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• The County has since renewed the contract five times (on July 15, 1997, July 21, 1998, July 20, 1999, September 19, 2000 and July 24, 2001). The July.1999 and subsequent agreement extensions modified the original contract to 'as needed" terms, by specifying no monthly base fee and maximum hours per month of 75 hours (monthly fee not to exceed 75 hours x 585 = 36,375). Staff is now requesting that the Board renew the contract with FloridAffinity, Inc. for an additional one year period, under the most current "as needed ' agreement terms, to allow for continuing professional services assistance for the County Environmental Lands Program. ALTERNATIVES & ANALYSIS Since the County originally contracted with FloridAffinity in August 1994, the County has succeeded in acquiring (or obtaining approved purchase contracts for) parcels in 18 environmental project sites (6,600 acres). Moreover, in each of those acquisitions, the County has secured cost -share funds from other agencies, totaling more than $21 million in matching funds. Currently, there is approximately SI 1 million in environmental land bond funds available, $8 million of which is reserved for the Lost Tree Islands project currently under negotiation. The remaining S3 million is available as leverage for matching grants to acquire projects on the Land Acquisition Advisory Committee's (LAAC's) site list and as leverage for grants to construct initial improvements on acquired conservation lands. Staffs position is that renewal of the FloridAffinity contract is important if the County is to complete pending (and potential future) acquisitions and cost -share "due diligence" tasks. FloridAffinity has done a competent job in its negotiations with property owners and in coordinating with cost -share agencies. Although the County has contracted with The Conservation Fund (TCF) to negotiate the Lost Tree Islands purchase, FloridAffinity provides an important service relating to that and other projects by subcontracting and coordinating due diligence tasks (i.e., appraisals, surveys and environmental audits). If those tasks were managed in-house, the time and effort involved would require additional staff. In addition, FloridAffinity and its associates have substantially assisted the County in drafting conceptual management plans for acquired properties. Among the various work activities undertaken for the County this past year, FloridAffinity has: • Facilitated state reimbursement of matching funds for two projects (Fischer and Snallone tracts) • Negotiated three purchase contracts with landowners at prices below appraised value • Drafted three purchase agreements meeting cost -share agency and County legal standards • Subcontracted six appraisals, three environmental assessments and two surveys • Drafted a Conceptual Management Plan (for the Hallstrom Farmstead project) • Coordinated with staff, funding agencies and landowners on various LAAC sites In the original 1994 contract, it was anticipated that there would be no need to extend the contract more than three times, which has occurred. Notwithstanding, that limitation was superceded when the County renewed the contract the past two years, as agreed to by both the County and FloridAffinity. If the County reaches a point within one year's time frame whereby bond -funding expenditures are completed, or for any other reason, the original contract as extended allows for the County to teiiiiinate the contract at that time. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners authorize the Board chairman to execute the attached one-year "Extension of Agreement for Professional Services Between Indian River County and FloridAffinity, Inc." ATTACHMENTS • Proposed "Extension of Agreement" document. (On file in County Planning office: original 8/18/94 contract with FloridAffinity, Inc.) August 13, 2002 25