SUBJECT:
Title
Request Approval of Resolution Regarding the Construction of Main Line Extensions (Budget Impact - None)
Body
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INITIATOR: |
DEPARTMENT: |
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Jody Kirkman, P.E., Environmental Services Director |
Utilities |
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND:
In 2008, the Board of County Commissioners directed Marion County Utilities (MCU) to develop an agreement process for water main extensions to serve properties under the requirements identified in the Land Development Code (Code) 6.14.2(A)(3) when a property owner was required to extend water main within the availability criteria. The water main agreement was developed to limit to single-family residential development and it identified the developer’s owned parcels, as well as any benefitting parcels along the extended water main’s route. Documenting all initiating and benefitting parcels on the agreement allowed a reimbursement opportunity for developers to recoup a pro-rata share of their construction costs and if the benefitting parcels connected to the water main within a seven (7) year period, (starting once the water main’s Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) clearance was approved). Since the program was implemented, MCU has completed water main extensions by calendar year shown in Exhibit A.
In recent years, MCU added the design and supply of water main construction plans to the applicant as well as coordinating all FDEP permitting to its process as part of its $275 application fee. During the design stage, MCU has noticed opportunities to extend the water main (beyond the owner’s responsibility) to significantly improve the hydraulic benefit to the neighborhood. Additionally, some oversized distribution mains are above the typical owner transmission main extension responsibility; much like a commercial developer agreement, MCU may have an opportunity to cost-share in this upsizing of the water main, when necessary. Finally, MCU is working diligently to get its GIS to accurately reflect field conditions, and as a result of this inaccuracy, some availability responses have provided conflicting information causing an owner unexpected and significant expense. In any of these cases, MCU has no approved policy or agreement to assess the owner only its share (similar to the benefitting lot condition of the standard approved agreement).
The Resolution, as presented, establishes a “Share Agreement” which allows the parcel owner to meet Code requirements, while remaining only responsible for its own pro-rata share of the total water main extension costs. The Share Agreement option and its conditions are at MCU’s sole discretion, based on unique circumstances outside the typical extension scenario; does not set any precedent for future Share Agreements, and is subject to available funding and Board approval.
BUDGET/IMPACT:
None
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
Motion to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Resolution for the Construction of Main Line Extension.
end