Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2017-458 temporarily waiving certain building permitting and associated environmental review fees commencing retroactively from September 12, 2017, until and including November 13, 2017. A verified affidavit attesting that the damage was caused by Hurricane Irma will be required as a condition of the fee waiver. In addition, animal care impounding and boarding fees will be waived commencing retroactively at 12:00 a.m. on September 13, 2017 until and including September 29, 2017.

(Transferred to the Consent Agenda.)

ACTION:  (T-10:33 AM)  Approved.  (See the Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated Tuesday, September 26, 2017, submitted at the request of Commissioner LaMarca.)
 
VOTE: 6-0.  Commissioner LaMarca and Mayor Sharief were not present during the vote.  Commissioner Ryan was not present. 

Board approval is necessary to waive building permitting, environmental review, and animal care fees.

This action will provide financial relief to Broward County residents. 

 None. 

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.

On September 3, 2017, Governor Rick Scott issued Executive Order EO17-235 (Exhibit 1) as a result of Hurricane Irma. The Executive Order, as amended, declared a state of emergency and authorized relief activities in all 67 counties within the State of Florida, including Broward County.

On September 6, 2017, a Local State of Emergency was declared in Broward County. Subsequently, impacts from Hurricane Irma damaged structures within Broward County and animals became separated from their owners. In an effort to expedite repairs, the Resolution (Exhibit 2) has been prepared to temporarily waive the the following fees in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma: 

(1) Building permitting fees for building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and demolition, set forth in Sections 40.29 through 40.32, and 43.1 of the Broward County Administrative Code, in the Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD), including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Existing fence repairs
(b) Structural repairs for windows, doors, and roofing
(c) Removal of affected trees
(d) Existing shed replacement
(e) Air conditioning (A/C) unit replacement
(f) Screen enclosures and pool barrier repairs
(g) Structural and non-structural replacements/repairs of car canopies, gazebos, awnings, etc.

(2) Environmental reviews fees set forth in Section 40.23 (b) of the Broward County Administrative Code.

(3) Impoundment and boarding fees set forth in Section 40.9(a) of the Broward County Administrative Code. The temporary fee waiver period commenced retroactively at 12:00 am on September 13, 2017 until and including September 29, 2017.

Waiver of the identified building and environmental review fees will not suspend building code and environmental protection requirements.

Henry Sniezek, Director, Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department, 954-357-6670