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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #13 Approval of Ocoee Crown Point PUD Modification of Permit for Wetlands Mitigation center of Good LJ .-'~ O~. AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET Contact Name: Contact Number: David A. Wheeler, P.E. 407 -905-3100, ext. 1505 Meeting Date: April 6, 2010 Item # ~3 Reviewed By: ~., ~/ /J_ Department Director: ~ ~ City Manager: Subject: Ocoee Crown Point PUD Modification of Permit for Wetlands Mitigation and Surveying of Orange County Public School's Property Background Summary: The City of Ocoee, in partnership with the Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), purchased the Coke Property in 1998 with the intent of developing the property into a multi-use development consisting of residential, commercial, and educational parcels some to be owned by the City and some to be owned by OCPS. The City employed VHB, Inc. to plan and develop a joint master plan for the property and to determine what permits would be needed from the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and the Army Corps. Of Engineers (ACOE) while working in and/or around the wetlands adjacent to Lake Apopka and its tributaries. As part of the overall project, a wetlands mitigation plan was proposed to SJRWMD and ACOE that would require mitigating some land adjacent to Staten Branch, one of those tributaries, to offset the proposed work for the overall project. That mitigation plan generally included the clearing and grubbing of approximately 2.5 acres of land along the south side of Staten Branch, planting that cleared land with wetland species plants, maintaining that land and those plants for a five year period and providing annual reports to both agencies. The mitigation and monitoring work was authorized by the City Commission on February 7, 2006, in the amount of $142,780.00. Using VHB, Inc. and City staff, the land was cleared and the wetland species were planted. However, because of climatalogical variation over the past few years, the land has not been flooded with back water sufficient for the plants to successfully survive. Because of this lack of meteorological activity and low water level in Lake Apopka, VHB, Inc. and the City looked at re-c1earing and replanting plus possible additional options to explore. Beginning anew would only add time and money to the project with no guarantee of getting either SJRWMD or ACOE to sign off after the five years. The real issue has been the inability to create a man-made wetlands in an area that has proven to be unsuitable for that purpose. Since site conditions have hampered efforts to complete the wetland mitigation plan as required in the St. John's River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Permits (4-095-83494-1 and 40-095-83494-2), and since the current hydrological conditions in Staten Branch show that the sustainability of the wetland and buffer mitigation areas is questionable, efforts to maintain these areas during the monitoring period will be costly and the duration to achieve the District's success criteria unknown. SJRWMD staff has recommended a modification of the listed permits to eliminate the enhancement provision in the permits and instead offer preservation and offsite mitigation credits only, if necessary. Successfully modified permits will eliminate the need to spend additional funds to reestablish the mitigation area that has died and to spend an estimated $110,000 on maintenance, monitoring and reporting for the enhancement areas over the next five years. VHB, Inc. and the City approached SJRWMD to review the site and the proposed plan and were able to develop an alternative that would allow the wetlands mitigation to be performed as one process which would relieve the City of the five year maintenance and monitoring program. Additionally, OCPS has requested that boundary surveys be performed on the parcels required by agreement to be transferred to OCPS and that a wetlands delineation survey be performed on Tract 12 (see exhibit A). The Tract 12 survey will delineate the estimated limits of wetlands within the project boundary with numbered flagging and/or stakes in accordance with methodologies outlined in the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Wetland Delineation Manual (1987) and the Florida Unified Wetland Delineation Methodology (Chapter 62-340, F.A.C.). The boundary survey for each of the three parcels identified on the attached exhibit (Exhibit A) should follow the requirements set forth in Chapter 61 G17 -6 of the Florida Administrative code pursuant to Florida Statutes, Chapter 472. This survey will include 1) a determination of the project boundaries based on recovered field evidence and recorded documents supplied by the Client and 2) physically setting of all boundary corners. VHB, Inc. has presented a proposal that would cost $65,010.00 to complete the changes to the wetlands mitigation program to allow for preservation and offsite