Subject:
Title
Resilient Florida Grant Program Agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for reliability improvements at four County Utilities Department facilities.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the updated Resilient Florida Grant Program (RFGP) Agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for reliability improvements at four Pinellas County Utilities facilities
• FDEP grant agreement provides $3,435,850.00, as part of the RFGP, for hardening improvements to mitigate flood and wind vulnerability.
• Facilities to be improved are Logan Laboratory, South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility (SCBAWRF) Dewatering Operations Facility, SCBAWRF Education Center, and the General Maintenance Operations Center.
• Work must be completed, and all deliverables received by June 30, 2026.
• This agreement was previously approved in May 2023, but was never executed by FDEP due to minor editorial revisions.
• County match of at least 66.2%, or $6,729,387.00, is required. Matching funds are budgeted under multiple projects, included in the Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Water Renewal and Replacement Fund in the amount of $3,698,000, and the Sewer Renewal and Replacement Fund in the amount of $7,024,000. Total County funding is $10,722,000.
Grant Agreement FDEP No. 22FRP10; Approval in the amount of $ 3,435,850.00; Agreement term ends on September 30, 2026; Authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.1 Implement green technologies and practices where practical
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.4 Invest in infrastructure to meet current and future needs
Deliver First-Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
Summary
The Agreement was previously approved through Legistar item No. 23-0261A, but was never executed by FDEP due to minor required revisions. As part of that Legistar item the County Administrator signed the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) Reporting Requirements form, and Build America, Buy America Acknowledgement. These items are included as attachments to the revised Agreement and do not require signatures.
The Agreement provides $3,435,850.00 from the FDEP Resilient Florida Grant Program. The County’s required match is $6,729,387.00. Funds will be used to complete hardening improvements at four (4) critical Utilities Department facilities to mitigate vulnerabilities to withstand at least a Category 4 hurricane. The four (4) County facilities to be improved are Logan Laboratory, South Cross Bayou Water Reclamation Facility (SCBWRF) Dewatering Operations Facility, SCBWRF Education Center, and the General Maintenance Operations Center. The project will be advertised for bid and all work must be completed by June 30, 2026.
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Background Information:
These building projects were developed as a result of a wind study that was performed in 2020 to determine wind classification of various critical buildings for the Utilities Department, along with recommendations for structural improvements that would enhance resiliency during major hurricanes. Work will include retrofitting and hardening improvements for four (4) critical Utilities Department facilities to prevent service disruption and provide protection from wind speeds up to 156 mph or greater.
Improving the viability of these critical facilities directly impacts the Utilities Department’s ability to operate safely and continuously during hurricanes, emergencies, and other natural disasters. The improvements are expected to provide numerous positive outcomes including mitigation and elimination of sanitary sewer overflows, ability to safely house staff for continuous facility operation and rapid response during emergency operations, ability to test and confirm safe drinking water and wastewater treatment plant permit compliance, and the ability to keep SCBWRF operational.
Fiscal Impact:
This is a multi-year reimbursement grant project that will impact Fiscal Years (FY) 2024-2026. Allowable project expenditures made on or after July 1, 2021, may be claimed for purposes of satisfying the match requirement.
County matching funds are budgeted under Logan Laboratory Improvements Project 002149A, Building Hardening - General Maintenance Building South Project 004578A, South Cross Bayou Building Hardenings for the Operations Support Center and Dewatering Building Project 005226A, included in the Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Water Renewal and Replacement Fund in the amount of $3,698,000, and the Sewer Renewal and Replacement Fund in the amount of $7,024,000. Total County funding is $10,722,000. Total budget for all three projects, including anticipated grant funding is $14,159,000 for FY24-FY26.
Tasks must be completed, and all deliverables received by June 30, 2026.
Staff Member Responsible:
Jeremy Waugh, Director, Utilities
Partners:
FDEP
Attachments:
Agreement
SLFRF Reporting Requirements Form - FE
Build America, Buy America Acknowledgement - FE
Resilient Florida Grantee Match Form - FE
Project Location Map