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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM 6Bii STAFF ORIGINATOR: Jason C. Wedel, City Engineer MEETING DATE: January 27, 2014 TOPIC: Consider Resolution 14-08, Approve Purchase Agreement for Wetland Mitigation Credits, 21St Avenue Street and Utility Improvement Project VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 INTRODUCTION The 21st Avenue Street and Utility Improvement project will require a partial impact to the existing wetlands located in the area. As part of the City' s permit with the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) the City is required to replace the wetland area impacted. BACKGROUND As part of the design of the 21st Avenue Street and Utility Improvement project all of the wetlands in the project area were delineated this past fall. The delineation was approved by the Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) and was included in the construction plans for the utilities and streets. Now that the plans are complete, the amount of wetland area that will be impacted has been finalized. The total area impacted equates to 28,314 square feet. Per RCWD rules, the impacted wetland is required to be replaced at a 2 to 1 ratio. Therefore 56,628 square feet (28,314 x 2) of new wetland is either required to be constructed or an equivalent amount of wetland bank credits can be purchased. Since there is not sufficient area to create 56,628 square feet of new wetland on site it was determined that wetland credits need to be purchased. This cost was anticipated and was included in the original cost estimates for the project. The total cost is $68,542.53 which equates to $1.21 per square foot. City staff contacted a number of sellers and this was the best rate available for wetland credits that meet the RCWD's requirements. As part of the purchase agreement a $1,000 non refundable deposit is required to secure the wetland credits. The remaining balance will be paid this summer when the closing for the purchase of the credits occurs. The City Council is being asked to approve the purchase agreement for the wetland mitigation credits and authorize the deposit of $1,000 to secure the agreement.