Title
Approving a resolution authorizing payment to the City of Austin for tree mitigation fees in the amount of $567,700 associated with the Secondary Colorado River Raw Water Pipeline project.
Summary
The Secondary Colorado River Raw Water Pipeline project requires approximately 15 miles of new easements for construction of the proposed 42-inch water transmission pipeline. The City of Austin requires that all trees removed within Austin City limits be mitigated by planting new trees or by paying mitigation fees that vary by tree type and size. This item supports the Infrastructure Pillar of the Strategic Plan.
There is not sufficient space along the pipeline route or at the existing Colorado River Pump Station to plant new trees (in the amount needed), so the City of Pflugerville will have to pay mitigation fees in order to comply with City of Austin requirements.
No Heritage trees are being removed as part of the project. Heritage trees along pipeline are being tunneled at cost of approximately $2,100 per foot. Removal of Heritage trees must be approved by Austin’s City Council.
Removal of trees is needed for construction and maintenance of the pump station and pipeline.
Tree mitigation can be accomplished by planting new trees, but there is no additional property along the pipeline to plant trees to reduce the mitigation cost.
Pump Station: Mitigation for 208.5 inches of trees at $200 per inch
Pipeline: Mitigation for 2,630 inches of trees at $200 per Inch
The total mitigation fees owed to the City of Austin are $41,700 for tree removal at the Colorado River Intake Pump Station and $526,000 along the raw water pipeline for a total of $567,700. The City requested a waiver to City of Austin for the tree mitigation fee and we were informed that the City of Austin can not waive this fee without Council action and they do not waive this fee for any applicants and they even charge their own departments within the City of Austin this fee and it is not waived internally within the City of Austin.
As this project takes place within the Critical Water Quality Zone (CWQZ), the project would normally be required to pay fees when working within the CWQZ. After much discussion with City of Austin staff, City of Pflugerville staff were able to work with the City of Austin to get the Critical Water Quality Zone fee waived which saved roughly $1.1M for the project.
Prior City Council Action
N/A
Deadline for City Council Action
Action is requested on May 14, 2024.
Funding Expected: Revenue __ Expenditure _X_ N/A __
Budgeted Item: Yes _X__ No __ N/A __
Amount: _$567,700_______
1295 Form Required? Yes __ No _X_
Legal Review Required: N/A __ Required ___ Date Completed: __May 6, 2024___
Supporting documents attached:
Pflugerville Resolution for tree mitigation
Recommended Action
Approve a resolution authorizing payment to the City of Austin for tree mitigation fees in the amount of $567,700 associated with the Secondary Colorado River Raw Water Pipeline project.