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Agenda 06/10/2008 Item #12B Agenda Item No. 126 June 10, 2003 Page 1 of 1P EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Reject the proposed Modification of Agreement between Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvements Trust Fund, the South Florida Water Management District (Big Cypress) and Collier County, Florida. (This Item to follow Companion Item 10(B). OBJECTIVE: To reject the proposed Modification of October, 2003 Agreement between the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund ("BOT"), South Florida Water Management District ("SFWMD") and the County. CONSIDERATIONS: On May 23,2007, the Board of County Commissioners approved the Supplemental Agreement between the South Florida Water Management District and Collier County ("Supplemental") which memorialized a settlement proposal between SFWMD and Collier County at a joint meeting of their governing boards held in Naples, on January 10,2007, pursuant to Chapter 164. The majority of the Supplemental was devoted to the 640-acre site for A TV use. Paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Supplemental, however, addressed the District's request that the original tri-party agreement be modified and states that: ,.-.. "[t]he District will have no affirmative obligation under the October 2003 Agreement (2003 Agreement) between the District, the County and the BOT to maintain the roadways and/or provide access in Picayune Strand and the areas identified in the 2003 Agreement. It is the intent of the parties as represented in previous Chapter 164 discussions with counsel for the BOT that the State of Florida Division of Forestry (DOF) shall have the sole responsibility of the maintenance of the roads and the providing of access in Picayune Strand and areas referenced in the 2003 Agreement." Because the original agreement imposed this obligation on both the District and BOT, it was deemed necessary to have the BOT confirm this existing obligation to maintain the roadways and expressly agree in writing to this modification to the tri-party agreement. Pursuant to Paragraph 9 of the Supplemental a Modification was to be signed by BOT, or its agent, DEP. The attached Modification was signed by the DEP on behalf of the Board of Trustees, and forwarded to the County for execution. Although requested by the County, the DEP attorney refused to re-affrrm the BOT's maintenance obligation under the original agreement. Recently, as a result of further request by County Attorney's Office, the Modification was revised to include Paragraph 3. Again, no affirmative statement of this existing obligation has been provided. Although BOT has indicated its approval and consent of the removal of the District from this obligation (see the attached correspondence), it will not expressly affirm its, or the Division of Forestry's, obligation to maintain these roadways. Until such time as the BOT agrees to the modification and accepts its responsibility to maintain the roadways in the Picayune, the modification contemplated by Paragraphs 8 and 9 of the Supplemental is ineffective. ~ It has been suggested that the BOT's refusal to confirm its maintenance obligation is a result of ' the current adversarial position between the County and the State. In November, 2007, the County was sued by Vibid Group, Inc., for the alleged "taking" of access through the vacation of these roadways in 2003 and supervision and implementation of the Picayune Strand Hydrologic r ~ I ',1 ~ ~i i , J, 1 ~ , " '1 , , " ~ i , 't! Ii ] Agenda Item No. 126 June 10, 2008 Page 2 of 19 Restoration Project. The County has filed a Third Party Complaint against both the BOT and SFWMD, who have responded with motions 10 dismiss. Because of BOT's reluctance to reiterate its existing obligation or to identify the Division of Forestry as the responsible agency, the Office of County Attorney recommends that the County refuse to execute the proposed Modification. FISCAL IMP ACT: None. i' ~ GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: None associated with this Executive Summary. I RECOMMENDATION: That the Collier County Board of County Commissioners reject the proposed Modification until such time as the State is willing to re-state it obligation to maintain the roadways in accordance with subparagraphs 8(a)-(c). PREPARED BY: Ellen T. Chadwell, Assistant County Attorney 1 j ~ ~ J i i( Page 1 of 1 Agenda Item No. 128 June 10, 2008 Page 3 of 10 COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Item Number: Item Summary: 12B Meeting Date: Reject the proposed Modification of Agreement between Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvements Trust Fund. the South Florida Water Management District (Big Cypress) and Collier County, Florida (This Item to follow Companion Item 10(C). 