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Item I4BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: August 17 2011 Bulk Item: Yes X No Division: Growth Management Department: Land Steward Staff Contact Person/Phone #: Beth Bergh ( x 2511) AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a grant task assignment with Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) to receive a $50,000 grant for the removal of invasive exotic plants from conservation lands that are owned or managed by Monroe County. ITEM BACKGROUND: For the seventh consecutive year Monroe County has been awarded grant funds for invasive exotic plant removal from FFWCC through the Florida Keys Invasive Exotics Task Force. This agenda item covers the upcoming State 2011-2012 fiscal year and will build on the success of the six prior grants. The grant funds will be used to hire a contractor to perform exotic plant removal on conservation lands that are owned or managed by the County. The local match requirement of $25,444 will be funded by mitigation fees paid by developers into the Environmental Land Management and Restoration Fund (no ad valorem funds) to cover the costs of the Land Steward's time, cleanup and restoration costs. PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: February 18, 2004 — approval of a 10 year contract for funding to remove invasive exotic plant species. The Board has approved annual task assignments for grant funding since 2005. CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: None STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval TOTAL COST: $75,444 INDIRECT COST: BUDGETED: Yes X No DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE: NA No ad valorem COST TO COUNTY: $25,444 (local match) SOURCE OF FUNDS: Fund 160 - Env Rest Fund REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No X A OUNT PER MONTH Year APPROVED BY: County Atty OMB/Pur asing Risk Management1(\ DOCUMENTATION: Included X Not Required DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM # Revised 7/09 MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONTRACT SUMMARY Contract with: FFWCC Contract # 08150-FK-101 Effective Date: Upon execution Expiration Date: June 21, 2012. Contract Purpose/Description: Task Assignment # FK 101-. Invasive Exotics Removal Grant - Removal of invasive exotic plantspecies from publicly owned conservation lands in Monroe County. Contract Manager: Beth Bergh 2511 Growth Management / I l (Name) (Ext.) (Department/Stop #) for BOCC meeting on 8/17/11 Agenda Deadline: 8/2/11. CONTRACT COSTS Total Dollar Value of Contract: $ 50,000 Budgeted? Yes® No ❑ Account Codes: Grant: $ 50,000 County Match: $ 25,444 (in kind) Current Year Portion: $ ADDITIONAL COSTS Estimated Ongoing Costs: $ /yr For: (Not included in dollar value above) (e,. maintenance, utilities, _janitorial, salaries, etc. CONTRACT REVIEW Changes Date Out Division Director Risk Managem t O.M.B./Purcasing to In Needed eviewer Yes[]NQV] � 411 r ilk ;) YYes[:]NoF1 Yes[] No[ 1 County Attorney /" Yes[] No[D Comments: T-Do+no-kg c-A tb, Qro/fui ! Ot -k 4 F I,/16 L� OMB Form Revised 2/27/01 MCP #2 TASK ASSIGNMENT NOTIFICATION FORM FWC CONTRACT NO. 08150 Task Assignment Number: FK-�W i D 4 Contractor Name: Monroe County Contractor's Contract Manager: Elizabeth Bergh (305) 289-2511 Project Title: Monroe County Contracting 1 1-12 Date: July 11, 2011 FWC Contract Manager: Greg Jubinsky 850-245-2821 FWC Site Manager: Dennis Giardina 239-229-5403 PID#: 97849391000 Task Description and Payment Schedule: Exhibit 1 describes the scope of work for this project. The Contractor is not authorized to perform work on any additional sites until such time as the FWC and the Contractor have fully executed a Change Order for said additional work. Any work performed by the Contractor contrary to this Task Assignment shall be at the Contractors expense. The contractor is allowed to subcontract. Task Assignment Conditions and Deliverables: 1. Control is defined as treatment effective in preventing re -sprout of treated target vegetation. 2. If 95% kill rate is not achieved for any area of the project after two months following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the plant will be the responsibility of the contractor at no cost to the contracting entities. 3. The Contractor shall notify the designated site manager prior to entering the work -site. 4. The Contractor shall provide written notification to the Contract Manager upon completion of treatment event(s). 5. Upon Site Manager approval, the Contractor is authorized to control incidental occurrences of any current EPPC category one or category two invasive exotic plant species encountered within the Project Site(s). Costs for these control operations shall not exceed the established Task Assignment amount, and must not jeopardize the Contractor's ability to achieve the required level of control for the primary target species. