When the City of Riviera Beach created the Riviera Beach Utility District in 2004, the City conveyed 26 parcels of land to the District via two deeds, as (most of) the parcels contained plant and equipment, such as wells or lift stations, which were essential to the operation of the utility. Unfortunately, in a few of these cases, large multi-acre parcels were transferred where the equipment may have only occupied a small portion of the parcel conveyed. In other cases, the land conveyed contained no utility equipment. Some of these parcels contain essential City facilities, such as parks, fire stations and even the City Municipal Complex.  Obviously, title to these parcels, minus the limited area containing the utility plant or equipment, should be held by the City.  In an effort to correct the problem, staff has inspected each site for utilities, and where present, a survey of the site has been obtained. In addition to hiring professional surveyors, the City retained a real estate attorney to coordinate the transfer of the parcels back to the City.

The purpose of this agenda item is to correct the deeds that conveyed too much property to the Utility District. The portions of each site not containing utilities will be carved out and reconveyed to the City.  Where no utilities are present, the entire site will be returned.  Finally, in a few cases, the entire parcel is being used for utility purposes and these parcels will be retained by the District.  

The parcels being returned to the City are: Barracuda Bay/Fire Station #2, Fire Station #3, the City Municipal Complex, Wells Recreation Center, Dan Calloway Park, and Cunningham Park.

Pursuant to the Water and Sewer Bond Resolution creating the District, disposition of District property requires a finding that the asset is no longer necessary or useful in the operation of the utility. The attached resolution makes this finding.

Staff recommends approval of this item.