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County Administrator's Report 9. 6.

BCC Regular Meeting

Technical/Public Service Consent

Meeting Date:	08/02/2018
Issue: Legislative Funding Initiative for Florida Estuary Programs
From:	Chips Kirschenfeld
Department:	Natural Resources
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning Legislative Funding Initiative for Florida Estuary Programs - J. Taylor "Chips" Kirschenfeld, Director, Department of Natural Resources Management

That the Board take the following action concerning a legislative funding initiative for Florida Estuary Programs:

A. Support allocating State funding for the Pensacola/Perdido, Choctawhatchee, and St. Andrew Bays Estuary Programs and Florida National Estuary Programs as a legislative priority;

B. Authorize staff to work with the Northwest Florida delegation on this initiative; and

C. Authorize staff to work with and utilize the County's lobbyist for this initiative.

BACKGROUND:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Gulf of Mexico Program awarded a $2 million competitive grant to Escambia County to establish the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program. The grant award from USEPA was allocated by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council as a Tier 1 project in the Funded Priorities List. The Board authorized submittal of the grant proposal at the July 13, 2017 Board Meeting. The new Estuary Program will incorporate the 5 local governments that have been involoved in the Bay Area Resource Council (BARC) plus additional representation from Alabama and Okaloosa County.

With their national recognition and fully involved stakeholder support, other Estuary Programs across the country are able to successfully leverage funds and receive grants and other appropriations from state and federal sources. For example, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program recently reported that for every dollar of local government commitment, there is a $9 return in benefits. With a 9:1 leveraging of local funds, the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program will be very beneficial for improving the quality of life and the economy of Escambia County.

The Executive Director of the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and Okaloosa County staff, representing the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Coalition, reached out to Escambia County staff to gauge support for a joint legislative funding initiative for the three Northwest Florida Estuary Programs and the four Florida National Estuary Programs. The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners approved a similar recommendation at their July 17, 2018 Board Meeting.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

No budgetary impact associated with this recommendation.

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

No legal sign-off required with this recommendation.

PERSONNEL:

No impact to personnel associated with this recommendation.

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

N/A

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

Department of Natural Resources Management staff will coordinate with County Administration, the Northwest Florida delegation, and the County’s lobbyist.

Attachments
July 13, 2017, BCC Meeting Minutes Page
Autust 31, 2017, USEPA Notice of Award