mitigation credits. The monies already budgeted to cover the five year maintenance and monitoring would cover this new alternative. SJRWMD has been very receptive to this new approach and have been asking about our progress. VHB also included a proposal in the amount of $15,700.00 for the wetlands and boundary surveying as requested by OCPS. The total amount of this work is $80,710.00, which is less than the remaining authorization amount of $100,540.00. There are sufficient funds left in the Ocoee Crown Point project budget to cover this expense. Issue: Should the City of Ocoee consider changing the wetlands mitigation program to allow for preservation and offsite mitigation credits instead of the proposed five year maintenance and monitoring program and use the remaining funds to perform field surveying and the preparation of legal descriptions to transfer required property to OCPS. Recommendations The Development Services staff recommends that the City Commission accept the proposal from VHB, Inc. to change the wetlands mitigation program for the Ocoee Crown Point PUD project to allow for preservation and offsite mitigation credits and to perform field surveying including the preparation of legal descriptions to transfer required property to OCPS. Attachments: VHB, Inc. Proposals Financial Impact: There would be no impact to the Ocoee Crown Point PUD project budget since the change in scope of work required and the associated costs to perform that work are less than originally planned. Type of Item: (please mark with an "x'J Public Hearing Ordinance First Reading Ordinance Second Reading Resolution Commission Approval Discussion & Direction For Clerk's DeDt Use: _ Consent Agenda _ Public Hearing _ Regular Agenda Original Document/Contract Attached for Execution by City Clerk Original Document/Contract Held by Department for Execution Reviewed by City Attorney Reviewed by Finance Dept. Reviewed by 0 ~1l1 ~L N/A N/A N/A 2 ADDENDUM TO MASTER PLANNING AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR COKE PROPERTY EXHIBIT U AU City of Ocoee Crown Point PUD Phase IB ADDITIONAL SERVICES March 18, 2009 Revised October 20, 2009 PROJECT DESCRIPTION Site conditions have hampered efforts to complete the wetland mitigation plan as required in the St. John's River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Permits (4-095-83494-1 and 40-095-83494-2). Also, the current hydrological conditions in Staten Branch show that the sustainability of the wetland and buffer mitigation areas is questionable. Efforts to maintain these areas during the monitoring period will be costly and the duration to achieve the District's success criteria unknown. SJRWMD staff recommended a modification of the listed permits to eliminate the enhancement provision in the permits and instead offer only preservation and offsite mitigation credits only if necessary. Successfully modified permits will eliminate the need to spend an estimated $110,000 on maintenance, monitoring and reporting for the enhancement areas over the next five years, as well as saving an estimated $24,000 now to attempt to bring the mitigation areas in compliance. SCOPE OF SERVICES Ocoee Crown Point PUD VHB will provide the following services: 1.0 Wetland Mitigation Analysis for Wetland No.8 (Crown Point PUD Conceptual Permit) . Review the extent and jurisdictional status of the previously delineated wetlands. . Prepare a Preliminary Estimate of Probable Costs summarizing potential mitigation options available for this project. The estimate will include, but may not be limited to, costs to purchase off-site impact credits from an established mitigation bank and/ or on-site enhancement or preservation. The estimate will be summarized in a brief letter report detailing the mitigation options. Wetland Delineation, Agency Review, State or Federal Permitting, Listed Species Evaluation is not included in this scope of service 2.0 Initial Environmental Permitting Analysis VHB will conduct up to two site visits including one visit along with a representative of SJRWMD to qualitatively assess the condition of the originally proposed mitigation areas and the areas designated for future impact. An initial alternate mitigation plan will be formulated and presented to SJRWMD verbally. One meeting with SJRWMD staff at their offices with two VHB representatives (a senior project manager and a senior biologist) is included in this scope of services. C:\Documents and Settings\dwheeler\Local Settings\Tcmporary Internet Filcs\OLKB6\Amendmcnt 2 Modification.doc 3.0 Environmental Permitting Assistance 2.1. St. Johns River Water Management District - Pre-Application Meeting VHB will conduct one pre-application meeting with SJRWMD staff at their offices with two VHB representatives, (a senior project manager and a senior biologist). 