Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO CONSIDER adoption of a Resolution No. 2018-411 Amending the Broward County Administrative Code, the title of which is as follows:
 
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO THE BROWARD CULTURAL COUNCIL'S INCENTIVE PROGRAM; AMENDING SECTIONS 29.14 THROUGH 29.17 OF THE BROWARD COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE ("ADMINISTRATIVE CODE") INCLUDING TO CREATE A SECOND APPLICATION CYCLE FOR THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX CAPITAL CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM IN SECTION 29.16; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
 

(Sponsored by Senator Steve Geller)
 

ACTION:  (T-2:23 PM)  Following Board discussion, on motion of Commissioner Holness and seconded by Commissioner Sharief, the Board amended “Program Eligibility Requirements” allowing for nonprofit organizations that have been operational for a minimum of three uninterrupted years to be considered in the first and second cycle for funding; and modifying the Broward Cultural Council Review Panel member to allow for a member that has served for three consecutive years on the Broward Cultural Council.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE: 9-0.

ACTION:  (T-3:04 PM) On motion of Commissioner Holness, seconded by Commissioner Sharief, the Board amended wording to allow organizations that had not previously received funds to receive priority for funds over entities that had previously received funds.  The motion failed.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)
 
VOTE: 3-6.   Commissioners Geller, LaMarca, Rich, Ryan, Vice-Mayor Bogen, and Mayor Furr voted no.
 
ACTION:  (T-3:13 PM)  On motion of Commissioner Ryan, seconded by Commissioner Geller, the Board amended wording pertaining to high and medium ranked entities in the second application cycle (low ranked firms not considered in the second cycle) and introduced a tiebreaker that allows for an entity that had not previously received funds to be ranked higher than an entity that had previously received funding (in the preceding five years).  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE: 5-4.  Commissioners Holness, Sharief, Udine, and Vice-Mayor Bogen voted no.

ACTION:  (T-3:25 PM)   Approved, as amended.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)  (See Purple-Sheeted Additional Materials, dated Thursday, September 13, 2018, submitted at the request of County Administration and Commissioner Holness.) 
 
VOTE: 6-3.  Commissions Holness, Sharief, and Vice-Mayor Bogen voted no.

A Resolution directing the County Administrator to publish notice of public hearing to consider adoption of the Resolution Amending the Broward County Administrative Code was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners at its meeting of August 14, 2018.

The Broward County Charter requires the posting of notice and a public hearing for adoption of amendments to the Broward County Administrative Code.

Section 29.16j of the Broward County Administrative Code ("Administrative Code") allows certain entities to apply for funds from the Tourist Development Tax Capital Challenge Grant Program ("Program"). After the award of the grant funds to eligible entities, there may be an unobligated fund balance in the Program.
 
At its meeting on June 12, 2018, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners ("Board") directed the Cultural Division and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau to develop a second application cycle when unobligated funds remain in a given year.  Under the proposed changes to the Administrative Code, the Board in its discretion may initiate a second grant application cycle ("Second Application Cycle") if more than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) remains in the Program's fund. Grant applicants in the Second Application Cycle would only be required to commit and have available through cash contributions a minimum ratio of one dollar ($1) matching funds to one dollar ($1) grant funds. They also would be permitted to apply for more than one (1) grant in a five (5) year period and for as much as One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) cumulatively in a five (5) year period.
 
At the Board meeting on August 14, 2018, Senator Geller's amendment regarding the narrative rating of applications for the Second Application Cycle was approved. That amendment is now incorporated into the proposed Resolution attached as Exhibit 1. Amendments previously submitted by Commissioner Holness have been revised and are now attached as Exhibit 2.

Mark A. Journey, Senior Assistant County Attorney, (954) 357-7600