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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - 28E Agreement for Fiscal Agent Assistance with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Dvision of Soil Conservation and Water Quality and Story County Soil and Water Conservation District RESOLUTION NO. 23-184 RESOLUTION APPROVING 28E AGREEMENT FOR FISCAL AGENT ASSISTANCE WITH THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP— DIVISION OF SOIL CONSERVATION AND WATER QUALITY, CITY OF AMES, AND STORY COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS, the Water Pollution Control Facility(WPCF) is being converted to a nutrient removal treatment technology over a period of 20 years. Separate from the work that will occur inside the treatment plant,watershed-based improvements performed by the City can be"banked" as credit toward any future, more stringent nutrient reduction regulations imposed on the WPC Facility. On February 24, 2021, staff executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to allow these offsite nutrient reductions to be banked with the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Exchange; and, WHEREAS, over the past 18 months, staff has developed a partnership with multiple entities to bundle together Edge-of-Field (EOF)practices that can be bid as a single bid package. The first year of the project is nearing completion with 22 the outlets in Story County being treated by either saturated buffers or bioreactors. These practices allow natural removal of nitrogen from subsurface drainage before it enters a stream or other surface waters; and, WHEREAS, the success of the first year of the project was due in large measure to the collaboration between City staff and Story County, Story County Conservation, Story County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), and the Iowa Department of Agricultural and Land Stewardship (IDALS). Staff from the Water&Pollution Control Department are again working in collaboration with these groups to develop a project involving 20 to 30 installations, each treating tile drainage from fields ranging in size from 20 to 100 acres; and, WHEREAS, the City of Ames will act as the fiscal agent for the proposed project. This will include receiving funds from the different partners,procuring necessary temporary easements, and then contracting for the work to be performed. The funding for this project will consist of 75% from IDALS and 25% split equally between the City and Story County. The estimated cost for the City's share is $50,000 which will come from the Watershed Based Nutrient Reduction Capital Improvements Project, which sets aside $200,000 per year for watershed-based projects. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the 28E Agreement for fiscal agent assistance with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship — Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality, City of Ames, and Story County Soil and Water Conservation District is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 281h day of March, 2023. Renee kall, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Gartin Seconded by: Corrieri Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Rollins Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 28th day of March, 2023.