THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS MOTION.
This item supports the Board’s Value of “Encouraging investment in renewable energy, sustainable practices and environmental protection” and Goal 2: Proactively lead in the planning, design and construction of projects to support community resilience and climate adaptation by ensuring that publicly accessible beaches are sufficient in dimension (i.e. >75 feet in width) to provide storm protection, recreational opportunities, and sea turtle nesting habitat.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requires that local agencies requesting State Beach Erosion Control funding provide a current resolution by its governing body which affirms support for the projects as part of its long range budget plan and indicates its ability to provide local project cost share. The project for which future funding is being requested is monitoring for the Segment II Beach Nourishment Project. FDEP requires that each annual funding request include estimated costs for ten years into the future; however, each subsequent annual request can modify the figures as needed. FDEP uses each annual funding request to rank requested projects and assembles a project priority list for submission to the Florida Legislature for funding for the upcoming Fiscal Year. The Florida Legislature generally allocates available program funding consistent with the FDEP priority list. State funding amounts for the Beach Management Funding Assistance Program are contingent on sufficient State of Florida documentary stamp revenues and upon Legislative appropriations of those funds.
For Broward’s projects, the State has typically contributed approximately 25% of the cost of projects that are eligible for Federal reimbursement (historically 50% to 60% of costs), with the remainder the responsibility of local governments. The County’s Adopted Fiscal Year 2018-2023 Beach Renourishment Capital Program (Exhibit 2) reflects an anticipated percentage of Federal funds in the future based on recent and current Federal political and economic policies. Historical ten-year plans have reflected a significant Federal cost share which has supported higher priority ranking the State funding process.
Neither this resolution, nor any funding request to FDEP, nor any successful Legislative appropriation of funds, nor a subsequent funding agreement with FDEP for encumbering the state funds, limit the County’s discretion in allocating local funds, or otherwise obligates the County to make expenditures of funds for the projects.
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