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Town of Ocean Ridge |
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Date: July 1, 2004 _________________________________________________________________________________
This is my first Official Meeting as your Town Manager. I would like to thank the Commission for the opportunity in serving once again as your Manager. It has been 8 years since I left (9/96) but I find essentially the same staff on board which speaks well of the Community and the Leadership of the Commission.
That being said, I am providing you with brief updates on the Town’s continuing projects and events.
Dead Trees on Old Ocean and A1A We have removed 11 dead trees on Old Ocean, there are 4 of the original trees that are putting out growth and we are starting to water them again. Hopefully we can save these 4. Staff is researching options (grants) to replant some of the dead trees. TM met with Mr. Bob Clinger of DERM, He is having the Department take out the Dead tree and exposed stump on the County’s property on Old Ocean, although he could not give me a time certain. I will follow up with him next week. We have removed the 3 dead trees on the north end of Town by the entrance and are researching our options in replacing them. Stormwater Drainage Project – Hudson Avenue Phase – This is a progress report of the Hudson Avenue roadway and drainage improvements. The Contractor (Chaz Equipment Company) has completed the removal of the muck and unsuitable material under the roadway. The spreading and compacting of base rock for the road has also been completed. A geo-grid fabric has been installed in the road base for the purpose of helping stabilization. The road base has been graded to the proper elevations. The Contractor has completed the installation of the new water main on Hudson Avenue including the fire hydrants, water service lines and meter boxes. The new water line has been tested and put into service. The installation of all the drainage pipes, catch basins, the 36” outfall pipe and headwall has been completed. In the next few weeks, the first lift of paving will be installed on the roadway and the grading of the swales will be started. The Staff feels that the Contractor is performing an excellent job and the work is ahead of schedule. Stormwater Drainage Project - South Phase – On June 30, 2004 the Town signed the contract with F. P. I., Inc. of Pompano Beach for the purchase of the mechanical equipment for the South Phase of the stormwater drainage improvement project. This mechanical equipment includes the pumps, generators, and controls for the pump stations for Tropical Drive and for the detention area on the corner of Woolbright Road and North Ocean Blvd. A pre-construction meeting will be scheduled between the Staff and Contractor to discuss the project. On June 8, 2004 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued the Town a permit for the construction of six (6) stormwater injection wells. The permit requires an increased amount of monitoring after construction of the wells these requirements have recently been made more stringent by FDEP. The permit allows for a two phased approach with the first phase to construct two (2) wells and the associated monitoring wells. These two (2) wells will then be injection tested. The second phase after the first 2 wells pass testing is to allow construction of the remaining four (4) wells and the associated monitoring wells. The Geologists have reported that recent global economic concerns have increased the costs for all projects involving well drilling. The three (3) major items that are impacting well construction prices are oil prices (and therefore petroleum based products such as PVC casing), steel prices and cement. The Town Engineers and Geologists are doing an analysis to see how all these increased costs will affect the project. The Town received a letter from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) saying that the SFWMD permit can be modified to incorporate the wells with a letter of modification.
Stormwater Drainage Project – Generator Pad – The Town has received a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) permit for the placement of the pump station controls in the FDOT right-of-way on A-1-A near Tropical Drive. The Staff and Town Engineers are looking into the possibility of also locating the backup emergency generator for the pump station in the FDOT right-of-way on A-1-A near Tropical Drive. The Town will be applying for a FDOT permit for the placement of the generator in the right-of-way. There is also a possibility of utilizing a portable generator instead of a permanent one.
Tropical Drive Easements – The easement documents for Tropical Drive were distributed some months ago to all of the property owners on the street. These easements are necessary for the construction of the South Phase of the stormwater drainage it will allow the Town to have legal access for the construction of the drainage system, pumps, water line and roadway. As of this date only seven (7) of the fifteen (15) easements documents sent out have been executed and received back. The staff is hopeful that the remainder of the property owners will sign the easements quickly in order to not delay the project any longer.
Adams Road Drain – It was reported to the Town that the stormwater drain on the east end of Adams Road was not working properly. Rockline Vac Systems, Inc. went out and cleaned and televised the pipe. It was discovered that this drain with a 6” PVC pipe was connected to the drainage pipes more to the west on Adams Road which was not previously known. The pipe is in bad condition, had breaks in three (3) locations and was clogged with a concrete type substance. Line Tec., Inc. repaired the pipe in three (3) locations and removed the remainder of the debris in the pipe. The pipe was tested and the water flowed freely. The staff and Town Engineer are recommending that this drain and piping be replaced and upgraded to a larger size when the David Lane and Adams Road Roadway and Drainage improvements are constructed.
State Revolving Fund Loan – The loan is in place and the funds are available to be drawn for the South Phase and Hudson Avenue Phase of the project. On June 16, 2004 a disbursement request was submitted on to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the Hudson Avenue Phase of the stormwater drainage project. The request was for construction services of $363,787.65 and technical services during construction of $26,409.06 for a total disbursement in the amount of $390,196.71. The Town should being receiving these funds in the beginning of July.
