DATE: July 1, 2015
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
David Parker, City Engineer/CIP Executive
SUBJECT: title
*Consideration of Joint Funding Agreement for Water Resources Investigations with U.S. Geological Survey (COF Contract No. 2015-0181) (07/14/15 WS)
body
Purpose
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) concerning the proposed Joint Funding Agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for Water Resources Investigations (river gauging) on the Harpeth River.
Background
For many years the City of Franklin and the USGS have entered into an agreement for the operation and maintenance of two (2) Harpeth River stream flow gauging stations at Murfreesboro Road and just west of Franklin Road that monitor the river flows. As a part of the City’s new Aquatic Resources Alteration Permit (ARAP) for the City’s Water Treatment Plant raw water withdrawal, the City is required to provide a new gauging station (monitoring location) upstream of the withdrawal. This new monitoring location is to provide both river flow and dissolved oxygen (DO) data for the determination of when the City can actually withdraw water from the Harpeth River for treatment. This new gauging station is being added to the Funding Agreement that the City maintains with the USGS since the cost to the City for this station is less than if the City were to own and maintain the station on its own ($24,800.00 verses approximately $50,000.00).
Financial Impact
The total cost for operating the three (3) stations between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016 will be $57,250.00. The City’s portion of this cost will be $33,800.00 (see Exhibit A attached). In previous years, this cost has been budgeted under Contractual Services in the City’s Stormwater Fund. Since this is an increase ($33,800.00 verses budgeted $14,460.00) over what was expected during the budgeting process, there will need to be an amendment to this fund.
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the Joint Funding Agreement (COF Contract No. 2015-0181) with the USGS for the operation and maintenance of the gauging stations at a cost to the City of $33,800.00.