SUBJECT
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Approve the Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement with the Horse Creek Mitigation Bank to purchase 3.57 Freshwater Non-Forested Federal credits for the functional wetland habitat impacts on the CR 557 Widening Project. ($838,950.00 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. It is necessary to purchase credits from multiple mitigation banks due to (a) the high volume of credits needed, and; (b) the different types of credits needed, and; (c) the service areas for these mitigation banks cover different sections of the project. The Agreement with Horse Creek Mitigation Bank is to purchase 3.57 Federal Freshwater Non-Forested Wetland Credits which will satisfy the terms and conditions of the USACOE permit.
The purchase price is $235,000 per credit for 3.57 Federal Freshwater Non-Forested Wetland Credits for a total amount of $838,950. Approval of this Wetland Credit Purchase Agreement and a payment of $838,950 will allow the Horse Creek Mitigation Bank to transfer the 3.57 Federal Freshwater Non-Forested Wetland Credits for the CR 557 Widening Project and satisfy the term and conditions of the USACOE permit.
RECOMMENDATION
Request the Board approve the Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement with the Horse Creek Mitigation Bank to purchase the 3.57 credits in the amount of $838,950.00 for the CR 557 Widening Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available within the Roads and Drainage 5-year CIP in the Transportation Impact Fee, Northeast Fund.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Klayton Fees, PE
Project Manager
Roads & Drainage
(863) 535-2281
Jay Jarvis
Division Director
Roads and Drainage Division
863-535-2200