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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11. 13-473 OCTOBER 22, 2013 13-473 RESOLUTION (CARRIED___6-0___LOST________LAID OVER________WITHDRAWN________) PURPOSE: APPROVAL OF PURCHASE OF WETLAND MITIGATION CREDITS FOR THE JAMES ROAD AREA AND THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY AREA STORMWATER DETENTION BASINS FROM THE WOLF RIVER BASIN MITIGATION BANK ($96,000) INITIATED BY: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WHEREAS, construction of the James Road Area Detention Basin and the Armory Area Detention Basin required impacting 1.6 acres of wetlands; and WHEREAS, when wetlands are impacted by these types of projects the Department of Natural Resources requires some form of mitigation be undertaken; and WHEREAS, one option for mitigation is the purchase of mitigation bank credits within the watershed in which the wetland disturbance takes place; and WHEREAS, the purchase of mitigation bank credits is the most cost effective means of complying with the mitigation requirements. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh that the appropriate city officials are hereby authorized and directed to purchase mitigation bank credits within the Wolf River Mitigation Bank for the purpose of complying with the wetland mitigation requirements for the projects located in the James Road area and National Guard Armory area. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to take all necessary actions to purchase such credits, to report to the Department of Natural Resources and Army Corps of Engineers regarding the same and to take any other necessary and reasonable action to comply with the requirements for wetland mitigation for the James River Road area and National Guard Armory area storm water projects. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that money for this purpose is hereby appropriated from : Acct. No. 561-2010-1799-00000 – Storm Sewer Fund – Construction in Progress 4/ OIHKO/H ON THE WATER MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Steven M. Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works 519 DATE: October 17, 2013 RE: Approval of Purchase of Wetland Mitigation Credits for the James Road Area and the National Guard Armory Area Storm Water Detention Basins from Wolf River Basin Mitigation Bank/$96,000 BACKGROUND The James Road Area Detention Basin and the Armory Area Detention Basin projects require mitigation of impacts to wetlands. The Wolf River Mitigation Bank has opened up wetland mitigation credits for general sale. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers have determined that purchasing credits from this wetland bank is an acceptable option for mitigating the unavoidable impacts to wetlands at both sites. ANALYSIS During the design of the James Road Area Detention Basin and the Armory Area Detention Basin, it was determined that there would be an unavoidable impact to 1.6 acres of wetlands. During the permitting process for both projects, it was determined that the City would mitigate these impacts through the creation of wetlands at the James Road Area Detention Basin, as there were no available mitigation banks within the Wolf River Watershed. Since that time, the Wolf River Mitigation Bank has been approved to sell mitigation credits. Due to the significant monitoring and maintenance effort required for the City with wetland mitigation, the Federal and State agencies prefer applicants to purchase mitigation bank credits rather than performing onsite mitigation. FISCAL IMPACT The purchase of these mitigation bank credits will cost$96,000. The purchase of these wetland mitigation credits allows for the following savings vs. the original plan of permittee-responsible mitigation: Construction Cost: $173,000 Minimum 8-Year Monitoring Cost (estimated): $60,000 Minimum 8-Year Maintenance Cost(estimated): $40,000 Total Construction /Monitoring /Maintenance Cost: $273,000 Total Cost Savings: $177,000 RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the resolution. Approved: Mark A. Rohloff City Manager SMG/tlt 1.1Engineering113-02 Armory Area Det Basin\Project_Information\Correspondence\Memo113-02 Mark R Memo-Purch of Wetland Mitigation Credits_10-17-13.docx