6/10/2008 90000 AM Prepared By Ellen T. Chadwell Assistant County Attorney Date County Attorney County Attorney Office 5/29/20089:15:43 AM Approved By Jeff Klatzkow Assistant County Attorney Date County Attorney County Attorney Office 5/29/200611 :24 AM Approved By Ellen T. Chadwell Assistant County Attorney Date County Attorney County Attorney Office 5/29/2006 1: 53 PM Approved By OMS Coordinator OMS Coordinator Date County Manager's Office Office of Management & Budget 5/30/2006 9:50 AM Approved By Mark Isackson Budget Analyst Date County Manager's Office Office of Management & Budget 611/20081:16 PM Approved By James V. Mudd Board of County Commissioners County Manager Date County Manager's Office 6/2/2006 11 :05 AM ( file://C:\AgendaTest\Export\ 1 09-June%20 1 0,%202008\ 12. %20COUNTY%20A TTORNEY%... 6/4/2008 Agenda Item No. 128 June 10, 2008 Page 4 of 10 MODI FICA nON OF AGREEMENT BElWEEN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND, THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (BIG CYPRESS BASIN) AND COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA This Modification of the October 6, 2003 Agreement (hereinafter referred 10 as Ihe "ModifICation of Agreement"), is made and entered into this day of _' 2007 by and between the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida (hereinafter "STATE"), South Florida Water Management District (hereinafter referred to as "DISTRlcr), and Collier County, a subdivision of the stale of Florida, (hereinafter "COUNTY"). WIT N E SSE T H: WHEREAS, STATE, DISTRICT, and COUNTY entered into an agreement on October 8, 2003 (hereinafter referred to as "Agreement") attached hereto as Exhibit A which in part referenced certain obligations of the STATE and DISTRICT to maintain roads and/or provide access as more specifically referenced in paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of said Agreement; and WHEREAS on june 14, 2007 the DISTRICT and the COUNTY entered into a "SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND COLLIER COUNTY" (hereinafter referred to as "Supplemental Agreement") attached hereto as Exhibit B; and WHEREAS, in said Supplemental Agreement, the COUNTY and DISTRICT recognize that the STATE, rather than the DISTRICT, would be responsible for the maintenance of the project area, as defined in the 2003 Agreement; and Agenda Item No. 128 June 10, 2008 Page 5 of 10 ModifiCation of Agreement WHEREAS, the DISTRICT and the COUNTY have agreed that the terms of the Supplemental Agreement that conflict with the October 2003 Agreement shall be deemed to supersede and replace, in its totality, the conflicting terms of the October 2003 Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the benefits flowing from each to the other, STATE, DISTRICT and COUNTY agree as follows: 1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein as part of this Modification of Agreement. 2. The DISTRICT shall have no affirmative obligation to maintain the roadways/roads and/or provide access in Picayune Strand and the areas identified in the October 2003 Agreement. More specifically, the "DISTRICT" and any reference to DISTRICT obligations in paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of the October 2003 Agreement with respect to the maintenance of roads, roadways and/or the providing of access is hereby deleted, removed and terminated. [SIGNA TURE PAGE FOLLOWS] r- I Page 2 of 3 Agenda Item No. 12B June 10, 2008 Page 6 of 10 Modiftcakion of Agreement: AS TO COUNTY: Dated: Attest: By: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA BY: Approved as 10 form and legal sufficiency James Coletta, Chairman Dale: Assistant County Attorney Ellen T. Chadwell AS TO DISTRICT: Dated: Attest: By: Assislant Secrelary South Florida Water Management District, BY ITS GOVERNING BOARD Approved as to form and legal suffiCiency BY: Eric Buermann, Chairman South Florida Water Management District Date: Office of Counsel AS TO STATE: Dated: Atlest: By: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND d legal sufficiency . Page 3 of 3 Agenda Item No. 12B June 10, 2008 Page 7 of 10 MODIFICATION OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND, THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (BIG CYPRESS BASIN) AND COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA This Modification of the October 8, 2003 Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the "Modification of Agreement"), is made and entered into this day of , 2007 by and between the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida (hereinafter "STATE"), South Florida Water Management District (hereinafter referred