Okaloosa County BOCC — May 6, 2014 — Grant Application — reading text

the proposed project, specifying the project objective and intended outcomes. A project area map (or maps) must be included as an attachment. Additional attachments, such as photographs, feasibility studies, design plans and engineering reports, permits, and monitoring data, as appropriate, are also encouraged, as necessary, to provide adequate background and context. The project will include a new 1 MMG hydropillar elevated water storage tank on Houston Lane, approximately 1/2 mile north of Okaloosa County's existing 12" water main loop on Airport Road and approximately 1 mile from the existing 300,000 gallon Airport Tank. The project will provide additional elevated storage to facilitate maintaining pressure to customers in the northern Mid County service area when the existing tank is taken out of service for maintenance and will provide additional storage for water that is sent to the south County, as required by the Regional Water Supply Plan, to reduce pumping of coastal wells. A project area map, as well as estimates for the tank and the connecting water main (WM to be constructed in-house by OCWS), are attached. | C) Concisely describe the anticipated outcomes and anticipated benefits of the project. As stated above, the construction of the new tank will facilitate ongoing required maintenance of the existing Airport Tank, while maintaining pressure for the northern zone of the Mid County service area. In addition, it will provide additional storage for water produced in the northern wellfield that is transmitted south to coastal service areas (Garniers and former County West) to reduce (and in the case of County West, eliminate) coastal well pumping. The entire system will benefit from proper maintenance of the existing northern tanks which will prolong their useful lives, particularly the Airport Tank in the near future, and will provide for adequate storage for additional water produced to be sent to the coastal service areas. Community Assistance Initiative Application Page 3 dq) Describe whether and how the project will address the following priorities. Will the project implement a project or priority identified in a RWSP* or other District plan or project? The Region Il RWSP specifically recommends: "Water Supply Development projects are currently being implemented or planned which, when fully developed will assist in sustaining the Region II water resources and provide the necessary resources to meet the water supply demands for at least the next 20 years. The major projects include: Inland Floridan Aquifer Alternative Water Supply" Additionally the RWSP states as priorities "Projects include water storage capability that ensures water supply availability consistent with permit conditions, emergency management, response, and disaster recover." Also, "The Okaloosa County Water & Sewer (OCWS) provides interconnects, water transfers and storage capacity between the Mid-County wellfield and county water providers at OCWS-Main (Garniers) and OCWS-West." Will the project address other water resource challenges or related public health or safety problems? The proposed new elevated water storage tank will provide another 1 MG of storage for fire protection for north County residents and industries in the County's Industrial Park at Bob Sikes Airport. In addition it will facilitate ongoing necessary maintenance for the other tanks in the Mid County service area as their coating systems reach the end of their useful lives. Will the project implement statutory priorities, such as alternative water supply development or water reuse, storage, recharge, or conservation, so as to contribute to regional water resource sustainability? The proposed tank will provide an additional 1 MG of water storage for OCWS' Mid County service area, which could facilitate the availability of more water production in the northern wellfield being transmitted to the coastal regions. The connecting pipeline was constructed at a larger diameter than is required for just OCWS' projected needs. The addition of more storage in the north would further expand the County's ability to provide water to other coastal entities or municipalities in the future, if requested, to further reduce coastal pumping in the Water Resource Caution Area. Will the project provide substantial environmental benefits? Yes, as it will expand the County's capability to provide northern wellfield water to coastal service areas, continuing to reduce (and in the case of County West, eliminate) coastal pumping of the Floridan. *Northwest Florida regional water supply plans (RWSPs) are described at htto://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/rmd/water supply planning/regional water supply planning.html. e) Describe the project’s readiness for implementation, specifically including the status of planning, engineering, and funding development. The new tank is in the County's five year CIP and if partial funding is approved by the District, the final engineering will be completed during FY 2014 with construction of the tank and water main during FY 2014 - early FY 2016 Community Assistance Initiative Application Page 4 f) Identify any permits that will be required and indicate the status (e.g., planned, submitted, received). Permit Required Status FDEP Construction Permit Planned OC Building Permit Planned FAA Permit Planned g) Describe the applicant’s ability to operate and maintain any completed facilities. Detail revenue sources and describe their adequacy for long-term operation and maintenance. Okaloosa County Water and Sewer System is an efficiently run and well maintained system. All existing tanks in the system are in a regular maintenance rotation and sixteen of the nineteen existing tanks have either been constructed or completely repainted within the last ten years. Two others will be re-painted (interior and exterior) by a Contractor in the Spring of 2014. The final