M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Rafael G. Casals, Town Manager
Date: January 21, 2015
Re: Authorization to Enter Into a Local Agency Program (LAP) Agreement for Drainage Improvements for Cutler Bay Academy of Advanced Studies, Centennial Campus - SW 212 Street
REQUESTTitle
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER AND/OR HIS DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO A LOCAL AGENCY PROGRAM (LAP) AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) FOR THE SW 212 STREET DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is empowered by legislative authority to contract with other local agencies to plan, develop, design, acquire right-of-way, and construct transportation facilities. The Department reimburses these local agencies for services provided to the public. The formal name given to this project is the Local Agency Program (LAP). Authority for LAP is provided in Sections 20.23(3) (a), 334.044(7), 339.05, and 339.12 of the Florida Statutes.
The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is administered by FDOT, and is a result of the Highway Funding Act - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century. TAP focuses on improvements that create alternatives to transportation for the non-motorized user and enhancements to the transportation system for all users. Transportation alternative projects are federally funded, community-based projects that expand travel choices and improve the transportation experience by improving the cultural, historic, and environmental aspects of Florida's transportation infrastructure. Projects considered for funding include, but are not limited to construction of bicycle/pedestrian facilities, conversion of abandoned railroad corridors, inventory control/removal of outdoor advertising, vegetation management, historic preservation, and environmental mitigation activities.
The Town began the process of establishing a Stormwater Master Plan for the purpose of identifying potential drainage improvement projects/opportunities to protect surface water quality and further reduce flooding. As a result of this process, the Town completed its Stormwater Master Plan that was adopted via Resolution No. 08-50. This Stormwater Master Plan includes the following components:
· A review of existing stormwater and drainage data, reports, and plans available through SFWMD, Miami-Dade County, and Town sources
· A field inventory of existing drainage structures
· A drainage atlas including the type, size, and general location of drainage
infrastructure elements
· Basin and Sub-basin delineations based on available survey data and other sources
· Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling analysis of the existing systems and their capacity to handle the 5-year/24-hour, 10-year/24-hour, 25-year/72-hour, 50-year/72-hour, and 100-year/72-hour storm events
· Identification and analysis of alternatives for improvements needed to alleviate deficiencies identified in the hydrologic and hydraulic modeling phase
Town staff submitted a detailed grant application package for the Cutler Bay Academy of Advanced Studies, Centennial Campus Drainage Improvement Project which, is located at 8601 SW 212 Street within the Saga Bay 10.1 Drainage Sub-basin. The project will consist of drainage improvements, exfiltration trench for water quality treatment, new outfall pipe connection, roadway resurfacing, pavement markings, and site restoration. The sub-basin is developed with single family residential and multifamily 13 units per acre land use, located directly across from the high school. Drainage from this project flows into the South Florida Water Management Districts L-31 Canal and ultimately to the Biscayne Canal (C-1).
The proposed Best Management Practices will reduce non-point source pollutant loads to the L-31 and Biscayne Canal (C-1); a verified Impaired Body of Water. This project will implement stormwater treatment processes that will include;
· Installation of manatee grates
· Installation of outfall pipes with headwall
· Construction and/or Repair Manholes
· Installation exfiltration trench
· Installation pollution retardant baffles
The purpose of these proposed improvements is to restrict the discharge of hazardous pollutants to Town's Canals and to improve water quality and quantity treatment. These improvements are anticipated to reduce pollutant loadings to the L-31 Canal 92.65% for Total Phosphorus, 89.50% for Total Nitrogen, and 90.55% for Total Suspended Solids. Public outreach meetings will be held with neighboring Homeowner's Associations who reside in the affected area and Miami-Dade County School Board prior to the start of construction. The purpose of the public outreach meetings will be to educate the public about the proposed improvements specifically and stormwater pollution and treatment in general.
Funding for this Project will be provided via a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant from FDOT awarded to the Town. The Town's grant application was reviewed by a Selection Committee, which was comprised of officials from both FDOT and the Miami-Dade County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The Town's grant award totals $400,000; award letter and grant submittal package are included in Attachment "A".
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the attached resolution be approved, approving the Town's Local Agency Program Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation in order to allow the Town to receive funds of Cutler Bay, Centennial Campus: SW 212 Street Drainage Improvements Project. Authorizing the Town Manager to execute the agreement and all future forms and agreements required for the Town's participation in the program on behalf of the Town.