Agenda

Back to Calendar Return

Special BCC Meeting - RESTORE

Meeting Date:	04/16/2015
Issue: RESTORE Act and Development of the Multi-Year Implementation Plan
From:	Keith Wilkins
Department:	Community & Environment
CAO Approval:

Information

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning the RESTORE Act and Development of the Multi-Year Implementation Plan - Keith T. Wilkins, Community & Environment Department Director

That the Board take the following action concerning the RESTORE (Resources Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act) Act and the development of the County Multi-Year Implementation Plan:

A. Approve the selection criteria and scoring recommended by the RESTORE Act Advisory Committee (Committee), as provided on pages 1-18, of the Escambia County Draft Project Selection Criteria; and

B. Discuss and provide guidance to the Committee relating to but not limited to the following topics:

1. Amending Resolution R2012-150, as amended in Resolution R2014-80, to include specific RESTORE Act language of Tourism and Seafood Promotion, as provided in H.R. 4348-186;

2. Determining whether all projects are to be scored against each other or only scored within specific categories (Economic, Infrastructure, and Environment);

3. Sponsoring or partnering with groups that cannot develop a project on their own;

4. Offering sub-grant funds and/or County procurement for selected projects; and

5. Allocating funding set-asides or not for specific categories.

BACKGROUND:

The RESTORE Act Advisory Committee began meeting in February 2013 to investigate the needs within Escambia County that can be filled by RESTORE funds and fulfill the tasks of the Board of County Commissioners as outlined in their guidance resolutions. The Committee received input over a period of 15 months from experts in many fields such as economic, environmental and social challenges, and suggestions on actions that would alleviate or help address those challenges. Afterwards, the Committee developed and approved a comprehensive Needs Assessment capturing the issues brought before them and discussed at Committee meetings.

On April 6, 2015, the Committee agreed on a set of criteria and scoring for project consideration that addresses those needs. The Needs Assessment, Project Criteria and Scoring are attached to this recommendation for Board review and consideration.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

Funds for the Plan Development are eligible for reimbursement through RESTORE and the Treasury Department. An application for $438,405.55 has been submitted to Treasury to recapture county funds expended or encumbered in this effort. Funds were advanced from the Economic Development Fund.

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

This recommendation is for discussion and guidance purposes only. Legal considerations are not applicable at this point.

PERSONNEL:

This recommendation has been coordinated with Community & Environment Department staff, Administration, the RESTORE Act Advisory Committee and the consultant, Dewberry.

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

To fulfill the requirements for RESTORE funding, a Multi-Year Implementation Plan has to be submitted to the US Treasury Department. The Committee's actions are compliant with their guidance resolutions adopted by the Board of County Commissioners.

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

Implementation and coordination are occurring between the Community & Environment Department, Administration, the Committee and consultant. Many NGO's, citizens and other interested parties have provided input to the Committee for their consideration.

Attachments
RESTORE-Selection Criteria
RESTORE-Resolution 2012-150
RESTORE-Resolution R2014-80
RESTORE-HR 4348-186
RESTORE-Needs Assessment