Placement: Resolutions
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Resolution 22-R41, A Resolution Allowing the Execution of an Interlocal Agreement with St. Lucie County Providing Cost Sharing Relating to Improvements for a Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) for Hog Pen Slough
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Submitted By: Amy Eason, PE, Executive Project Manager Stormwater, Public Works
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of high-quality infrastructure and facilities.
Executive Summary (General Business): Staff requests approval of a resolution allowing the execution of an interlocal agreement with St. Lucie County facilitating the design of a regional water quality project for Hog Pen Slough. The County has agreed to reimburse the City for a portion of the design costs not to exceed $150,000. The County is funding its portion of the project with American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding. The City has tentatively programmed an anticipated design cost of $300,000 in FY 22/23. This project is mutually beneficial as it will improve water quality in the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.
Presentation Information: No presentation will be provided but staff will be available to answer questions.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the Resolution authorizing the City to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with St. Lucie County.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve the Resolution authorizing the City to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with St. Lucie County.
2. Move that the Council not approve the Resolution and provide staff direction.
Background: Hog Pen Slough is a drainage channel that conveys water from the Savannas State Preserve, unincorporated County parcels, and the City of Port St. Lucie parcels to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. Home sites that drain to Hog Pen Slough were developed prior to water quality regulations and without a collective stormwater management system to treat surface runoff. The area contains aging septic tanks and during heavy rains, neighborhoods within the Hog Ren watershed experience extended periods of standing water.
Surface water quality testing has indicated that elevated levels of fecal coliform and nitrogen were found in the downstream extents of Hog Pen Slough. This has prompted the need to develop plans for a stormwater treatment area (STA) to capture and detain flows prior to release into the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. A 10.67-acre parcel currently owned by the City is adjacent to Hog Pen Slough and would serve as the location for the STA.
The approval of an interlocal agreement between the County and City will memorialize a partnership with St. Lucie County to allocate up to $150,000 of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding towards the design of the STA. This funding will accelerate the current project schedule and facilitate completion of the project design in FY 22/23. The anticipated project budget is $300,000 with a 50/50 split envisioned by City and County. Final construction costs are not yet known. The project has been submitted by the City to the County’s Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS); thereby, making the project more viable to future grant funding opportunities.
The County approved the enclosed Interlocal Agreement at its January 25, 2022, board meeting.
Issues/Analysis: The construction of the proposed STA will be determined upon the completion of the design analysis and will be contingent upon available funding.
Financial Information: This project is listed in the FY 22/23 budget under account #401-4126-568812-Y1514 (Water Quality Projects).
Special Consideration: The project is identified in the Stormwater Management Plan presented in February of 2021.
Location of Project: North of Walton Road and west of Lennard Rd, PID# 3420-755-0005-000-3
Attachments:
1. Resolution
2. Interlocal Cost Share Agreement.
3. Location Map
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: Legal Intake #7490, 8005, 8085
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Michele Samaroo, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.