Subject:
Title
Brevard County Shore Protection Project: Resolution and State Cost-Share Request
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Fiscal Impact:
Fiscal Impact: Up to $6,179,402 in Tourist Development Tax (TDT) match for up to $6,179,402 in State funds
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners: 1) approve a resolution supporting the Brevard County Shore Protection Project; 2) request State grant cost-share funding, matched by local option tourist tax that is dedicated to the Beach Improvement Fund for shore protection projects; 3) authorize the County Manager or designee, with County Attorney, Risk Management and Purchasing Services approval, to execute contracts, amendments and task orders, as required and in excess of $100,000, to secure state grant funds and accomplish work under state grants; and 4) authorize necessary budget change requests.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
In order to assist local governments with the non-federal costs of restoring Florida’s critically eroded beaches, the State Legislature provides matching grants to local governments. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) ranks Local Government Funding Requests by using criteria adopted by the Florida Legislature.
On June 1st, the State released a call for submittals for the Beach Management Funding Assistance Program for FY22-23. To apply for the funds, a Local Government Funding Request must be accompanied by a supporting resolution. The resolution must be submitted by September 21, 2021. Project specific information will be compared by the FDEP to legislated criteria to determine Brevard County’s rank and cost-share for receiving State matching funds in State FY22-23. The Board of County Commissioners last approved a similar 5-year funding plan and Resolution on July 25, 2017.
Projects included in the attached State FY22-23 Funding Request Table include after the fact reimbursement of 20-21 construction expenses for the recently completed South Reach project, construction funding for the upcoming 22-23 renourishment of the Mid Reach project, as well as required engineering, monitoring and maintenance for the North, Mid and South Reaches of the Federal Shore Protection Project. Estimated costs for these activities to potentially be cost-shared through the FY22-23 request total $12,358,803 including $6,179,402 State and $6,179,402 local funds. The required local match is committed in Tourist Development Council’s Dedicated Beach Improvement Fund. The attached table also includes future (beyond FY22-23) project cost estimates as required by the State for future planning purposes, but these future funds are not being requested at this time. If Brevard’s projects receive beach funds allocated by the Legislature for State FY22-23, FDEP grant agreements will be executed to secure funding.
According to a 2015 study completed by the Florida Department of Economic and Demographic Research, each $1 invested by the State on beach restoration is responsible for generating a positive return on investment ROI of 5.4.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Three (3) copies of signed resolution - one (1) copy for Clerk of Court and two (2) copies for Natural Resources. Time sensitive, please call Mike McGarry 321-537-1779 to arrange pickup.