Subject:
Title
Brevard County Lifeguard Services Grant Program
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Fiscal Impact:
The fiscal impact to the General Fund is dependent upon the level of County service provided and City participation. Based on current level of service, the FY25 anticipated program cost (combined tourist development tax (TDT) and general fund) is $3,742,075. If cities do not participate and levels of service are adjusted accordingly, the FY25 anticipated costs to the General Fund is $1,640,299 (no TDT contribution). If cities fully participate at requested levels of service, the FY25 anticipated cost to the General Fund is $2,755,154.
Dept/Office:
County Manager’s Office
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners:
1) Review and approve the Brevard County Lifeguard Services Grant Program;
2) Provide the County Manager and County Attorney the authority to offer eligible municipalities that have beaches along their managed parks the opportunity to participate in the grant program; and
3) Provide the County Manager the authority to execute the Grant Agreements, Notice of Awards, Request for Payments, and any necessary budget change requests associated with this program and agenda item.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
At the February 29, 2024, Budget Workshop, the Board of County Commissioners provided direction on the establishment of a matching grant program for ocean lifeguard services. This proposed Lifeguard Services Grant Program, if approved by the Board, will be available to all municipalities that maintain beaches along Brevard’s coast.
For beaches maintained by municipalities, this program will provide for a grant of 50% of the County costs for lifeguard services within each municipality with a match requirement of 50% from each participating municipality, based upon their desired level of service.
The County’s portion of funding for these grants will be paid for out of the funds allocated for Ocean Rescue, which resides in the General Fund. This grant program will allow each municipality to choose their level of service with the County or, alternatively, use these grant funds to fund their own lifeguard programs.
Upon Board approval, staff will begin offering each eligible beachside municipality this grant opportunity to secure ocean lifeguard protection for beaches along municipal maintained parks. Staff will provide a deadline prior to July 1, 2024 for each affected municipality to secure matching funds for their desired level of public safety services through the use of ocean lifeguards. As this is a cost match grant program, a lack of response/request from a municipality to participate will reduce ocean rescue resources (both staffing and equipment) that would have been provided to eligible municipalities making these resources available for other Board designated public safety priorities.
Clerk to the Board Instructions: