|
Back to Calendar
Return
|
| |
County Administrator's Report 13. 17.
|
| BCC Regular Meeting |
Budget & Finance Consent |
|
|
|
| RECOMMENDATION: |
Recommendation Concerning a Tri-Party Grant Agreement (DEP Agreement S0832) with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Phase II Night Sky Retrofit Project - Keith T. Wilkins, Director, Department of Natural Resources Management
That the Board take the following action concerning a Tri-Party State of Florida Grant Agreement (DEP Agreement S0832) with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Phase II Night Sky Retrofit Project:
A. Approve the Tri-Party State of Florida Grant Agreement with FWC and DEP (DEP Agreement No. S0832) for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Phase II Night Sky Retrofit Project; and
B. Authorize the Chairman to sign the Agreement and other future Agreement-related documents including no cost extensions, pending Legal review and approval, without further action from the Board.
Note: The County Attorney's Office has requested that the Board be made aware of the language, last sentence, in paragraph 26 (Page 8 of 9) of the Agreement: "Any action hereon or in connection herewith shall be brought in Leon County, Florida."
[Funding: Fund 118, Gulf Coast Restoration Fund, Cost Center to be determined at time of SBA in the amount of $37,510. There is no match requirement for Escambia County associated with this Agreement] |
| BACKGROUND: |
As a result of Deepwater Horizon oil spill and associated clean-up activities, the coastal habitats and natural resources of Perdido Key beaches were repeatedly disturbed and severely damaged including beach nesting habitats for loggerhead sea turtles. Restoring the Night Sky Project site assessments of existing exterior lights were conducted by International Dark Sky Association, Inc., to identify exterior lights impacting nesting habitat quality within and adjacent to state, local, and federal conservation lands (within 1,000 feet of nesting beach on the conservation lands). Nighttime surveys identified lights that were visible from the nesting beach within and adjacent to the conservation lands. Site-specific plans and recommendations were developed to reduce these lighting impacts through replacement of exterior lights with fully shielded, long wavelength fixtures.
This grant provides funds to assist property owners/managers to acquire new light fixtures and bulbs to retrofit existing lighting so that the identified lights are no longer visible from the nesting beach. Agreements will be executed with property owners to implement with a matching contribution from the property owner/manager of up to 25%. The actions associated with Restoring the Night Sky Project will lead to increased protection of sea turtle nesting areas from disturbance by exterior lighting as part of a coordinated wildlife recovery and management program. |
| BUDGETARY IMPACT: |
| Fund 118, Gulf Coast Restoration Fund, Cost Center to be determined at time of the SBA in the amount of $37,510. There is no match requirement for Escambia County associated with this Agreement. |
| LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF: |
Kristin Hual, Assistant County Attorney, has approved the Agreement as to form and legal sufficiency.
Note: The County Attorney's Office has requested that the Board be made aware of the language, last sentence, in paragraph 26 (Page 8 of 9) of Agreement: "Any action hereon or in connection herewith shall be brought in Leon County, Florida." |
| PERSONNEL: |
| This project will be managed by the Water Quality & Land Management Division staff. |
| POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION: |
| Board Policy Section II.A., requires approval of grants. |
| IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION: |
| The project will be managed by the Water Quality & Land Management Division in coordination with DEP and FWC. |
|
|
|
|