Title
Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Joint Funding Agreement and Approving a Cost Share with U.S. Geological Survey.
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The City of Hampton (the “City”) partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (“USGS”) in 2015 to purchase and install local tidal monitoring stations located on the Hampton River at East Pembroke Avenue and on Newmarket Creek at Mercury Boulevard. Council Resolution File Number 15-0002 authorized the City Manager or her designee to execute the original Joint Funding Agreement for the five-year period, commencing July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2020. This resolution requests authorization for the City Manager or her designee to execute the Joint Funding Agreement for Water Resources Investigations (the “Agreement”) for the five-year period, commencing July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2025, for these two local tidal monitoring stations.
Discussion:
Water is one of six science mission areas of the USGS, wherein reliable, impartial, and timely information that is needed to understand the nation’s water resources is collected and disseminated. USGS and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration currently operate a network of 15 continuous water-level monitors (also known as tide gauges) in coastal Virginia. Data from tidal monitoring stations is publicly available near-real time and can be used to predict the timing and magnitude of tidal flooding in various locations. The four closest monitoring stations are located in the Chesapeake Bay or far inland, in or near Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Sewells Point, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. All of these locations are too far from the City for the City to realize the benefits of vital localized water-level and flooding information.
The City Department of Public Works worked with USGS personnel to identify tidal monitoring station locations on the Hampton River at E. Pembroke Avenue and Newmarket Creek at Mercury Boulevard. Data received from these tidal monitoring stations will assist agencies to more accurately predict tidal flooding and more effectively make decisions regarding evacuations, road closures, and post-storm recovery efforts resulting from coastal tidal flooding.
USGS funded the purchase and installation of these local stations. Annual operation and data delivery cost for the station has increased from $5,000.00 to $11,568.00, including the cost of data delivery and posting on the USGS website, quality control, and repair or replacement of the system. USGS will be fully responsible for operating and maintaining the sites. Under the attached Agreement, USGS agrees to contribute $4,000.00, annually, and the City would agree to contribute $7,568.00, annually, for a five-year period commencing July, 1 2020 and ending June 30, 2025.
Through this collaborative effort with USGS, the City will be able to continue to obtain more accurate data from which to make critical decisions to protect the safety, health, and welfare of citizens during tidal flooding events.
Impact:
There is no impact on the City’s operating budget; the annual costs will be paid from the stormwater fund.
Recommendation:
Approve Resolution and Sign Joint Funding Agreement for Water Resource Investigations
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Hampton Department of Public Works worked with U.S. Geological Survey (“USGS”) personnel to identify tidal monitoring station locations on the Hampton River at East Pembroke Avenue and on Newmarket Creek at Mercury Boulevard;
WHEREAS, USGS funded the purchase and installation of these local stations and is fully responsible for operating and maintaining them;
WHEREAS, annual operation and data delivery cost for the stations are $11,568.00, including the cost of data delivery and posting on the USGS website, quality control, and repair or replacement of the system;
WHEREAS, under the attached Joint Funding Agreement for Water Resource Investigations (the “Agreement”), USGS agrees to contribute $4,000.00, annually, and the City of Hampton (the “City”) agrees to contribute $7,568.00, annually, for a five-year period commencing July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2025, subject to the availability of appropriations and in accordance with the respective authorities for both parties;
WHEREAS, the current July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, annual installment payable by the City shall be paid from the existing Fiscal Year 2021 Stormwater Fund budget previously approved by Council;
WHEREAS, through this collaborative effort with USGS, the City will continue to obtain more accurate data from which to make critical decisions to protect the safety, health, and welfare of citizens during tidal flooding events; and
WHEREAS, Council finds that execution of the Agreement is in the best interest of the citizens of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia authorizes the execution of the Joint Funding Agreement for Water Resources Investigations and approves a cost share with the U.S. Geological Survey in accordance with the terms and conditions stated therein; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager, or her authorized designee, is hereby authorized to execute the Agreement as set forth in this Resolution and any and all documents necessary to carry out the purposes of this Resolution and/or associated with the City’s partnership with U.S Geological Survey, subject to approval by the City Attorney.