Subject:
Title
Grant Funding Request to the Florida Inland Navigation District to Further Brevard’s Derelict Vessel Removal Program
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Fiscal Impact:
FY 20/21 - $30,000 in Grant Funds and $10,000 in Brevard Boating Improvement Program (BBIP) funds as local match for the grant. (Fund 3113/330040).
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
Staff requests permission to apply to the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) for Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Funding; authorize the County Manager to execute the subsequent grant contract, if awarded and approved by the County Attorney and Risk Management; Authorize the use of BBIP Vessel Registration Matching Funds in the amount of $10,000; and approve any necessary Budget Change Requests.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
Brevard County is constantly combating the dereliction and/or abandonment of vessels within the Indian River Lagoon system. Since 2007, the Brevard County Boating & Waterways Program has removed over 240 derelict and/or abandoned vessels from the County’s waterways. This equates to over 730 tons of debris and over 350 gallons of fuel/oil removed. Working through partnerships with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Brevard County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), the program actively tracks derelict and potentially derelict vessels to determine the appropriate action for each case.
Grant funds are presently available through FIND for derelict vessel removal projects. At present, law enforcement officials working in Brevard County have officially reported and/or designated more than 15 vessels within County jurisdiction as derelict. Staff is currently compiling vessel information, cost estimates and the required grant information, so that an application can be submitted promptly. The proposed vessel removal project is anticipated to remove three to five vessels, depending on costs. The vessels targeted for this project will include those that have been identified as potential environmental, public safety and/or navigational hazards.
Formal reports from the FWC and/or the BCSO are pending or completed for identified vessels. No vessel will be removed without the appropriate vessel report and removal authorization in County possession. As always, staff will make all efforts to work with local law enforcement to recover expended funds from the vessel owners. As with previous removal projects, state and federal protocols will be followed.
As authorized through Florida Statute Chapter 328, the County collects a percentage of all vessel registration fees collected within Brevard, referred to as Brevard Boating Improvement Program (BBIP) funds. Per statute, those fees are to be used exclusively for derelict vessel removal, waterway marker projects, and improvements related to waterway access facilities. The FIND grant, entitled Small-Scale Derelict Vessel Removal, requires a minimum 25% match of funds with a maximum yearly award of $30,000. BBIP, vessel registration funds, in the amount of $10,000, will serve as match for this grant. Staff requests permission to apply for and upon award, accept a derelict vessel removal grant from FIND to supplement available vessel registration funds. Upon execution of the FIND grant, the budget for removal of the identified vessels will increase by $40,000.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
None