to as "DISTRICT"), and Collier County, a subdivision of the state of Florida, (hereinafter "COUNTY"). WIT N E SSE T H: WHEREAS, STATE, DISTRICT, and COUNTY entered into an agreement on October B, 2003 (hereinafter referred to as "Agreementl attached hereto as Exhibit A which in part referenced certain obligations of the STATE and DISTRICT to maintain roads and/or provide access as more specifically referenced in paragraphs 6, Band 9 of said Agreement; and WHEREAS on June 14, 2007 the DISTRICT and the COUNTY entered into a "SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND COLLIER COUNTY" (hereinafter referred to as "Supplemental Agreement") attached hereto as Exhibit B; and WHEREAS, in said Supplemental Agreement, the COUNTY and DISTRICT recognize that the STATE, rather than the DISTRICT, would be responsible for the maintenance of the project area, as defined in the 2003 Agreement; and (' Agenda Item No. 128 June 10, 2008 Page 8 of 10 Modificalion of Agreement WHEREAS, the DISTRICT and the COUNTY have agreed that the terms of the Supplemental Agreement that conniel with the October 2003 Agreement shall be deemed to supersede and replace, in its totality, the conflicting terms of the October 2003 Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the benefits nowing from each to the other, STATE, DISTRICT and COUNTY agree as follows: 1. The above recitals are Irue and correct and are incorporated herein as part of this Modification of Agreement. 2. The DISTRICT shall have no affirmative obligation to maintain the roadways/roads and/or provide access in Picayune Strand and the areas identified in the October 2003 Agreement. More specifically, the "DISTRICT" and any reference to DISTRICT obligations in paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of the October 2003 Agreement with respect to the maintenance of roads, roadways and/or the providing of access is hereby deleted, removed and terminated. 3. This modification does not affect the STATE's original responsibilities under Paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of the October 2003 Agreement. [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS] Page 2 of 3 Modification of Agreement AS TO COUNTY: Dated: Attest: By: Approved as to form and legal sufficiency Assistant County Attomey Ellen T. Chadwell AS TO DISTRICT: Dated: Attest: By: Assistant Secretary Agenda Item No. 128 June 10, 2008 Page 9 of 10 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COLLIER COUNTY. FLORIDA BY: Date: James Coletta, Chairman South Florida Water Management District, BY ITS GOVERNING BOARD Approved as to form and legal sufficiency BY: South Florida Water Management District Date: OffICe of Counsel AS TO STATE: Dated: Attest: By: Approved as to form and legal sufficiency .-- , Eric Buermann, Chairman BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND BY: Date: Page 3 of 3 Agenda Item No. 128 June 10, 2008 Page 10 of 10 SOUTH FWRIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICf :U01 Gun Oub RO.ld., West Palm Beach. FJorida 134.06 .. (5611686-8800 .. FL WATS 1-800-~2-2045 .. TOD (56]) 697.'2574 M.:uhng Addrcs.o;: POBox 24680, West Palm Beach, Fl334164680 .. www.sfwmd gov April 2, 2008 VIA FACSIMILE (239) 252;6300 AND DHL OVERNIGHT~IL'2'~, :I~\ ~:[: ::;',1 -<.)...: , " &:" ;J:>; (-'. -\"" ~ l~ 0_ :ti ....~ -J lor tr '.:.t. Ellen T. Chadwell. Esq. Assistant County Attorney Office of the County Attorney Harmon Turner Building 3301 East Tamiami Trail- 8'n Floor Naples, Florida 34112 o .... Dear Ms. Chadwell: SUBJECT: Modification of October 2003 Aareement Pursuant to my March 31$' e-mail to you (copy to Bud Vielhauer), please find enclosed the revised draft of the "Modification of October 2003 Agreement" for review and signature by Collier County in accordance with the Supplemental Agreement entered into between the District and the County in 2007. As you can see. the revision consists of adding the language offered by DEPlTrustees that you will find in paragraph three (3) that states, "This modification does not affect the STATE's original responsibilities under Paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of the October 2003 Agreement". Please return the signed "Modification of October 2003 Agreement" back to me so that I can forward it to Bud Vielhauer for authorized signature. He will then return the document to me for District execution. I have enclosed three (3) originals so that Collier County, the District and the Trustees can each retain one (1) original after the complete signing of same (please forward all three (3) signed originals to Bud Vielhauer). Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call. f\rrD~ R~ h'pans'e Office of Counsel RGP/acc Enclosures c: Bud Vielhauer