Title
Amendment 4 to the Paynes Prairie Partnership Agreement (B)
Explanation
The City, SJRWMD, FDEP, and Alachua County entered into an agreement on April 9, 1997 to perform an extensive study on water related issues effecting Paynes Prairie. The objective of the study is to determine the cause of undesirable vegetation that occurs in various portions of Paynes Prairie. The factors that will be assessed are changes in burning regimes, changes in hydrologic regimes, increased nutrient levels, sedimentation, and land use changes including agricultural practices. The City is responsible for a portion of the stormwater that flows onto Paynes Prairie and also owns and operates the Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant that discharges to Paynes Prairie via Sweetwater Branch. The results of this study effort will ultimately be used to evaluate management alternatives for Paynes Prairie, which may include modifications to the Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant and/or stormwater management improvements.
The work included in the study consists of a vegetative study and a water and nutrient balance for Sweetwater Branch and Bivens Arm as they flow into Paynes Prairie as well as monitoring water quality and quantity in Little Hatchet Creek, Hogtown Creek, Newnans Lake, Orange Lake and Lochloosa Lake.
The study has taken longer than anticipated due primarily to extreme high water levels on Paynes Prairie during 1998 and 1999. Although water quality and quantity data has been collected, the vegetative analysis has been in abeyance. The vegetative portion of the study has been resumed, and the field work should be complete by mid 2001. In order to complete the study, the partners have been asked to extend the contract completion date to September 30, 2002 and contribute additional funding. The total cost increase associated with this amendment is approximately $70,000, with approximately $33,000 coming from the City and the remainder coming from other partners.
Recommendations
The City Commission authorize 1) the General Manager and City Manager to negotiate and execute an amendment to the agreement with the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), and Alachua County, to perform a vegetative study on Paynes Prairie and assess water quality and stormwater issues in Sweetwater Branch, Bivens Arm, Little Hatchet Creek, Hogtown Creek, and Orange, Newnans, and Lochloosa lakes. The amendment will extend the agreement and increase funding; 2) the General Manager to issue a change order to an existing purchase order, increasing the not to exceed amount from $57,945 to $67,945; and 3) the City Manager to issue a change order to an existing purchase order, increasing the not to exceed amount from $85,197 to $107,947.
Fiscal Note
Funding for GRU's expenditures are included in GRU' proposed FY 2001/2002 budget.
Funding for General Government's expenditures are included in General Government's proposed FY 2001/2002 budget.
Drafter
Prepared by: David Richardson, Senior W/WW Engineer
Submitted by: Michael L. Kurtz, General Manager