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to determine that all control operations do not exceed the established Task Assignment amount. Task Assignment Start Date: Upon execution Task Assignment Type: Cost Reimbursement Total Task Assignment Value Funding Infonmation: Final Treatment Completion Date: June 21, 2012 Amount Not To Exceed: $50,000.00 $50,000.00 Org. Code IIE.O. Mica Code Wund ISpec. Cat. IProiect # Near lAmount 1 177358090200 102 j 139940 1 1102334 I FK-104 I 11-12 G$50,000.00 j MONROE COUNTY Contract Manager Date Department Director Date cif 0 1 i_i0, � f N - e. a. c-,, P P i O � D AS -_ O O M; S �'_ . N SLR. =r. RIHRXSLE _..:.:. cc;lw ;cI C 11, H-1" TT= € i E4 cc: Contracts Office Contracts Disbursements FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATI OMMISSION Gr ubin ky ontrac Manager ate Cost Center Administrator Date Section Leader Date JV/X- Division fDate FDIC Contract No. 08150, Task Assignment No. FK-104, Page 1 of 2 TASK ASSIGNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONTRACTOR: l . Upon full execution of the Task Assignment, the Contractor will coordinate with the FWC Site Manager to establish a mutually agreeable work schedule. 2. A Ground Crew Supervisor, employed by the Contractor, will be present at all times when work on the site is underway; 3. Ground Crew Supervisors will be responsible for all control activities and safety on project sites. The Ground Crew Supervisor will assure contract crews are knowledgeable of, and remain within property and treatment boundaries. Every effort shall be made by the Contractor to avoid damage to native vegetation and wildlife; 4. Ground Crew Supervisors will be pesticide applicators possessing current certification by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) in the Forestry or Right -of -Way categories. A copy of each supervisor's FDACS certification will be provided to the FWC Site Manager prior to initiation of on -site supervisory duties; 5. The Ground Crew Supervisor may supervise a maximum of eight (8) field employees at any given time, unless otherwise noted in the Task Assignment; 6. The Ground Crew Supervisor shall be responsible for the collection, recording, and timely submission of all data and reports required. At weekly intervals and at the completion of initial treatments and site reassessment, a complete report will be submitted to the Site Manager detailing sites treated, number and size of plants killed, and type of treatment used. This data will be recorded on the FWC "Daily Progress Report Form". 7, The Contractor will strictly adhere to all herbicide label application, precautionary, and safety statements; 8. All control efforts (except cogon grass treatment) shall be at least 95% effective in preventing re -sprout of treated target vegetation. If 95% kill rate is not achieved for any area of the project after two months following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the plant species listed under "Project Goals" in the project area will be the responsibility of the Contractor at no cost to the FWC; 9. Cogon grass treatments shall be 100% effective in killing above ground portions (top kill) of target vegetation. If 100% top kill rate is not achieved for any area of the project after 30 days following project completion, one additional thorough treatment of the plant species listed under "Project Goals" in the project area will be the responsibility of the Contractor at no cost to the FWC; 10. The Contractor shall forward an original invoice along with all corresponding Daily Progress Report Forms, completed and approved, to the Bureau of Invasive Plant Management, 3915 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 710, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 within ten (10) working days of work completion; RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FWC SITE MANAGER: 1, The Site Manager reserves the right to inspect, at any time, the Contractor's procedure, spray system(s), spray solution(s), and other ancillary equipment, and to approve operating personnel. Inspection, however, will not relieve the Contractor of any obligations or responsibilities nor will it transfer any liability to the lands listed under "Project Location."; 2. No additional work can be added to this Task Assignment without a fully executed Change Order. Additional work includes additional treatment areas or change in treatment methodology. 