Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Public Works and Environmental Services
Division: Water & Wastewater Operations
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Interlocal Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit 1 for the purpose of jointly funding the design of a Regional Biosolids Facility with multiple public wastewater utilities; and authorize the County Administrator to approve nonmaterial or technical changes to the form interlocal agreement, including to biosolids standards, biosolids commitments, and reserve capacity, that do not increase the costs to County and subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, and to execute the interlocal agreements.
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Why Action is Necessary
Board approval is required to approve the proposed form agreement and authorize the County Administrator to take the referenced actions.
What Action Accomplishes
Authorizes the County Administrator to make nonmaterial or technical changes to the interlocal agreement that do not increase the cost to the County, and to execute the agreements.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None taken.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PUBLIC WORKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
The County recognizes that processing and disposal of domestic wastewater biosolids has long been a challenging activity for South Florida wastewater treatment utilities. South Florida utilities currently use a mix of land application and landfills to dispose of these biosolids.
To address this challenge, Broward County Water and Wastewater Services (“WWS”) convened a coalition of local utilities to explore potential regional solutions for long-term biosolids management. A regional approach offers the potential for economies of scale, enhanced resource sharing, and broader public support across multiple jurisdictions, thereby reducing the risks and costs borne by any single utility.
The following utilities have participated in this regional effort: Broward County WWS, the Coral Springs Improvement District, the Town of Davie, and the cities of Cooper City, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Margate, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, and Sunrise (collectively, the “Regional Biosolids Solutions Working Group”). The Regional Biosolids Solutions Working Group (“Work Group”) first entered into an interlocal agreement (“Study ILA”) to jointly fund a feasibility study for the development of one or more regional biosolids management facilities (“Study”). The Study was completed on April 16, 2025. The Study provided valuable information on the technical and financial feasibility of constructing a regional facility, including viable processing technologies and disposal methods. Based on the Study’s findings, the Work Group agrees that the next step is to design a regional biosolids management facility (“Regional Biosolids Facility”). The proposed interlocal agreement (“Design ILA”) is the second of three planned agreements, with the third anticipated to address construction and operation of the facility. As with the Study ILA, the County will collect cost share funds from participating wastewater treatment utilities by entering into a separate Design ILA with each member of the Work Group. The total cost of designing the Regional Biosolids Facility is expected to be on the order of, but will not exceed $50,000,000.
If approved, this agenda item will authorize the County Administrator to execute interlocal agreements (i.e., the Design ILA), in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1, with the participating utilities for the purpose of jointly funding the design of a Regional Biosolids Facility. The motion further authorizes the County Administrator to approve nonmaterial and technical changes, including relating to biosolids standards, biosolids commitments, and reserve capacity, provided such modifications do not increase the County’s costs and subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney.
Source of Additional Information
Mark Darmanin, Director, Water and Wastewater Operations, (954) 831-0960
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The fiscal impact will be established upon execution of the interlocal agreements and subsequent determination of the County’s allocated reserve capacity percentage.