Subject:
Title
Brevard County Shore Protection Beach Projects: Resolution and State Cost-Share Request
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Fiscal Impact:
Up to $4,520,000 in Tourist Development Tax (TDT) match in FY23-24 for up to $2,320,000 in State funds.
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management Department
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, with County Attorney, Risk Management and Purchasing Services approval, to advertise and award projects, execute contracts, amendments and task or change 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 Funding Request must be submitted by July 31, 2022. 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 FY23-24. The Board of County Commissioners last approved a similar 5-year funding plan and Resolution on August 24, 2021.
Projects included in the attached State FY23-24 Funding Request Table include required monitoring of the North, Mid and South Reaches of the Federal Shore Protection Project and construction funding for the South Beaches project. State and federal construction funding for the FY23-24 renourishment of the Mid Reach project was secured last year. Estimated costs for these activities to potentially be cost-shared through the FY23-24 request total $6,840,000 including $2,320,000 State and $4,520,000 local funds. The required local match is committed in the Tourist Development Office Dedicated Beach Improvement Fund, and these projects are identified in the long-range funding plan. The attached table also includes future (beyond FY23-24) 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 FY23-24, 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 generates 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
NRM.