TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: Utilization of Mote Marine Laboratory for sampling, monitoring and analysis for the Myakkahatchee Creek Water Treatment Plant's Hydrobiological Monitoring Program in an estimated annual budgeted amount of $134,914.
Recommended Action
Approve utilization of Mote Marine Laboratory services in accordance with City Procurement Approve utilization of Mote Marine Laboratory for sampling, monitoring and analysis for the Myakkahatchee Creek Water Treatment Plant's Hydrobiological Monitoring Program in an estimated annual budgeted amount of $134,914.
Background Information
The City of North Port's Water Use Permit No. 20 002923.012, as regulated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), requires that the City must maintain a compliant Hydrobiological Monitoring Program (HBMP). This HBMP contains two parts. The first is the continuous monitoring of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity and pH of samples obtained by permanently fixed equipment in one location in the Myakkahatchee Creek. The other part of the program consists of the monthly analysis of water samples taken twice each month from ten independent sampling stations throughout the Cocoplum Waterway, Myakkahatchee Creek and the Myakka River.
This program was established to report the effects of the City's water withdrawals on the marine ecosystem in the surrounding water bodies. In efforts to save the City money, Utilities staff performs the sampling duties for all ten stations once a month, however the department does not have the capabilities to perform certain portions of the testing and analysis required from eight of those stations on the second sampling. The sampling and testing for those eight stations has been performed by Mote Marine Laboratory.
Mote Marine Laboratory assisted in the development of this program with SWFWMD and has been performing the monthly testing since 2004 in association with County ambient monitoring program and the monitoring program for SWFWMD for the Myakka River minimum flows and levels. In January of 2011, Mote Marine took over the continuous monitoring portion of the program at a reduced cost to the City compared to the prior vendor. Other entities including, Sarasota County, utilize Mote Marine's services which staff believes promotes regional analysis. By Mote Marine collecting regional data, they can in turn provide crucial information on not only the region's aquatic ecosystems, but also the hydrological and biological composition of our region to state and federal agencies as needed.
In addition to the monitoring, sampling and analysis for the HBMP Program, the City is also required to submit a summary report to SWFWMD with an analysis of the data gathered for the program every three years. As Mote Marine Laboratory performs the program testing and analysis, and has the necessary expertise to perform the analytical effort required for the triannual report, the City had them prepare the last report in 2014.
This year Mote Marine has quoted the City $59,364.00 for the continuation of the water quality sampling and monitoring in the Myakkahatchee Creek, Cocoplum Canal and the Myakka River, $40,550.00 for continuous salinity and water level monitoring in the Myakkahatchee Creek and the Myakka River, and up to $35,000 for the necessary analytic interpretive effort for the summary report required by SWFWMD based on the sampling results for an estimated total of $134,914 in Fiscal Year 2017-2018.
Strategic Plan
Financially Responsible City providing Quality Municipal Services
Preservation of Environment and Natural Resources.
Financial Impact
Utilities has requested the inclusion of $134,914 in account number 420-6061-533.31-05 in the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 budget for these services.
Procurement
Procurement of Hydrobiological Monitoring Program service is exempt from competition per Sec 2-403 (a) (2) of the City Procurement Code.
Attachments:
1. Competitive Procurement Exemption Form
2. Mote Marine Laboratory quote for services
3. Mote Marine Laboratory Non-Profit Determination Letter from IRS
4. Florida Division of Corporations Document
Prepared by: Michelle Tipp
Department Director: Rick Newkirk