Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Authorize the City Council to Ratify the Signature of the Project Manager for a change order and City Manager for an Amendment to Grant Agreement LPA0369 with the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (“FDEP”) for the Design and Permitting of McCarty Ranch Water Quality Restoration Area 7A.
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Submitted By: Kevin R. Matyjaszek, Utility Systems Director.
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of high-quality infrastructure and facilities.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie (“Grantee”) and the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (“FDEP”).
3. Purpose: Request ratification of Change Order #1 (Extension of Task Timelines within the Agreement) and of Amendment #1 (Extension of Agreement Deadline) with FDEP for McCarty Ranch Water Quality Restoration Area 7A Design. These signatures need to be completed by both parties prior to April 30, 2025.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: Modified.
5. Duration: The Grant Agreement expires April 30, 2025. With the approval of this amendment, the expiration date will be extended to December 31, 2026.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: The City will complete the design and permitting for the water storage and treatment basin in the area known as Area 7A.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): The Grant amount is $416,875.00.
Presentation Information: N/A.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council Ratify the execution of Change Order #1 by the Project Manager and Ratify the execution of Amendment #1 to Grant Agreement LPA0369 with the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (“FDEP”) for the Design and Permitting of McCarty Ranch Water Quality Restoration Area 7A by the City Manager, and authorize the City Manager to execute any future amendments to the same, on behalf of the City.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council Ratify the execution of Change Order #1 by the Project Manager and Ratify the execution of Amendment #1 to Grant Agreement LPA0369 with the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (“FDEP”) for the Design and Permitting of McCarty Ranch Water Quality Restoration Area 7A by the City Manager.
2. Move that the Council not Ratify Change Order #1 and Amendment #1 to Grant Agreement LPA0369 and provide staff with direction.
Background: The City is proactive in addressing water quality degradation in its impaired water bodies. The St. Lucie River and Estuary is a significant tributary to the southern extension of the Indian River Lagoon and supports several rare fish species that rely on a tidal system with a wide range of salinities for one or more phases of their life cycle. Area 7A is a 234-acre project of water farming on a fallow citrus grove and other areas of McCarty Ranch. When all water quality restoration areas of the project are constructed, it is estimated that there will be a total annual treatment capacity of 20,700 acre-feet of water pumped from the C-23 Canal. The reservoir will hold back approximately 7.0 billion gallons of freshwater discharge annually. Upon completion of this phase (7A), it is projected that more than 4,560 acre-feet of water will be farmed annually, leading to a reduction of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, biological oxygen demand, and total suspended solids that enter the canal from runoff from agricultural and urban areas. Construction of the Area 7A water storage and treatment basin (outside of this agreement) will consist of an approximately 7-foot tall above-ground embankment, emergency overflow connections, structures, piping, gates, and other appurtenances.
Issues/Analysis: There is no equipment purchase or land acquisition under this Agreement.
Financial Information: The Grant amount is $416,875. There is no match requirement on the part of the Grantee under this Agreement. The City shall be reimbursed for work performed by subcontractors for the design of McCarty Ranch Water Quality Restoration Area 7A.
Special Consideration: The project will improve the water quality of the North Fork of the St. Lucie River by capturing a portion of the flow in the C-23 Canal in a pond-like structure, infiltrating the stored water directly to the groundwater, or return it to the canal with emergency overflow outlets during extreme rain events. The Grantee will complete the design and permitting for the water storage and treatment basin Area 7A.
Location of Project: McCarty Ranch Water Quality Restoration Area 7A, more particularly described in the Location Map (Figure 1 of the Grant Agreement).
Attachments:
1. Change Order #1 to Grant Agreement LPA0369
2. Amendment #1 to Grant Agreement LPA0369.
3. Grant Agreement LPA0369.
4. Resolution 23-R58
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: 25090-04
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Russell Ward, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, City Attorney.