Resolution No. 25-65RESOLUTION NO. 25-65
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA,
AUTHORIZING STAFF TO ISSUE A TASK AUTHORIZATION TO
GEOSYNTEC CONSULTANTS FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING
SERVICES TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF DISCHARGING
HIGHLY TREATED RECLAIMED WATER TO AREA DRAINAGE
DITCHES TO PREVENT SALTWATER INTRUSION FROM KILLING
ADJACENT WETLAND HARDWOOD TREES; AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS AND PURCHASE
ORDERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND AS NECESSARY TO
EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS RESOLUTION; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on July 15, 2025, staff received a scope and fee proposal from Geosyntec
Consultants in the amount of $48,440 to provide professional engineering services to conduct a
feasibility study of discharging highly treated wastewater to area drainage ditches to prevent
saltwater intrusion from killing hardwood trees in the wetland areas along the drainage ditches.;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Atlantic Beach Wastewater Treatment Facility currently
discharges up to 1.5 million gallons per day of highly treated wastewater to the St. Johns River;
and
WHEREAS, Chapter 403.064, F.S. requires the City to remove this discharge from the St.
Johns River by January 2032; and
WHEREAS, sea level rise and increased tidal inundation are causing many of the
hardwood trees in wetland areas along the City's drainage ditches to show signs of stress; and
WHEREAS, many of these trees are expected to die in the future as salinity levels increase
in the drainage ditches due to higher sea levels.; and
WHEREAS, if a direct ecological benefit can be demonstrated by discharging highly
treated wastewater to targeted areas of the drainage ditches, then the requirements of Chapter
403.064, F.S. can be economically met; and
WHEREAS, the tasks included in the Scope & Fee proposal include data collection, a
preliminary hydraulic and wetland assessment, regulatory agency coordination and a feasibility
report; and
WHEREAS, the City has a Professional Engineering Services Agreement with Geosyntec
Consultants; and
RESOLUTION NO. 25-65 Page 1 of 2
WHEREAS, funds for this project will be transferred to the Public Utilities Treatment
account 410-5508-535-6300 from excess funding in Lift Station Inflow & Infiltration Project
PU2305.
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Commission of the City of Atlantic Beach
as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Commission hereby authorizes the City Manager to execute a Task
Authorization with Geosyntec Consultants in the amount of $48,440 for a feasibility study of
discharging treated wastewater to forested wetlands as described in the Scope & Fee Proposal from
Geosyntec Consultants dated July 15, 2025.
SECTION 2. The City Commission hereby authorizes the City Manager to approve a
Purchase Order to Geosyntec Consultants in the amount of $48,440 for said Task Authorization.
SECTION 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City of Atlantic Beach, this 28th day of July, 2025.
r -'M k�77-1
Curtis Ford, May r
Attest:
Donna L. Bartle, City Clerk
A ro r s to rm and correctness:
Jason Gabriel, City Attorney
RESOLUTION NO. 25-65 Page 2 of 2