Item N6M
C ounty of f Monroe
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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Mayor George Neugent, District 2
The Florida. Ke Se
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Mayor Pro Tern David Rice, District 4
Danny L. Kolhage, District I
Heather Carruthers, District 3
Sylvia J. Murphy, District 5
County Commission Meeting
May 17, 2017
Agenda Item Number: N.6
Agenda Item Summary #2977
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: Sustainability
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Rhonda Haag (305) 453 -8774
TBD
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Discussion and direction regarding potential relocation of the
existing air curtain on Canal #287 in Big Pine Key to Canal #83 in Key Largo.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The air curtain on canal 287 located in Atlantic Estates on Big Pine Key
was installed in June 2016 for $101,192. This was one of the originally approved demonstration
projects, designed to test the improvement to the water quality of a canal with poor water quality that
received no other restoration method.
The air curtain was placed at the mouth of the canal, and was fully operational upon installation.
However, at low tide there is only a 2.5 foot clearance. Some of the many boats that use the canal
routinely hit the air curtain and damage a portion of the diffusers on the canal bottom, rendering it
ineffective until repaired. The County installed a new larger sign to warn boaters of the air curtain,
but it continues to be damaged. The vendor providing the operations and maintenance (O &M)
services continues to make repeated visits to repair the air curtain, but is unable to get to the site
immediately or often enough to keep the air curtain operational enough for it to be fully effective. In
addition, the vendor's contract for the O &M of the air curtain does not provide for unlimited repair
visits, as they were not anticipated. Thus the repeated repairs may increase the cost of the O &M
services to the County. The air curtain cannot be relocated to a deeper section, as the vendor who
routinely dives the canal to perform maintenance and repairs stated there is no deeper section close
to the mouth of the canal.
At the April 12, 2017 BOCC meeting, during the discussion of a potential MSBU to fund the canal
O &M cost for this project and others, several residents living on Canal #287 indicated a preference
for their old weed gate system. They stated it was equally or more effective than the new air curtain
(since the new air curtain has not been operational full time). They also indicated a preference for
operating and funding their old weed gate system themselves, and indicated little desire to pay the
costs of the O &M services of the new air curtain.
This project is a demonstration project, designed to test the effectiveness of an air curtain as the sole
means of potential improvement of water quality. FIU's monitoring contract ends in September
2017, and not enough time remains to conduct a full scientific evaluation, even if the air curtain were
fully operational from now through September. Also, the likelihood of it being fully operational is
anticipated to be low, due to the repeated boat hits.
Therefore, staff is considering removal of the air curtain on canal #287 and reinstalling a weed gate
for the homeowners, similar to what was removed. Initial consultation with the regulatory agencies
has indicated that the previous permitted weed gate system can be reinstalled. Such cost is estimated
not to exceed $2500, and involves placement of two PVC pipe swing gates at the canal mouth. The
County's air curtain would be removed and reinstalled at Canal #83 in Key Largo, currently under
restoration for a muck removal, backfill and air curtain installation. Cost savings are estimated at
$90,000, as a new air curtain would not need to be purchased for canal #83. If guidance is received
to move forward with the relocation of the air curtain to canal #83, the applicable contract
documents will be submitted to the June 2017 BOCC meeting for review and approval.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: N/A
CONTRACT /AGREEMENT CHANGES:
Not applicable
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval
DOCUMENTATION:
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date: N/A Expiration Date: N/A
Total Dollar Value of Contract: N/A Total Cost to County: N/A
Current Year Portion: N/A Budgeted: N/A
Source of Funds: N/A
CPI: N/A Indirect Costs: N/A
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts: N/A
Revenue Producing: N/A If yes, amount: N/A
Grant: N/A County Match: N/A
Insurance Required: N/A Additional Details: N/A
REVIEWED BY:
Rhonda Haag
Completed
05/02/2017 1:03 PM
Pedro Mercado
Completed
05/02/2017 2:11 PM
Budget and Finance
Completed
05/02/2017 3:10 PM
Maria Slavik
Completed
05/02/2017 3:57 PM
Kathy Peters
Completed
05/02/2017 8:02 PM
Board of County Commissioners
Pending
05/17/2017 9:00 AM