3. The site management agency authorizes Bureau of Invasive Plant Management staff to approve invoice payments of all funds encumbered under this Task Assignment. Payment will be approved only for that work approved by the Site Manager. A copy of the approved invoice will be forwarded to the site management agency. FWC Contract No. 08150, Task Assignment No. FK 104, Page 2 of 2 Exhibit I Project Title: Monroe County Mechanical / Contracted Invasive Exotic Plant Removal (2011-2012) Working Group: Florida Keys Invasive Exotics Task Force Site Manager: Beth Bergh Monroe County Land Steward 2798 Overseas Highway Marathon, Florida 33050-2227 Phone: (305) 289-2511 Cell: (305) 304-4442 Email: bergh-beth@nonroecounty-fl.gov Grant Type: Cost reimbursement Project Goals The project goal is the eradication of invasive exotic plants from publicly owned conservation lands owned or managed by Monroe County. Total Grant Funds Requested: $50,000 Total In -kind Match: $25,444 (51 percent of grant funds requested) Project Description The proposed project will build on the success of the last six years of invasive exotic removal work on Monroe County conservation lands by enabling the County to hire contractors to remove Category I and lI invasive plant species. The project will remove stands of invasive exotic vegetation that are either too large or located too close to improvements (such as power lines, roads and buildings) to be safely removed by the County's Land Steward and the Invasive Exotic Plant Removal Crew. Additionally, the grant funds will be used to leverage restoration funds available from the Monroe County Environmental Land Management and Restoration Fund (MCELMR). The MCELMR funds will continue to be utilized for invasive exotic removal, site cleanup, native plantings and other restoration efforts. The most common invasive exotic plant species found within the project area includes the following: Brazilian pepper (I - Schinus terebinthifalius), Australian pine (l - Casuarina spp.), and seaside mahoe (I - Thespesia populnea). In addition, any other FLEPPC listed species found on the conservation lands will be removed. Project Location Lands in this project area consist of public conservation lands located throughout the Florida Keys either owned or managed by Monroe County (as the Board of County Commissioners or the Land Authority). Monroe County owns over 3,000 parcels of scattered conservation lands throughout the Florida Keys. Additionally, the County has entered into a management lease with the State of Florida for the management of 495 parcels purchased through the Florida Forever program. The focus for the 2011-2012 project will be the County managed parcels purchased under the Florida Forever program and any remaining untreated parcels owned by Monroe FWC Contract No. 08150, 'Task Assignment No. FK-104, Exhibit 1, Page I of 5 Exhibit 1 County. The majority of the subject sites fall within the following list of subdivisions (this list is not all inclusive). Note that most of the sites are adjacent to larger natural areas. KEY SUBDIVISION .HABITAT TYPE ADJACENT NATURAL AREA Key Largo Thoan sons Subdivision Hammock / Wetlands Key Largo Largo Gardens Hammock / Wetlands Near Pennekamp SP Big Pine Sands Subdivision Pinelands / Disturbed USFWS Refuge Ramrod Ramrod Shores Hammock / Wetlands FWC - WEA Summerland Summerland Estates Hammock / Wetlands Sugarloaf Indian Mound Estates Hammock / Wetlands Near FWC & USFWS All Acreages and other parcels Variety of habitats FWC, USFWS, DEP Parks Most individual parcels are only 0.1 acre in size, but many are contiguous and combine to form much larger management units. All properties are public lands that Monroe County intends to manage in perpetuity for conservation and natural resource protection. As illustrated in the table above, the areas proposed for invasive plant eradication encompass a range of habitat types within the Florida Keys. The current condition of these conservation lands varies from disturbed to pristine. These areas provide habitat and resources for a myriad of wildlife, including resident and migratory birds, and endemic plant species. The non-native plants that invade these areas decrease habitat value and lower biodiversity. Just a few of the state and federally listed endangered and threatened species of animals and plants that utilize these habitats include: eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), key mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii), piping plover (Charadrius melodus), white -crowned pigeon (Columba leucocephala), Key Largo cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola), Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri), Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium), Blodgett's wild