PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This action supports the Board's value of cultivating community culture, arts, recreation and life-long learning, and the related goal to provide diverse artistic, cultural, educational, and historical amenities and programs that contribute to a vibrant, multi-cultural, and economically-viable community. The Agreement (Exhibit 2) will provide opportunities to the public to participate in extension education programs administered by University and improve their knowledge for practical application in the University's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences ("UF/IFAS") subject areas, engage in social interaction, learn through team and individual educational opportunities, and increase their cooperative abilities. UF/IFAS disseminates research-based educational information from University to the public on subjects including, but not limited to, agriculture, aquaculture, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, environmental horticulture, natural resources, Florida Sea Grants, and energy.
The Broward County Extension Education program, located in the County-owned Extension Education building in Davie, Florida, was administered by University on a semi-autonomous basis for many years, receiving County funding on an ongoing, as-needed basis. In 2009, the Broward County Extension Education program was brought under the administrative management of the County's Parks and Recreation Division ("Division"), after being scaled down substantially during the recession in the late 2000s.
As part of its strategic planning, the Division desires to change the business model under which it has operated with University to a more cost- and management-effective model. The present Extension Education relationship between the County and University is relatively undefined; lacking clear goals, performance measures, and budgetary processes about how County resources/funds are to be allocated, as well as defined limits to such funding. Additionally, the current funding allocation for the University's employees has led to ambiguity as to which entity’s human resources policies control.
Under the Agreement, the County will provide annual funding to the University to support the Broward County Extension Education operating budget. University shall submit its annual budget request to the County, through the Division, by March 1 of each year. The request will be included with the Division's other funding requests as part of the County’s overall budget process. For Fiscal Year 2018, $580,070 will be provided to University to fund a portion of its overall Broward County Extension Education budget. This amount was determined following a detailed analysis of costs associated with staffing, programming, equipment, materials and supplies, travel, and other related administrative and programming costs. A formal plan to review of University's programming performance are included in Exhibit "B" of the Agreement. In addition, for Fiscal Year 2018, County will transfer to University, within 14 days of the effective date of the Agreement, the balance of the Master Gardener Training Program course and deposit fees, estimated at approximately $58,000, minus any applicable refunds of deposit fees for completion of the program.
The County will continue to be responsible for the maintenance and repair of the Extension Education building and parking lot, and the University will be responsible for providing custodial maintenance, as well as landscape maintenance outside of the building. Most of the existing furniture, fixtures, and equipment will remain at the Extension Education building for use by University, and any replacement or additional furniture, furnishings, and equipment shall be the responsibility of University, at its sole cost. The Agreement specifies responsibilities and limitations for payment of utilities and technical support for any County computer network hardware, software, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Upon approval of the Agreement, County staff will no longer utilize offices in the Extension Education building; however, the parties will continue to share use of the building's auditorium.
All of the employees providing Extension Education services for University will be University employees. University has offered employment to six present employees whose positions have been partly funded by the County, and such employment shall be effective simultaneously upon complete execution of this Agreement by both parties.
At no cost to the County, University agrees, for each of the six individuals mentioned above, to accept a transfer from County of accrued annual leave in an amount not to exceed 80 hours and all accrued sick leave, if any such individuals elect to exercise this option, and County provides written confirmation to University of such leave balance transfers. Four former Extension Education employees have been placed into positions within the County.
The Agreement includes an approximately five-year initial term, with up to three additional five-year extensions, upon terms and conditions acceptable to both parties. Agreement renewals, annual Fiscal Year funding, and use of the County's Extension Education building will be contingent on University satisfactorily performing its obligations under the Agreement.
The Office of the County Attorney has reviewed and approved the Agreement as to form.
The University of Florida has requested the County execute the Agreement first, due to the time required for final review and approval. University has notified County of its agreement in principle to the terms of the Agreement and intention of providing executed originals to the County on or about November 15, 2017 (Exhibit 3).
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