Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 09-11-2007 regular agenda — reading text

to the NFWF' s North Gulf Coast Initiative grant program. On April 6, 2007, the City Coastal received official notification that funding for the Lower Choctawhatchee Bt!)' Consc1'tJation program had been approved by the National Fish and Wlldlife' s Board of Directors for $44,070. Following S\ the notification letter, a was drafted and sent to the City on August 21 grant funding agreement 2007. Discussion: The proposed UJwer Choctawhatchce Bqy Coastal Consc1'tJation program, if approved by City Council, will begin a habitat restoration project along the shoreline of Santa Rosa Sound at Sound Park. The project will consist of building a 7200 square foot oyster reef, creating an oyster gardening program, and restoring native vegetation, and starting an educational outreach program for local schools residents. The projects expected short tenn and long tenn conservation benefits are habitat for over 300 marine and plant species, improvement of water quality through the filtering process of the Eastern Oyster, revitalizing economically viable game fish sought after through commercial!recreational activities, and promoting conservation through educational awareness. The need for this project results from increased bouts of red tide, numerous local beach closings due to high fecal counts, and concern from the general public about water quality degradation. This project relates to identified needs of the Gtyof Fort Walton Beach' s OJmprehensive Plan, more specifically its OJastal Management and OJnservation Element ( CMCE) required by Chapter 9]-5. 012 and 5. 013, F.AC In the CMCE, Objective E. 1 states " The Gtyshall continue to protect, conserve or enhance coastal wetlands, living marine resources and wildlife habitats." This program will also meet all seven of the goals stated in the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation' s OJnservation Plan adopted on October 14, 2003, especially the goals for innovative and sustainable conservation solutions and wanting to " engage the broadest possible base of partners for collaborative conservation." This proposed program also directly ties to the Gtj1s existing " Water Quality Initiative" adopted by Gty OJuncil in 2003. The objectives of the project are as follows: 1. Hire a Program Manager 2. Build a 7200 ft2 oyster reef using shell collected from local restaurants to help reestablish habitat for marine organisms, to promote naturally occurring food chains, and to enhance water quality 3. Begin Oyster Gardening Program by educating volunteers and the general public 4. Re- establish and stabilize shoreline at Sound Park using native vegetation to promote and re- establish biodiversity 5. Educate children by entering local classrooms teaching ecological stewardship The funding for the proposed project totals $ 100,713. The NFWF has committed to $44, 070 of the total project cost, which will require a budget amendment and be used to pay for the salary, benefits, and a laptop for the proposed Program Manager' s position. The remainder of the funding ($56, 643) is the grant match responsibility of the Gty and includes the following elements of the proposed FY 08 budget: Salary and benefits of current employees expected to help with the construction and implementation of the 7200 ft2 oyster reef ($ 19, 489) - FY08 personnel budget Materials needed for Oyster Gardening Program ($5, 842 Water Quality Initiative) - FY07 canyover Native vegetation restoration at Sound Park ($10, 000 currently budgeted through CRA) - FY07 canyover Utilizing current expense for partnership with CBA and the volunteer hrs expected to help complete multiple aspects of the proposed project ($20,514 OJntractual Services) - part of FY08 CBA funding Gty equipment that will be used for the program to include: trucks, front end loaders etc... 798 In-kind) - no budget impact Recommendation: Staff requests OJuncil approval of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Grant Agreement in the amount of $ 100,713 for the Lauer C1xxtauhatdJre Bay Catstal Consenution program. Submitted By: 2  NA TIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION GRANT AGREEMENT PROJECT: Lower Choctawhatchee Bay Coastal Conservation ( FL) ( 2006- 0103- 006) r: r Please reference project title and number on all correspondence ~ NFWF RECIPIENT: City of Fort Walton Beach RECIPIENT TYPE: Local Government PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: July 1, 2007 to April 30, 2008 AWARD: $44, 070 in federal funds is provided in consideration for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Recipient's agreement to perform the Project in accordance with Section 1 below, and the NFWF Recipient's agreement that it will raise and spend at least 56, 643 in Matching Contributions on the Project. FUNDING SOURCE AND NUMBER: CFDA Number: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( FR.2055) 11.463 Defined Terms. All capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings attributed to such terms in the 2006 Glossary found on NFWF' s website www. nfwf. org/glossary. htm>. which is incorporated in this Agreement by this reference. Section 1. PROJECT PURPOSE NFWF agrees to provide the Award to the NFWF Recipient for the purposes of satisfactorily performing the Project described in a Full Proposal received by NFWF on October 27, 2006, and as approved as amended on May 16, 2007, and incorporated into this Agreement by reference. 1. 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION. Project Begin a habitat restoration project by building an oyster reef, creating an oyster Absttact: ardenin ro ram, and startin educational outreach for schools/ residents. Page 1 of 12 i." I',. it~t(,:~'!'!'~. in';: i'.( ),) ', 1i~ ~ q,..: I'.) i; ilil\ J~ i !',!' ';:;; i; ! 1; If , I. L.: ~:. Jr.  ProJectPha$~ 1: Planning and Design: NFWF Purchase a laptop computer for Program Manager. F,,,.(I$ Hire a Program Manager. 21, 285 Design 7, 200 sq. foot oyster reef. 0 1, 500 33, 831 22, 785 Implementation: NFWF Receive NEP A clearance for phase 2 activities. LFgnd~ Develop lesson plans for educational outreach. 21, 285 Implement lesson plans in local classrooms. 0 Begin Oyster Gardening Program. 0 Construct 7, 200 sq. foot oyster reef. Conduct vegetation restoration at Sound Park. Com lete Final Re ort for NFWF. o..',,~. .,.,. f~hlij" Cgat;ftbijrtQ6~,~(iQ9~t~~;t~ 1>h~$~7:, M.~ 22, 812,: tltr~; 21, 285 44, 070 1. 2. PROJECT DELIVERABLES. Build a 7, 200 square foot oyster reef using shells collected from local restaurants. Recruit at least 20 volunteers to participate in the Oyster Gardening Program. Increase native shoreline vegetation present at Sound Park by 25%. Develop at least five lesson plans for local schools promoting ecological stewardship. Implement lesson plans in at least five local classrooms. Appropriate credit will be given to the North Gulf Coast Initiative Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Please contact the Foundation prior to designing materials incorporating NGCL NOAA and NFWF logos. Please note: NEP A analysis must be completed using the design completed in Phase 1 prior to commencement of Phase 2 activities. Once Phase 1 is completed and prior to starting Phase 2, be sure to notify Jenny Heieck (Jennifer. heieck@nfwf.org) and Leslie Craig leslie. craig@noaa. gov) that NEPA on the remainder of the project can be initiated. Funds for the 2nd phase of the project will not be released until NFWF has received approval from NOAA on NEPA compliance. 1. 3. DILIGENCE AND COMMUNICATION REQUIRED. The NFWF Recipient agrees to pursue completion of the Project diligently and to communicate with the Project Administrator on a regular basis with respect to the status of the Project, including but not limited to providing the reports discussed in Section 5 below. Failure to so pursue completion of the Project according to the timetable associated with the Phases described above and, in any event, within the Period of Performance and/ or failure to so communicate with the Project Administrator will be deemed a material default in this Agreement, entitling NFWF, in its discretion, to terminate Page 2 of 12