AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Meeting Date: June 25, 2007
From: Charlie Weller, Airport Manager
Subject: Resolution authorizing a Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement for the Runway 13/31 Extension Project
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement with Ecosystems Land Mitigation Bank (d/b/a Lake Louisa Land Trust) for $509,400.00.
Analysis:
The Airport Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan call for the extension of Runway 13 by 300 feet with a 600 foot compacted sod safety overrun area and associated extension of Taxiway A. The plans also call for a 1,000 foot extension of Runway 31 including a 1000 foot extension of Taxiway A. An environmental assessment (EA) of this project has been completed and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration with a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). The design has been completed with 97.5% of the cost paid with State and Federal grant funds.
Phase I of the project has been put out for bid. This entails the 300 foot extension at the end of Runway 13, the corresponding extension of Taxiway A, and 600 feet of overrun safety area. This portion of the project is expected to cost approximately $3,044,000.00. However, the exact cost will not be known until the bids have been reviewed and final mitigation numbers are received.
There are 7.4 acres of wetland impacts and 4.0 acres of secondary impacts at the west end of Runway 13 that will require mitigation by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). The purchase of wetland mitigation credits from mitigation banks has been proposed to satisfy the requirements of SJRWMD. This method of mitigation is far less complicated and requires no on-going maintenance and monitoring to honor agreements with SJRWMD that would occur if City-owned land was offered in exchange of mitigation credit. Additionally, any land the City would provide as mitigation credit could not be developed for any use other that parks/public use.
The total number of credits necessary is not known at this time. SJRWMD must look at the site and determine the specific mitigation ratio that will translate into total mitigation credits needed. The current intent is to purchase 8.49 credits that are available in the Lake Louisa Land Trust to cover a portion of whatever is necessary to mitigate wetlands and secondary impacts resulting from the extension of Runway 13. The engineering firms of MEA Group and PBS&J have recommended these available credits be secured by the City. When the final number of mitigation credits is determined, an agreement for the additional purchase will be brought before the Commission for approval.
The price per mitigation credit in this transaction is $60,000 for a total of $509,400.00. The Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement with Ecosystems Land Mitigation Bank requires the City to place a non-refundable deposit of 10%, $50,940.00, toward 8.49 mitigation credits from the Lake Louisa Land Trust. The balance will be due upon closing of the credit purchase, which is estimated to take place in August, 2007. This cost will be included in the grant funding for construction of the runway extension project. The funding breakdown is as follows:
FAA 95% $483,930.00
FDOT 2.5% $ 12,735.00
City 2.5% $ 12,735.00
TOTAL $509,400.00
The grant contracts with the FAA and FDOT have not yet been received. This means that the City is proceeding to secure the mitigation credits with the $50,940.00 deposit absent of the grant funds needed to off-set the cost to the City. Staff feels that time is of the essence and that waiting to secure the credits could result in no credits being available and potentially paying a higher price for credits elsewhere.
Options:
1. Approve the Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement with Ecosystems Land Mitigation Bank; or
2. Such alternative action as the Commission may deem appropriate
Fiscal Impact:
The cost for the Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement is $509,400.00. Funds for this project are included in the Airport budget as part of the Capital Improvement Plan. The deposit amount is $50,940.00. The deposit is non-refundable and will be provided prior to execution of grant contracts with FAA and FDOT. The City will not close on the Mitigation Credit Purchase without the grant contracts in place.
Submission Date and Time: 6/20/2007 4:19 PM____
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Department: __Airport______________ Prepared by: __Charlie Weller_________ Attachments: Yes __X_ No _____ Advertised: ____Not Required __X___ Dates: __________________________ Attorney Review : Yes __X_ No ___
_________________________________ Revised 6/10/04 |
Reviewed by: Dept. Head ________
Finance Dept. __________________
Deputy C.M. ___________________ Submitted by: City Manager ___________________ |
Account No. __031-1821-542-3130_
Project No. ___30018__________
WF No. ______301479/2_______
Budget _______$6,302,810______
Available ______$5,932,713______ |
RESOLUTION NO._______________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE A MITIGATION CREDIT PURCHASE AND DEPOSIT AGREEMENT WITH ECOSYSTEMS LAND MITIGATION BANK, D/B/A LAKE LOUISA LAND TRUST, RELATED TO THE RUNWAY 13/31 EXTENSION PROJECT AT LEESBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA:
THAT the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized to execute a Mitigation Credit Purchase and Deposit Agreement with Ecosystems Land Mitigation Bank d/b/a Lake Louisa Land Trust whose address is PO Box 540285 Orlando, Florida 32854 for mitigation credits related to the Runway 13/31 extension project at Leesburg International Airport.
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 __25th___ day of __June____ 2007
__________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________
City Clerk