tank, the existing Airport elevated tank, will be taken out of service and repainted as soon as the proposed new tank is placed in service. OCWS has a slightly growing customer base and a five year plan for steadily increasing water rates that will be more than adequate for continuing the long term operation and maintenance of all their facilities, not just the proposed new tank. h) Describe water conservation measures and any other resource sustainability initiatives or programs that are either currently effective or planned. Examples may include conservation-oriented rate structures, water loss programs, Florida Friendly landscaping ordinances, etc. OCWS maintains the following water conservation measures: - Tracking of water production vs. billing to minimize water loss - Leak detection program - Customer meter calibration and/or replacement program - Comprehensive public education program - Indoor water conservation kits provided to customers at all offices - Inclining block rate structure, to discourage irrigation with potable water - Revision of OCWS Ordinances to discourage the use of lawn irrigation meters - Florida Friendly (Xeriscape) Ordinance for portions of Okaloosa County in the Water Caution Area Community Assistance Initiative Application Page 5 i) Please describe environmental impacts that may be associated with the proposed project, if any. Additional storage in the north County can facilitate accelerated reduction in pumping of coastal Floridan Aquifer wells. The site intended for the tank is already cleared, so there will be no long term changes in the habitat at the proposed location. Section 4. Project Funding a) Describe the financial need that exists for the project to be fully implemented. Indicate any other funding sources that are possible, and describe the capability of local funding sources. OCWS has included the proposed elevated water storage tank in their 5 Year CIP, however, it is scheduled for several years into the future. It has been on the horizon for years, but continues to get pushed back as the economy has tightened and revenue slowed. Acquisition of a portion of the funding from grant proceeds would allow OCWS to accelerate the construction of the tank, which would also expedite the needed maintenance on the existing storage tank in the northern zone of the Mid County service area, as well as provide additional storage for northern wellfield water to be transmitted south more quickly. b) Describe existing commitments of match funding to be applied to the project. Examples may include local budget, awarded grants, anticipated grants, loan funds, etc. OCWS is committed to providing 1/2 the funds to construct the tank, as well as all funds necessary to acquire the tank site, for engineering services including survey, design, bidding and construction phase services and to install the required 2,650 LF of 12" connecting main to tie the new tank into the existing system (detailed estimate of in-house construction of WM included with grant application), as well as all permitting costs. Community Assistance Initiative Application Page 6 C) Prepare a project budget table as follows: Budget by Task Ao wtp Grant cant Match Source? 1) Design 0 20,000 OCWS 2) Surveying 0 5,000 OCWS 3) Permitting 0 2,500 OCWS orvalue) Not applicable 50,000 ocws 5) Construction 1,250,000 1,250,000 OCWS Engineering Phase | 50,000 ocws 7) ConnectingwM ‘| 0 126,000 ‘inhou se Construction) 8) Total 1,250,000 1,503,500 Total Project Cost 2,753,500 Notes: (1) Matching funds proposed represent estimated target amounts for each category of spending. Applicants must satisfy the total proposed match spending independent of category spending and will be required to provide documentation of match upon project completion. (2) Indicate sources of matching funds; describe if in-kind match. Community Assistance Initiative Application Page 7 Section 5. Financially Disadvantaged Communities For the purposes of the water supply grants program, a financially disadvantaged community is defined as meeting at least one of the following conditions: 1) 2) A municipality with a population of 10,000 or less according to the latest decennial census and a per capita annual income below the state per capita annual income as determined by the United States Department of Commerce (reference: section 403.1838, F.S.). A community within a Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern (section 288.0656, F.S.). In northwest Florida, this includes the counties of Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Holmes, Liberty, Wakulla and Washington, and the area within the city limits of Freeport. A rural community that is experiencing economic distress (section 288.0656, F.S.). A rural community is one within a county with a population of 75,000 or less, or with a population of 125,000 or less and contiguous to a county with a population that does not exceed 75,000. Indicators of economic distress include low per capita income, low per capita taxable values, high unemployment, high underemployment, low weekly earned wages compared to the state average, low housing values compared to the state average, high percentages of the population receiving public assistance, high poverty levels compared to the state average, and a lack of year-round stable employment opportunities. a) Is the applicant claiming status as a financially disadvantaged community (Y/N)? N If yes, please indicate which factor or factors below apply and provide supporting documentation and data as an attachment to this application. Factor vine i Justification or Explanation Rural Area of Critical State [ | Concern Rural community [ | experiencing economic distress Financially disadvantaged [| municipality Community Assistance Initiative Application Page 8 Section 6. Project Schedule a) Please provide a brief work plan including project objectives and intended outcomes. Also, describe the current status of the project (planning, design, permitting, implementation).