Storm Drainage Cleaning – Rockline Vac Systems, Inc. is starting to clean all of the Town’s drainage pipes in the south end of Town from Douglas Drive north to Adams Road. This is part of the continual maintenance of the Town’s drainage system. This work should be completed by the end of July.
Lake Worth Lagoon Grants – On June 8, 2004 the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners approved the time extension to the grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). On June 15, 2004 the FDEP also executed this eighteen (18) month extension to the grant agreement. As the grantee the County receives funding for the Lake Worth Lagoon grants from the FDEP and passes this funding on to sub-grantees such as our Town. By approval of this eighteen (18) month extension by both parties, it will extend the expiration date of our Town’s first Lake Worth Lagoon Grant by that time period. The funding for the grant is not automatically extended, as the FDEP must get approval from the Governor’s office to carry the funds forward into the next fiscal year’s budget.
Uninterruptible Power Supply – The installation and wiring of the Town’s new uninterruptible power supply (UPS) has now been completed. The UPS contains a battery backup system which provides constant power for the 911 telephone system, computers, printers, and other electronic equipment located in the dispatch center. The new UPS replaced an existing one that was over thirteen (13) years old. The UPS is being paid for by Palm Beach County 911 Grant Funding and is at no cost to the Town. Decorative Street Signs – At the June meeting the Town Commission approved a proposal from Jeff Industries, Inc. for $24,854 to place decorative street signs throughout the Town, similar to those placed on Old Ocean Blvd. The Staff performed an analysis of all street signage throughout the Town. Together with the Public Safety Department a new sign listing was made that combined or reduced signage wherever possible. The proposal replaces all street name signs, stop signs, speed limit signs, no parking signs and other directional signage with decorative street signs. As this is a large order the Contractor will take some months to make and install the signs. The first phase of the project is to replace all street signs along A-1-A. All the signs should all be completed and installed by the end of the year.
Fire Hydrants – The City of Boynton Beach hired a contractor to test fire hydrants in all of their fire districts. Since the Boynton Beach Fire Department will be taking over Ocean Ridge’s Fire Department in October 2004 the testing also included Ocean Ridge’s. The Staff received fire hydrant testing data from the City of Boynton Beach for 78 of the Town’s 140 fire hydrants. Some of the information the data included was the location, make, model, age, nozzle sizes, pressure and flow of the hydrants. The Town’s Contractor is waiting for the parts to repair the leaking fire hydrant by the northeast corner of Spanish River Drive and Bonito Drive. The fire hydrant on the north side of Tropical Drive is in need of repair. This fire hydrant should be repaired within the next two (2) weeks. Funds for replacement of old and/or rusted fire hydrants are included in this year’s budget.
Public Lands Grant Program – The grant selection committee met on June 18, 2004 and gave preliminary approval for the Town’s application for the Public Lands Grant Program for Invasive Non-Native Vegetation Removal. The application is for funding assistance to remove two (2) large Brazilian Pepper trees on Town property located on the northwest corner of Inlet Cay Drive and River Drive. The estimated cost for the removal of the trees is $2,500.00 and the grant will provide the Town with 50% of the total cost. The grant committee recommendations will be submitted on July 13, 2004 to the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners for approval and awards will be announced at that time. ***
New Town Code Books - Municipal Code Corporation (MCC) has shipped the Town’s new code books and we should receive them in the next couple of days.
A1A Project – The proposed plans from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to standardize the lanes on A1A and add safety shoulders have not yet been received by the Town. There is a large diagram depicting the FDOT right-of-way along A1A available for viewing at Town Hall. The Commission will be kept informed of information received from FDOT regarding the project. At the MPO meeting the vote was 7 to 4 to have a 3 foot shoulder thru town as was agreed to
Beach Walkovers – The Edith Street and Thompson Street beach walkovers have both been completed and inspected by the Town’s building inspector. A knee railing was installed for safety reasons on both the Edith Street and Thompson Street walkover structures. In a couple of weeks after the Edith Street on the ground walkway settles it will be adjusted and more sand will be added to stabilize it. The walkovers have been built by the Town’s Maintenance Employees with Robert Barron designing and consulting on the construction.
Landscaping – The Town will be advertising a request for proposals (RFP) for the Town’s landscape maintenance services sometime in mid July. The Staff will distribute the RFP document to the Town Commission for review and comments prior to the public advertising. The contract with the Town’s current Landscaper, Blue Water Landscape & Lake Management, will expire on September 4, 2004. The Town’s Landscaper has removed eleven (11) dead Coconut Palm trees in the right-of-way on Old Ocean Blvd. near Hersey Drive. He is also has removed three (3) dead Sabal Palms trees by the North Town entry sign and one (1) on Ocean Avenue. There is one (1) dead Callophyllum tree on the South side of Ocean Avenue that will be removed in the beginning of July. He will also be working on fixing the washouts along the seawall by the Inlet Cay Drive Bridge sometime in July. Budget – The Staff is in the final stages of budget preparation for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. The budget special meeting will be held on July 27 at 8:00 am. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Jully 27: Budget Special Meeting – 8:00 am August 2: Town Commission Meeting – 6:30 pm August 3: Code Enforcement (if necessary) – 10:00 am
Attachments - Letter from SFWMD concerning permit modification procedure. |