mercury (Argythamnia blodgettii), Cupania (Cupania glabra); skyblue clustervine (Jacquemontia pentanthos), brittle thatch palm (Thrinax morrisii), and Garber's spurge (Chamaesyce garberi). Proposed Budget The proposed budget for this section of the project is as follows: Grant Funds Requested: In -Kind Match: $50,000 Project Administration - Land Steward 8 hrs / week for 32 weeks @ $28.33 I hr + 44 % in benefits $10,444 Related Clean-up / Restoration Costs $15,000 Total In -Kind Match for this portion: $25,444 (51 % of Grant Funds Requested) Work Specifications The contractor will remove the exotic vegetation from designated conservation lands under the direction of the Monroe County Land Steward. Work performance will 2 FWC Contract No. 08150, Task Assignment No. FK-104, Exhibit 1, Page 2 of 5 Exhibit 1 consist of the contractor furnishing all labor, herbicides, diluents, small equipment, transportation, spray equipment, etc. and all operations necessary to eradicate the exotic vegetation as described in the Project Goals section. Monroe County Public Works or a County contractor will provide heavy equipment (clam truck, dump truck, etc) as required to remove and dispose of vegetative debris and to cleanup sites as needed. Daily work logs recording date, name of site, and hours of work along with other data will be maintained by the Land Steward. Monroe County will submit periodic invoices to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Invasive Plant Management Section, for reimbursement for exotic plant control activities based on the work logs. The exotic plant species listed under "Project Description" will be treated according to developed effective control techniques. Depending upon the species treated and the type of habitat, plants may be hand -pulled, treated in place, removed from site, or chipped on site. Decisions regarding specific plant treatment methods on each site will be made by the Land Steward. Treating vegetation in place and allowing it to decompose in situ is cost effective and biologically sound. Removing vegetation from the site will be the preferred treatment method in habitats where fuel loading maybe a concern, where excessive mulching would preclude native seedling recruitment or negatively affect wildlife, where falling trees could pose a hazard to roads or structures, or where aesthetics are a concern. It is anticipated that most work areas will revegetate naturally without artificial seeding or revegetation. However, for severely degraded sites with distant native seed sources, planting of natives will be considered with funds from Monroe County's Environmental Land Management and Restoration Fund. Every effort shall be made by the contractor to avoid damaging native vegetation or disturbing wildlife. The contractor will abide by all herbicide label application, precautionary, safety, cleaning, and disposal inforination. Data Collection The Land Steward will be responsible for overseeing contractors conducting field work and keeping daily work logs. Work logs will record date, weather conditions, name of site, specific location of site, hours of work, species treated, treatment method, herbicide, concentration, and amount applied. Work logs will be used for final report preparation and to track management activities on all County conservation lands. Public Education/Outreach The Land Steward will coordinate communications with neighbors and / or neighborhood associations prior to contractor work to explain the purpose and importance ofthe project. Project Time Frame The project will begin as soon as funding is available and conclude by June 1, 2012, with the Monroe County Land Steward providing a comprehensive final report to accompany the final invoice for cost reimbursement to the FWC Invasive Plant Management Section no later than June 30, 2012. Due to weather constraints, it is envisioned that most of the work will occur during the eight -month period from October to June. FWC Contract No. 08150, Task Assignment No. FK-104, Exhibit 1, Page 3 of 5 Exhibit 1 Location Maps: Maps do not show all Monroe County owned or managed parcels and do not include all potential work sites under this proposal. Map 1. Key Largo Focus Area including Thompsons and Largo Gardens Subdivisions. Map Z. Big Pine, Torches and Ramrod Focus Areas including Sands, Windswept Beach and Ramrod Shores Subdivisions. 4 FWC Contract No. 08150, Task Assignment No. FK-104, Exhibit 1, Page 4 of 5 Exhibit 1 Map 3. Summerland Areas including Summerland Estates and Hudgins Subdivision. Map 4. Upper Sugarloaf Focus Areas including Indian Mound Estates and Sugarloaf Acres Subdivisions. FWC Contract No. 08150, Task Assignment No. FK-104, Exhibit 1, Page 5 of 5