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months at current rates of use, is the other area subject to this contract. Additionally, other <br />areas on the north side, such as buffer areas, may also be considered. <br />Typical landfill closure plans require a vegetative cover of low grasses and plants an two feet of <br />soil overlaying a 6" impervious clay cap. There are no specifications for the types of vegetation <br />used as long as they are not deep-rooted and will not potentially pierce the clay cap, thus <br />allowing more infiltration of rainwater to create additional landfill leachate and methane <br />production. The closed portion of the landfill and soon-to-be-closed portion of the C&D site <br />represent an environmental opportunity to do more than simply meet the letter of the law. For <br />example, these open spaces could possibly be used to recreate an almost extinct Piedmont <br />prairie environment. The spaces also present opportunities for future botanical research and <br />open space resources. Staff realizes that this is the time to begin planning for past-closure <br />plantings that enable a more diverse environment to be created as well as simply maximizing <br />the ecological potential the non-operational areas of the landfill during the 30-year post-closure <br />period. <br />Due to Federal and State regulations as well as sound engineering practice, it would not be <br />passible to create active recreation or structures on the site far at least thirty years. It is the <br />opinion of staff that creation of an environment of restored prairie or other native species <br />represents an appropriate opportunity to begin the long and delicate process of total restoration <br />of the landfilled areas, which could be modified or otherwise developed at some future time. <br />A proposal letter from Swanson and Associates as.well as a proposed contract is attached. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: The cost of this contract is $7,500 for detailed plan development. Actual <br />planting and removal of existing vegetative cover could have further financial impacts that will <br />not be known until the plan is complete. Adequate funds for the plan development agreement <br />are included in the FY 2000-01 Salid Waste/Landfill Enterprise Fund operating budget. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached <br />contract, subject final review by staff and the County Attorney, and authorize the Chair to sign <br />on behalf of the Board. <br />