Subject:
Title
Cooperative Funding Agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District for the John Chesnut Sr. Park Aquifer Storage & Recovery and Aquifer Recharge Project.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Cooperative Funding Agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District for the John Chesnut Sr. Park Aquifer Storage & Recovery and Aquifer Recharge Project.
• The project consists of designing and constructing a managed aquifer recharge well, an aquifer storage and recovery system, and the design and permitting of a shared surface water intake and filtration system.
• This project aligns with the North County Reclaimed Water Master Plan to increase storage/disposal capacity in the system.
• The amount of the agreement is $1,787,000.00 with $893,500 of grant funding from the Cooperative Funding Agreement with SWFWMD and $893,500 of County match. The agreement term expires in August 2025.
• Funding for the County match is available from Project 004364A, Chesnut Park Aquifer Storage and Recovery System Project in the Sewer Renewal and Replacement Fund
• The cooperative funding provides for design, permitting, and preliminary construction for the well system.
• The total estimated budget of $9,149,000 provides for total construction of the surface water intake system and treatment center for water injection.
• Application for funding was submitted in October 2019 and has been approved by SWFWMD.
Project No. 004364A Chesnut Park Aquifer Storage and Recovery System Project; project total of $1,787,000.00; Agreement term from October 1, 2020 through August 31, 2025; Authorize the Chairman to sign and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
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Strategic Plan:
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources
3.4 Reduce/reuse/recycle resources including energy, water, and solid waste
3.5 Foster a sustainable and resilient community that is prepared for sea-level rise and a changing climate
Deliver First Class Service to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of County services and support
Summary:
Summary
The Agreement will provide cooperative funding for the construction of a managed aquifer recharge well, an aquifer storage and recovery system, and the design and permitting of a shared surface water intake and filtration system. The project is intended to develop alternative water supplies to supplement the North Pinellas Reclaimed Water System and will provide several environmental benefits, including increased water levels in the Northern Water Use Caution Area, and decreased nutrient loading to old Tampa Bay.
Paragraph 10.1 of the Agreement, pursuant to the provisions of Section 768.28, Florida Statutes states the County shall indemnify and hold SWFWMD harmless, which the County does not do per Resolution 06-70 attached. However, SWFWMD is historically unwilling to alter liability/indemnity language in its form cooperative funding agreements. The County Attorney has documentation from SWFWMD legal counsel stating that the County should assume as much until SWFWMD advises otherwise. Consequently, SWFWMD will not change its liability/indemnity language in this funding agreement.
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Background Information:
This project will implement Phase III of the North County Reclaimed Water Master Plan as described to the Board in an initial work session presentation on April 4, 2019 and implementation update session on December 2, 2021. The application for cooperative funding was submitted to SWFWMD on October 4, 2019, and the application was approved thereafter. Development of the Agreement was delayed due to changes in permitting processes. The permit for cycle testing of the ASR well is anticipated in Fall of 2022, and design and permitting of the surface water intake is scheduled to begin upon execution of this Agreement. Additional funding for the continuation of this project will be sought once the SWFWMD conducts its third-party review, approves the design of the intake, treatment system, and surface facilities, and the project aligns with their criteria for environmental benefits.
Fiscal Impact:
SWFWMD will be providing fifty percent (50%) in the amount of $893,500.00. The County match is fifty percent (50%) in the amount of $893,500.00. Project expenditure is not to exceed $1,787,000.00. Funding is is budgeted in the Capital Improvement Plan under Project No. 004364A Chesnut Park Aquifer Storage and Recovery System Project, in the Sewer Renewal and Replacement Fund.
Staff Member Responsible:
Megan Ross, Director, Utilities Department
Partners:
SWFWMD
Attachments:
Cooperative Funding Agreement
Project Location Map