SUBJECT
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Approve the Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement with the Green Swamp Mitigation Bank to purchase 12.17 Freshwater Federal & State Forested credits for the wetland impacts on the CR 557 Widening Project. ($2,190,600.00 one-time expense)
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DESCRIPTION
On December 26, 2018, the Board Approved Professional Service Agreement #18-073 (Agreement) with Dewberry Engineers, Inc. to provide professional engineering services in connection with the CR 557 Widening Project including developing and evaluating alternative roadway design and alignment, recommending a preferred alignment, and preparing preliminary roadway plans for the widening in the amount of $1,100,893.47.
On September 1, 2020, the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with Dewberry Engineers, Inc. to provide final design services for the CR 557 Widening project including permitting, final design, bidding support, and community awareness services in the amount of $3,040,982.53, bringing the total cost of the Agreement to $4,141,876.00.
On December 6, 2022, the Board approved Amendment #2 to the Agreement with Dewberry Engineers, Inc. to develop and evaluate alternative roadway design and alignments, provide a recommendation, and prepare preliminary and final plans for improvements to the CR 557 @ US 17/92 intersection in Lake Alfred at a not-to-exceed fee of $693,396.38, bringing the total cost of the Agreement to $4,835,272.38.
On August 22, 2023, the Board approved Amendment #3 to the Agreement with Dewberry Engineers, Inc., to design a surcharge program required to stabilize the soils for roadway construction, to prepare lighting plans for the entire length of the project, and to prepare a stand-alone set of plans for construction of the CR 557 @ Old Lake Alfred Road Roundabout to facilitate advanced construction of the intersection. The cost of the additional design services for Amendment #3 was a not-to-exceed fee of $429,107.94, bringing the total cost of the Agreement to $5,264,380.32.
On May 21, 2024, the Board approved Amendment #4 to the Agreement with Dewberry Engineers, Inc., to allow the project to be split into two segments to facilitate phased construction of the project. The first segment will extend from W. Alfred Street to the southern limits of the Old Lake Alfred Road Roundabout. The second segment will extend from the northern limits of the Old Lake Alfred Road Roundabout to south of Interstate 4, and will include final design, permit coordination and bidding phase services, at a not-to-exceed amount of $107,261.84, bringing the total cost of the agreement to $5,371,642.16.
During the environmental permitting coordination process with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE), it has been determined that the County is required to mitigate for impacts to wetlands within the project limits. The County is required to purchase 12.17 Freshwater Federal and State Forested credits from a wetland mitigation bank to satisfy the terms and conditions of the SWFWMD and USACOE permits.
The service area for the Green Swamp Mitigation Bank covers the CR 557 project limits, and this Bank has the necessary credits available to satisfy the permitting requirements. The purchase price is $180,000 per credit, for a total amount of $2,190,600.00. Approval of this Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement and a payment of $2,190,600.00 will allow the Green Swamp Mitigation Bank to transfer the 12.17 conservation credits for the CR 557 Widening Project and satisfy the term and conditions of the SWFWMD and USACOE permits.
RECOMMENDATION
Request the Board approve the Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement with the Green Swamp Mitigation Bank to purchase the 12.17 wetland mitigation credits in the amount of $2,190,600.00 for the CR 557 Widening Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available within the Roads and Drainage 5-year CIP in the Impact Fee Northeast Fund.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Klayton Fees, PE
Project Manager
Roads & Drainage
(863) 535-2281
Jay Jarvis
Division Director
863-535-2200