AGENDA MEMORANDUM

 

 

Meeting Date:           May 14, 2007

 

From:                          Raymond S. Sharp, Director, Environmental Services/Public Works

 

Subject:                      Resolution approving the City of Leesburg’s participation in funding  for in a regional Preliminary Design Report engineering study for future water supply projects

 

 

Staff Recommendation:

Staff recommends adoption pproval of the resolution approving the City Manager to budget appropriate funding for the City of Leesburg’s participation in a regional preliminary design report engineering study for future water supply projects.

 

Analysis:

Through the Lake County Water Alliance, the City has been participating in the process of developing a county-wide water supply plan.  The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) has stated that the water supply available from the Florida Aquifer is limited, and no new withdrawals are likely to be permitted after 2013.  Additional water supply must be obtained from other sources.

 

In the SJRWMD district-wide water supply plan, several large scale projects have been identified as possible future sources.  The Alliance is in the process of identifying other potential sources of future water supply, both large and small scale.  The SJRWMD has proposed to fund 30% of a Preliminary Design Report (PDR) engineering study.  Such a study will evaluate alternatives, provide a decision point for further participation and engineering work, and provide a 30 – 35% design and Engineer’s Estimate of Probable Construction Costs for a future project.  This study will apply sound engineering practices to the conceptual projects that SJRWMD has proposed, and evaluate feasibility in all aspects, including financial, operational, and technical.

 

In order to secure the SJRWMD funding for the next FY, SJRWMD is asking that potential participants in the PDR budget one-third of the estimated cost share (one year of an expected three year study) in the upcoming FY.

 

Staff recommends that the City of Leesburg participate in the PDR for several reasons:  first, there is not sufficient information available at this time to be able to make informed decisions on the future large-scale projects and the manner in which we may choose to participate in those projects, if at all; second, we should participate in the study in order to protect our own interests and ensure that our views and concerns are addressed; third, the cost of performing such evaluations independently, as the City of Leesburg is likely to be far more expensive than participating in such a study with others, to which SJRWMD is willing to provide a cost share.

 

At a future time, cost share agreements, interlocal agreements and any other governance agreements that may be necessary to facilitate our participation in the PDR will be reviewed by the City Attorney and will come before the Commission for approval.  At that time, the Commission will have final approval authority on the City’s participation in the PDR.

 

Options:

1.  Direct staff to budget one-third of the cost of the City’s proportionate share of participation in the PDR for the FY 2007-2008 FY.

2.  Such alternative action as the Commission may deem appropriate

 

Fiscal Impact: 

The Budget for FY 2007-2008 will provide funding as a designated line item.

 

Submission Date and Time:    5/11/2007 1:48 PM5/7/2007 2:17 PM5/4/2007 10:21 AM____

 

Department: RS

Prepared by:  RS

Attachments:         Yes____   No X

Advertised:   ____Not Required X

Dates:   __________________________                     

Attorney Review :       Yes___  No ____

                                                

_________________________________           

Revised 6/10/04

 

Reviewed by: Dept. Head rss

 

Finance  Dept. __________________                                     

                              

Deputy C.M. ___________________                                                                         

Submitted by:

City Manager ___________________

 

Account No. _________________

 

Project No. ___________________

 

WF No. ______________________

 

Budget  ______________________

 

Available _____________________

 

RESOLUTION NO._______________

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG DIRECTING STAFF TO BUDGET APPROPRIATELY FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN REPORT PROCESS OF WATER SUPPLY PLANNING; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA:

 

            THAT the City Manager is directed to include in the FY 2007-2008 Budget an amount sufficient for the City’s participation in the Preliminary Design Report process of Water Supply Planning, subject to final review and approval by the City Commission.

 

             THAT this resolution shall become effective immediately.

 

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, at a regular meeting held the __14th TH___ day of __May_______ 2007

 

 

 

                                                                            __________________________

                                                                             Mayor

 

ATTEST:

 

 

__________________________

City Clerk