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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 05 27 Regular 601 Gee Creek Bank Stabilization Project PermitCOMMISSION AGENDA ITEM 601 May 27, 2008 Special Meeting CONSENT INFORMATIONAL PUBLIC HEARING REGULAR X MGR {'~ /DEPT J~~~ Authorization REQUEST: Public Works Department requesting the City Commission consider a request from Hacienda Village to fund the St. Johns River Water Management District Permit for the Gee Creek Bank Stabilization Project in the amount of $500. PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is for the City Commission to consider a request from Hacienda Village to fund the St. Johns River Water Management District Permit for the Gee Creek Bank Stabilization Project in the amount of $500. CONSIDERATIONS: • At the January 28, 2008 City Commission meeting, the Commission provided authorization to enter into a Project Agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for the Gee Creek Bank Stabilization Project at Hacienda Village. Under the terms of the Project Agreement, 100% of the design costs and 90% of the construction costs are funded by NRCS, with the remaining 10% of the construction costs funded by Hacienda Village. Construction costs do not include permitting costs under the terms of the Project Agreement. • Hacienda Village has already provided the City their 10% construction cost share in the amount of $30,000. • The project requires an Environmental Resource Permit from St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), which has a fee of $500. This permit fee is not eligible for reimbursement by NRCS and must be paid at the local level. Hacienda Village has requested the City fund the $500 permit fee. 052708_COMM_Regular 601_Gee Creek Permit Fee May 27, 2008 Agenda Item #601 Page 2 of 2 • Staff recently met with SJRWMD representatives onsite to review the scope of the project and determine if the project could obtain a permit exemption. SJRWMD determined that a permit was required, although the fee was reduced to $500 from its initial estimate of $1,000 based on the total land area impacted by the project. • The Gee Creek project is located entirely on private property owned by Hacienda Village. On similar NRCS-funded projects located on private property, the City has not funded any direct expenses, including permitting fees. All direct expenses have been funded by NRCS and the property owner. • It is somewhat difficult to understand the rationale for the City to have to pay a permit cost for construction on private property. If the City agrees to pay the permit fee, the Commission would need to declare that a public purpose exists in assisting Hacienda Village in improving the drainage at the mobile home park. • Services provided by City Staff on the Gee Creek project include project management, construction inspection, design review, coordination with NRCS, and other services as required by the Project Agreement. • In order to keep the project on schedule, the City has submitted the SJRWMD permit and paid the $500 fee based on Hacienda Village's commitment to reimburse the City the $500 fee if this request is denied by the City Commission. In addition, the City is currently holding the $30,000 construction payment submitted by Hacienda Village. FUNDING: If Hacienda Village's request is approved by the City Commission, the funding of the $500 permit fee would be from the Stormwater Fund Balance, which has a projected FY 08 balance of $554,587. If the request is denied, Hacienda Village has agreed to pay the $500 permit fee. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Commission consider Hacienda Village's request to fund the St. Johns River Water Management District permit fee in the amount of $500. ATTACHMENTS: None COMMISSION ACTION: 052708_COMM_Regular_601_Gee Creek Permit Fee