12/15/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PACE At its January 13, 1998 and February 24, 1998 meetings, the Board of County Commissioners approved a conceptual plan for special landscaping in the I-95/SR 60 interchange area that was to be accomplished via a highway beautification grant. At that time, the Board also committed to enter into a standard agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) that would obligate the county to maintain the special landscaping. On June 2, 1998, the Board approved an alternative arrangement worked -out by staff and FDOT whereby landscaping over and above the original beautification grant plan would be installed by FDOT during its upcoming I-95 resurfacing project. That arrangement eliminated the need for a beautification grant, secured more landscaping while maintaining the same projected maintenance costs, and eliminated all county matching fiord UP -front costs. The arrangement also secured for the county $125,000 from Prime/Horizon to be used to defray future maintenance and replacement costs. In essence, the county got more for less. The Board is now to finalize the arrangement by approving the attached maintenance agreement and resolution. The maintenance agreement is required to finalize the agreed upon special landscaping aspects of the I-95 resurfacing project. The agreement sets forth the state's obligation to have the special landscaPmg installed and established (maintained) for a 1 year period following installation. FDOT and the county will jointly inspect and accept the installed landscaping. The agreement also sets forth the county's obligation to maintain the special landscaping after the 1 year period. Under the agreement, required maintenance includes watering, fertilizing, mulching, weeding, and pruning where needed The attached resolution is required to accompany the agreement, and merely recites the county's support and approval of the maintenance agreement, and states the reasons for its support and approval. Planning and Public Works staff, members of the SR 60 on-going review committee, FDOT's landscaping consultants, and interested parties have reviewed the landscaping design. The resulting plans are designed to provide significant positive visual impact while keeping maintenance costs as low as possible. In response to FDOT engineering comments made this fall, some changes have been made to the final design plans. Even so, the final plans substantially conform to the approved conceptual plan and will involve approximately $700,000 worth of landscaping improvements. For reference purposes, a conceptual plan is attached to the agreement. A copy of that conceptual plan is included in each Commissioner's packet. Detailed, 100% bid plans are available in the planning department for review. In accordance with the maintenance agreement, FDOT will fiord and be responsible for all costs of landscape installation and a 1 year establishment period. It is anticipated that project landscaping will be installed in late summer 1999. Therefore, the county's maintenance obligation will not begin until late summer 2000. The county will then begin to use the $125,000 already contributed by Prime/Horizon to cover maintenance and replacement costs. The agreement has been reviewed by FDOT and county staff including the county attorney's office, and is ready for approval. Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners: Approve the attached resolution approving and supporting the maintenance agreement, and 2. Authorize the chairman to execute the maintenance agreement. DECEMBER 15, 1998