2.2. SJRWMD - Environmental Resource Permit - Conceptual VHB will assist with the preparation and submittal of a SJRWMD Standard General Permit Modification to Conceptual Permit (4-095-83494-1). The permit modification will revise wetland impacts as well as the associated mitigation program authorized in the permit. The application will include the following: . Detailed Mitigation Analysis consisting of both UMAM and Ratio comparisons for both wetland impacts and mitigation . UMAM data sheets 2.3. Environmental Resource Permit - Construction VHB will assist with the preparation and submittal of a Standard General Permit modification to Standard General Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) 40-095-83494-2. The application will include the following: . Complete Sections A, C and E of the ERP Application . Revised Mitigation Plan . Supporting Documentation . Supporting Exhibits and Figures As necessary and appropriate, VHB will respond to one (1) SJRWMD request for additional information (RAI) and meet with staff to review responses to RAI. VHB will conduct a review of the site with the SJRWMD to verify the wetland and upland mitigation areas as well as the existing wetland impacts. 2.4. Armv Corps of Engineers - Section 404 Dredge and Fill Permit VHB will assist with the preparation and submittal of a General Modification to Army Corps of Engineers (A CO E) Individual Permit Number 2002-03007 (IP-EB). The application will include the following: . Complete Sections A, C of the ERP Application . Revised Mitigation Plan . Supporting Documentation . Supporting Exhibits and Figures As necessary and appropriate, VHB will respond to one (1) ACOE request for additional information (RAI) and meet with staff to review responses to RAI. VHB will conduct a review of the site with the ACOE to verify the wetland and upland mitigation areas as well as the existing wetland impacts. C:\Documents and Settings\dwhceler\Local Settings\Temporary Intcmet Files\OLKB6\Amcndment 2 Modification.doc 4.0 Conservation Easement Legal Description lt is assumed that the modifications to the mitigation areas will result in a modified conservation easement boundary. VHB will prepare a revised sketch and legal description in compliance with Chapter 61G17-6 of the Florida Administrative Code and the requirements for recording in the public records of Orange County, Florida. 5.0 Miscellaneous Services VHB will assist the City of Ocoee staff during the process of modifying the above referenced permits. Services may include: . Project team meeting attendance (two meetings with one VHB professional is included in this budget). . Communication with the City Attorney and other City representatives regarding the conservation easement preparation and dedication to the District. . Attendance at one City Commission meeting to present the proposed permit modifica tion. Work under this task will be performed on an hourly basis. We have established an initial budget for this task and will advise the Client should the scope of work require an adjustment to the budget. Should this occur, VHB will submit an amendment to this agreement. COMPENSATION VHB will perform the Scope of Services contained in this Addendum on an Hourly, Upset Value basis at the standard hourly billing rates in effect at the time the work is performed. The Hourly, Upset Value fee for this Scope of Services is $65,010 allocated as shown in Exhibit "B". ADDITIONAL SERVICES Consultant will provide Additional Services upon written request from the Client. The scope and fee required for these services will be identified negotiated and supplemental agreement executed prior to the professional service. REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES In addition to the Upset and Subcontract Fee, the Consultant shall be reimbursed for expenditures made specifically for the project such as: printing and reprographics; traffic counts; application/ filing fees; out of County travel and subsistence; backhoe services for percolation testing; long distance telephone charges; shipping, postage, and courier service charges; purchase of maps and similar documents. These direct expenses will be billed at cost. If subconsultants and subcontractors are engaged by the Consultant for this project and are under contract to the Consultant, their services will be invoiced at their actual cost. CLIENT-FURNISHED INFORMATION lt is understood that VHB will perform services under sole direction of the client. In the performance of these services, VHB will coordinate its efforts with those of other project team members, the client's architect, and other consultants, as required. The client shall provide VHB with project-related technical data including, as requested by Consultant: C:\Documcnts and Scttings\dwhceler\Local Settings\Ternporary Internet Files\OLKB6\Amendment 2 Modification.doc VHB will rely upon the accuracy and completeness of client-furnished information in connection with the performance of services under this Agreement. SERVICES NOT INCLUDED Should work be required in areas not previously described, VHB will prepare a proposal or amendment, at the client's request, that contains the Scope of Services, fee, and schedule required