THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
This action supports the Broward County Board of County Commissioner's Value of "Ensuring economic opportunities for Broward's diverse population and businesses" and the Goal to "Increase the economic strength and impact of revenue-generating County enterprises balancing economic, environmental, and community needs."
2018 will mark the 28th consecutive year that Broward County and Port Everglades hosts the Fleet Week celebration honoring the men and women of the seagoing services. In each of those years, with the exception of 2013 (due to sequestration), the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard committed ships to participate in the week long events. In 2017, one U.S. Navy surface ship and three U.S. Coast Guard cutters participated.
Through the efforts of Broward Navy Days, Inc. as the lead organization, Fleet Week 2018 will include three U.S. Navy surface ships and one submarine calling at Port Everglades, along with two U.S. Coast Guard cutters. This complement of ships confirms the continuing commitment of the Navy and Coast Guard to support Port Everglades Fleet Week.
By letter dated January 2, 2018 (Exhibit 1), Broward Navy Days, Inc. has requested the waiver of dockage charges for ships participating in Fleet Week 2018. Based upon the number of ships that will participate and the planned lengths of port stay, the amount waived will not exceed $125,000. The Broward Navy Days, Inc. letter references dredging of Berth No. 29 that was undertaken by the Port Everglades Department in 2007 to accommodate new water depth requirements for Navy aircraft carriers to moor in ports. Historically, Port staff recommended, and the Board approved, the waiver of dockage charges for military ships during Fleet Week. As part of the Port's commitment to complete the required berth dredging at its own expense in 2007 to accommodate aircraft carriers, the U.S. Navy, Broward Navy Days, and Port staff reached an understanding that dockage waivers would be suspended until the approximately $600,000 cost of the dredging was repaid. Thus, no waivers were requested between 2007 and 2012. Based on dockage charges paid during those years, the current balance is $155,212.
In order to gain the commitment of the Navy and Coast Guard to assign ships beginning with Fleet Week 2104 and reduce their costs, the Port Everglades Department recommended and the Board approved the waiver of dockage charges on August 13, 2013 (Item No. 1) for Fleet Week 2014. Due to the continuing Federal budget pressures affecting the sea services, Broward Navy Days, Inc. requested and the Board approved the waiver of dockage charges for Fleet Week 2015 on March 3, 2015 (Item No. 7), for Fleet Week 2016 on February 9, 2016 (Item No. 37), and for Fleet Week 2017 on February 14, 2017 (Item No. 7), and is requesting a similar waiver be considered for Fleet Week 2018. Port staff recommends approval of the request. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard will be responsible for paying all other applicable marine services fees as provided for in the Port Tariff.
Since the request for waiver of dockage charges has been made annually by Broward Navy Days, Inc. and approved by the Board, the motion also directs the County Attorney to draft an amendment to Port Everglades Tariff Item No. 940 that would delegate future authority to approve Fleet Week dockage waivers to the Port Everglades Chief Executive/Port Director. Staff's intent would be to bring this amendment to the Board for consideration as part of the Port's annual Tariff update in September 2018. |