Subject:
Title
Funding agreement between the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the County for weir modification and habitat restoration at Roosevelt Creek Channel 5.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the funding agreement between the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the County for weir modification and habitat restoration at Roosevelt Creek Channel 5.
• Agreement provides $100,000.00 for construction and habitat restoration of Roosevelt Creek Channel 5.
• Funding will provide $25,000.00 towards the removal of a non-functioning weir and $75,000.00 for new plantings.
• Work under this agreement is part of the Roosevelt Creek Channel 5 Improvement project expected to advertise for bid in late spring 2022.
• Companion Legistar item 22-0126A is an agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which provides County $350,000.00 for habitat restoration and salinity weir modification.
PID No. 002123A; Agreement amount is $100,000.00; Agreement expires upon receipt of full payment by County.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources.
Deliver First-Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
This Agreement provides $100,000.00 in funding for the construction and habitat restoration of Roosevelt Creek Channel 5. The funding will provide $25,000.00 for removal of a non-functioning weir and $75,000.00 for new plantings. The plantings will aid to prevent erosion on the western channel bank and provide habitat. In addition, the plantings may provide a decrease to the cost of recurring maintenance.
The Roosevelt Creek Channel 5 Improvements project provides several benefits including improved flood protection level of service, restoration of natural hydrologic flow, removal of exotic vegetative species and re-establishment of native plant species, bank stabilization, and other stormwater infrastructure improvements.
Background/Explanation:
The TBEP received $100,000.00 from a settlement agreement between the City of Largo and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper to improve environmental quality in the Old Tampa Bay Watershed. The TBEP elected to contribute the $100,000.00 to the County for enhancement of habitat restoration of Roosevelt Creek Channel 5. Total estimated cost of construction for the Roosevelt Creek Channel 5 Improvements project is $5,644,000.00, including $1,727,929.32 for sediment removal completed in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021.
In 2019, the Roosevelt Creek Channel 5 Improvement project was advertised for bid. The lowest responsive and responsible bid was rejected by the County Administrator, as it exceeded the engineer’s cost estimate scope of work by 86%. The scope of work has been modified to involve only the salinity weir and habitat restoration for purposes of this Agreement. The project was rephased into two (2) components including upfront maintenance and the capital component (weir reconstruction and habitat restoration), which reduced funding required from the Local Infrastructure Sales Tax (Penny for Pinellas). The upfront maintenance was funded by the stormwater utility fund.
In addition to the funding received from the TBEP, the County will also receive $350,000.00 from the SWFWMD for habitat restoration, salinity weir modification and related work. This is companion Legistar item 22-0126A.
Fiscal Impact:
Project 002123A - Roosevelt Creek Channel 5 Improvements is included in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) FY 2022-2027 Six-Year Plan in the Physical Environment Function, Flood Control Projects Program, and is funded by the Local Infrastructure Sales Tax (Penny for Pinellas). The TBEP grant is in the amount of $100,000.00 and is not currently programmed in the CIP Six-Year Plan. TBEP funding can be programmed into the CIP Six-Year Plan during FY 2023 Budget development once the Agreement is executed and subsequently brought to the Board of County Commissioners for approval as a delegated item.
Other Project funding sources include:
• Surface Water Utility Fee in the amount of $1,727,920.32 for sediment removal maintenance completed in FY 2021.
• Local Infrastructure Sales (Penny for Pinellas) in the amount of $3,550,000.00.
• SWFWMD grant for FY 2022 in the amount of $350,000.00.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Public Works Director
Partners:
TBEP
SWFWMD
Attachments:
Agreement
Project Location Map