to complete the additional work items. C:\Documcnts and Scttings\dwheeler\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLKB6\Amendment 2 Modification.doc Exhibit JIB" ADDITIONAL SERVICES Task No. Task Description Fee Est. Reimbursables Total Fee II Fee 1.0 Wetland Mitigation $2,000 $200 $2,200 Analysis for Wetland No.8 2.0 Initial Environmental $8,900 $890 * $9,790 Permitting Analysis 3.0 Environmental Permitting -- --- --- Assistance SJRWMD - Pre- 3.1 Application $5,000 $500 * $5,500 Meeting 3.2 SJRWMD - ERP $14,600 $1,460 * $16,060 Conceptual 3.3 SJRWMD - ERP $11,900 $1,190 * $13,090 Construction ACOE - Section 3.4 404 Dredge and Fill $6,500 $650 * $7,150 Permit 4.0 Conservation Easement $4,900 $490 * $5,390 Legal Description 5.0 Miscellaneous Services $5,300 $530 * $5,830 Total $59,100 $5,910 * $65,010 *Reimbursables (if any) will be included under the base contract. C:\Documents and Settings\dwhccler\Local Scttings\Tcmporary Intcrnct Filcs\OLKB6\Amcndment 2 Modification.doc . Client Authorization Landmark Center Two Suite 300 225 E, Robinson Street Orlando, Florida 32801 o New Contract Date October 15, 2009 [8J Amendment No, 3 Project No. 60825.11 Telephone 407,839.4006 Fax 407,839.4008 W\\\\',\'hb,Clllll Transportation Land Development Environmental Services Project Name Ocoee Crown Point Environmental and Surveying Services To: City of Ocoee 150 N. Lakeshore Drive Ocoee, Florida 34761 Cost Estimate Amendment Contract Total Labor $15,700 Expenses As Requested By David A. Wheeler, P.E, o Fixed Fee o Cost + Fixed Fee o Time & Expenses o Other Date 10/14/09 Estimated Date of Completion 11/15/09 Scope of Services: 1.0 Wetland Survey VHB will conduct a Wetland Survey for Tract 12 as shown on the attached exhibit (Exhibit A). VHB will delineate the estimated limits of wetlands within the project boundary with numbered flagging and/or stakes in accordance with methodologies outlined in the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Wetland Delineation Manual (1987) and the Florida Unified Wetland Delineation Methodology (Chapter 62- 340, F.A.c.) 2.0 Boundarv Survev VHB will perform a boundary survey for each of the three parcels identified on the attached exhibit (Exhibit A) in compliance with the requirements set forth in Chapter 61 G 17 -6 of the Florida Administrative code pursuant to Florida Statutes, Chapter 472. This survey will include I) a determination of the project boundaries based on recovered field evidence and recorded documents supplied by the Client and 2) physically setting of all boundary comers, VHB will use this data as the basis of the published surveys, This survey will show the description of record for the included parcels as described above and all wetland flags as located in the pervious task. The results will be published and made available to the project team in AutoCAD digital format. Not Included in Scope: Permitting Platting Engineering Design Topographic Surveys Preparation of a Title Search Separate Sketch and Legal Descriptions Meetings and Other Representation Other Environmental Studies such as Threatened and Endangered Species Reports Two originals of this Al/thorizationneed to be execl/ted. One original needs to beforwarded to Accol/nting Contract Files. COMPENSATION VHB will perfoml the Scope of Services contained in this Agreement on a lump sum basis. The total lump sum fee for this Scope of Services is $15,700 allocated as follows: Task Lump Sum Fee 1.0 Wetland Survey $ 1,800 2.0 Boundary Survey $13,900 TOTAL $15,700 In addition to the labor compensation, VHB shall be reimbursed for expenditures made specifically for the project such as: printing and reprographics; travel and subsistence; computer charges; telephone charges; shipping, postage, and courier service charges; purchase of maps and similar documents; etc. These direct expenses will be billed at 1.10 times their actual cost. If subconsuItants and subcontractors are engaged by VHB for this project and are, therefore, under contract to VHB, their services will be invoiced at I. I 0 times their actual cost. This adjustment covers the additional expense of coordination! administration, In lieu of a retainer for this contract, the Client has agreed to make payment within 15 days of receipt on an acceptable invoice. Prepared By: JFK Department Approval: Please execute this Client Authorization for Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc, to proceed with the above scope of services at the stated estimated costs, No services will be provided until it is signed and returned to VHB. r8J Subject to attached terms & conditions, o Subject to terms & conditions in our original agreement dated Vanasse Hangen BrustIin, Inc. Authorization Client Authorization (Please sig/l origi/lal a/ld re/U",) By By Title John R, Jennings, ASLA Southeast Regional Manager Date October 15, 2009 Title Date Two originals of Ihis Aullzorizalionneed 10 be execuled. One original needs 10 be forwarded 10 Accounting Contract Files, cs ~ lit "b .... < o j!: < j!: ~ do