Subject:
Title
Approval, Re: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department and the East Coast Zoological Society of Florida, Inc. D/B/A the Brevard Zoo - All Commission Districts
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Fiscal Impact:
There are no fiscal impacts to General Revenue or the Parks and Recreation Department funds. Each party under this MOU will be financially responsible for their respective obligations.
Dept/Office:
Parks and Recreation
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners:
1. Approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department and the East Coast Zoological Society of Florida, Inc. D/B/A the Brevard Zoo; and,
2. Authorize the County Manager to enter into the MOU and any renewals, amendments, or modifications upon approval by the County Attorney’s Office and Risk Management.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
The Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department (P&R) is responsible for a significant amount of land (developed and undeveloped) throughout the County. Management at some locations includes removing invasive plants on an ongoing basis, which requires an adaptive strategy that transitions from aggressive removal to long-term monitoring and native replanting, where feasible. Because invasive species are highly resilient, P&R tries to treat removal as a multi-year process.
Often there can be significant effort associated with addressing invasives, such as staff time, access, and disposal. P&R utilizes internal staff where feasible, volunteers, and in some cases grant funds to further these efforts.
Faith Ward (Brevard Zoo Apprentice Keeper - Africa) contacted P&R about partnering to harvest animal browse (the act of feeding on leaves, shrubs, or twigs) from Wickham Park. P&R worked with Zoo staff to expand the request to encompass sites throughout the County. This partnership will have benefits for both parties including:
1. The Zoo having increased access to browse material for use as feed and enrichment for giraffes and other animals, and
2. P&R increasing the removal of invasive species on public lands.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
None