CITY OF TALLAHASSEE
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED ON: May 27, 2009
SUBJECT/TITLE: Approval to Participate in two Stormwater Regulatory/Compliance Related Studies
TARGET ISSUE: N/A

STATEMENT OF ISSUE

This item requests City Commission approval to participate in two projects to be conducted by a coalition consisting of more than a dozen local governments, the Florida Department Environmental Protection (FDEP), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), and the Florida Stormwater Association Educational Foundation (FSAEF). These research projects are each expected to produce findings that will have significant benefit to the City in terms of reducing future costs associated with achievement of Fecal Coliform Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) allocations and the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirements. The City’s financial participation for the Florida Microbial Pollution and Associated Health Risks Study would be $30,000 and the MS4 Assessment Project would be $10,000.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Option 1: Approve participation in the coalition to conduct two Stormwater Regulatory/Compliance Related Studies and authorize funding in the amount of $40,000 available in Stormwater Management Project No. 03084 – Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).

FISCAL IMPACT

The total funding required for both studies ($40,000) is available in Stormwater Management Project No. 03084 – Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) which currently has an unencumbered balance of $805,496 as of May 4, 2009.

Mike Tadros, General Manager, Underground Utilities

Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager

For information, please contact: John Buss, Water Resources Engineering, 891-6852

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES

1. This item seeks approval to participate in two surface water pollution related research projects. The studies are being conducted and funded in part by more than a dozen local governments, the Florida Department Environmental Protection (FDEP), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), and the Florida Stormwater Association Educational Foundation (FSAEF). A description of each project follows:

The Florida Microbial Pollution and Associated Health Risks Project

• Existing studies document that Florida’s water quality criteria for the protection of public health, which is based on counts of fecal Coliform bacteria, is a significant problem. There is general agreement among State and Federal regulatory experts and stakeholders alike that new criteria are needed, and that currently proposed alternatives are not appropriate in Florida. It is also agreed that the continued use of these standards for setting Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollution reduction requirements by FDEP and USEPA will have a significant financial impacts on local government, very likely in the millions of dollars. There is a clear need to develop more reliable and scientifically defensible standards applicable to recreational contact with surface waters. Recognizing this need FDEP, the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), FSAEF and several other local governments are joining financial resources to collect adequate data to develop new criteria.
• The research to develop the alternative criteria will be performed in a two-phased study. Phase I, is a two and a half-year project. Its focus will be on development of methods that would form the basis for new water quality criteria for bacteriological pollution. The budget estimate for Phase I is $430,548 to be split between WERF, FDEP, FSAEF and stakeholders. The Phase II study is intended to be performed under a separate contract initiated before the end of Phase I. The requested City contribution is $30,000 for the Phase I study. Funding is to be paid upon receiving a copy of the executed grant agreement between WERF, FDEP and FSAEF.
  

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Assessment Project

• Because of the huge financial ramifications of meeting TMDL load reductions, tools are needed to provide more scientifically accurate estimates of pollutant reductions by various Best Management Practices (BMPs). The proposed focus of the MS4 Assessment Project that the consortium is undertaking is on nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus), associated with particulate matter and stormwater sediments that accumulate in BMPs such as catch basin inserts, street sweepers, and other source controls that are required in the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) outfall permit. This proposed project will generate information necessary to quantify and receive credit for load reductions achieved by these non-traditional treatment devices and cleanup efforts that are underway and required in the City’s NPDES MS4 Permit Management Plan.
• The study will involve 11 to 12 representative Florida Cities and provide data on the value of load reduction achieved through common and existing MS4 maintenance practices and BMPs. Important deliverables are to include a Draft and Final Project Report to FSA, Florida MS4 Stakeholders and FDEP. Two one-half day education seminars for Florida MS4 Stakeholders and FDEP are planned, and a spreadsheet model for calculating pollutant load reduction associated with operational BMPs in Florida MS4s will be provided. The estimated cost of the study is $190,000 for 18 months, plus $40,000 in in-kind support from FDEP for sample analysis. The requested City contribution is $10,000 with payment to be made after receiving a copy of the executed grant agreement between FDEP and FSAEF.

2. The Office of Policy and Budget has reviewed this agenda item and concur that it meets budget guidelines.

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

N/A-Vendor Preference points are not applicable because the work is funded, in whole or in part, by a grant provided by the federal government and the policies governing such funding prohibit application of that preference.

OPTIONS

Option 1: Approve participation in the coalition to conduct two Stormwater Regulatory/Compliance Related Studies and authorize funding in the amount of $40,000 available in Stormwater Management Project No. 03084 – Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).

Option 2: Do not approve participation in the coalition or funding and provide alternative direction.

ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES

None