaping and irrigation system within the Pinellas Bayway South median.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) funding request, in the amount not to exceed $20,000.00, for the Tierra Verde Community Association (TVCA) for repairs and upgrades to the landscaping and irrigation system within the Pinellas Bayway South median.
• In 2017, the County received a landscaping beautification grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to install landscaping within the median of the Pinellas Bayway South.
• In 2017, the County entered into an agreement with the TVCA which assigned TVCA with the responsibility of maintaining the median, including landscaping and the irrigation system.
• In 2018, the County entered into a funding agreement with the TVCA to provide $18,000.00 annually towards the cost of annual maintenance of the median. This funding was determined based upon the cost to the County if it was to maintain the median at its basic level of service.
• The MSTU funding is being requested to repair and upgrade the irrigation system within the median which was struck by lightning. Additionally, funds would be used to replace plants that died due to the inoperable irrigation system.
• The total cost of the project is $20,258.86 and the TVCA will fund the remaining $258.86. Because a new agreement is required, the funding will be allocated from the FY 23 Budget.
• To ensure the landscaping and irrigation system are maintained once replaced, this MSTU funding is contingent upon the TVCA entering into a new maintenance and funding agreement for the median. The funding will not be provided until a new agreement is approved by the Board of County Commissioners and executed by the County and the TVCA.
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Summary:
Summary
In 2017 the County received a landscaping beautification grant from FDOT to install landscaping within the median of the Pinellas Bayway S. In 2017 the County entered into an agreement with the TVCA which assigned TVCA with the responsibility of maintain the median, including landscaping and the irrigation system. The irrigation system was recently damaged as a result of being struck by lightning. The MSTU funding is being requested to repair and upgrade the irrigation system within the median. Additionally, funds will be used to replace plants that died due to lack of irrigation resulting from the inoperable irrigation system.
The County’s funding agreement with TVCA is set to expire in 2023 and includes two five-year options to renew. The County has informed TVCA that MSTU funding will only be provided once a new agreement between the County and TVCA is executed. In an effort to combine all agreements pertaining to the maintenance of the median within the Pinellas Bayway S. into one agreement, the new agreement will include maintenance responsibilities as well as funding provisions. The execution of the agreement will come before the Board at a future meeting.
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Background Information:
Through a maintenance agreement, the TVCA is responsible for maintaining the landscaping and irrigation within the Pinellas Bayway S. median. The upgrades and repairs to the irrigation system are needed for the irrigation system to function properly. In order to ensure the irrigation system and landscaping is maintained properly long-term, the County will provide MSTU funding for these repairs and upgrades, however, this funding is contingent upon the TVCA entering into a new agreement that will combine current agreements into one. The new agreement will also provide annual funding in the amount that it would cost the County to maintain the median if it were to contract the maintenance to the County’s landscape contractor. The TVCA has agreed to this conceptually and is aware that a new agreement is needed before MSTU funds will be released. The new maintenance agreement is a separate item from this MSTU request and is subject to TVCA and Board of County Commissioners approval.
Fiscal Impact:
This request for funding in the amount of $20,000.00 is a one-time expenditure of budgeted MSTU Special Project funds. Funding is included in the General Government MSTU cost center within the General Fund and is consistent with amounts provided during the FY22 budget development.
Funding is contingent upon TVCA and the County entering into a separate agreement for the maintenance of the median. The new agreement is a separate item that will not go to the Board for consideration until FY23. For this reason, the MSTU funds being approved would come from the FY23 budget.
Staff Member Responsible:
Brian Lowack, Assistant to the County Administrator, County Administration
Partners:
Tierra Verde Community Association
Attachments:
TVCA MSTU Application
Irrigation and Landscaping Quote