Okaloosa County BOCC — October 13, 2015 — Agenda Packet — reading text

Gulf seafood restaurants ∗ The project was envisioned prior to the completion of the first phase of Destin’s Harbor Boardwalk in 2012 ∗ The new gateway and plaza will provide additional harbor access, open space, and recreational/educational opportunities along the Destin Harbor as detailed in the City’s adopted Harbor Community Redevelopment Plan Packet Pg. 24  4 Clement Taylor Park Restoration ∗ Amount Requested: $750,000 ∗ Proposer: City of Destin ∗ Project Summary: ∗ This project is one element of a larger redevelopment project located in west Destin along the Choctawhatchee Bay ∗ Restores the park area by: series of facility improvements; demolition of the existing playground and replacement with equipment which meets ADA compliance; reconfiguration of the impervious parking area for more capacity; renovation of the fishing dock; addition of a kayak launch; replacement of concrete pathways; removal of old pilings from the Bay; enhancement of the littoral exfiltration system; and additional environmental education signage. Packet Pg. 25  CAST (Coastal Agriculture, Science 5 and Technology) 5 Year Plan ∗ Amount Requested: $397,423 ∗ Proposer: Annette P. Edwins Fine and Performing Arts School ∗ Project Summary: ∗ Expand and maintain highly successful and innovative Urban Agriculture Program and create and hands-on science lab ∗ Project includes a greenhouse, six raised-bed gardens, container gardens, three salt marsh beds, and an educational GreenSpace, complete with fruit trees, and most importantly coastal grasses vital to the delicate ecosystems of our waterways ∗ Coastal grasses are essential elements for erosion control and filter systems, while providing shelter and food for shoreline wildlife ∗ CAST will provide a hands-on science lab to address all science standards with an emphasis on ecosystems and marine life Packet Pg. 26  Laffitte Crescent Stormwater 6 Infrastructure Retrofit ∗ Amount Requested: $432,000 ∗ Proposer: Okaloosa County Public Works ∗ Project Summary: ∗ Replace a failing stormwater infrastructure that contributes to flooding conditions and transports sediment and other pollutants into Cinco Bayou ∗ Flooding events create hazardous conditions on the roadways and disseminate pollutants to areas that create public health concerns ∗ Project expenditures will include contracted labor, equipment and materials Packet Pg. 27  FWB Landing Waterfront 7 Improvements Phase 1 ∗ Amount Requested: $1,099,463 ∗ Proposer: City of Fort Walton Beach ∗ Project Summary: ∗ Goals for the project: enhance park for community events; improve park for residents; make park a destination and focal point for land and water related activities, services, and facilities ∗ Phase I includes construction of a new seawall, dock, boardwalk, retaining walls/stairs, covered band shell and sidewalks. There will also be a coastal ecology demonstration area which will include sea grass plantings and oyster reefs, providing an educational opportunity for local schools and environmental groups ∗ Economic impact of Phase I: jobs created during construction and the future charter boats and passive waterfront activity rental booths ∗ The Chamber of Commerce has adopted a Resolution of Support for this project along with the Downtown Merchants Association Packet Pg. 28  8 Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center ∗ Amount Requested: $89,580 ∗ Proposer: Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park ∗ Project Summary: ∗ Phase 1 of the C.A.R.E. (Conserve, Act, Rehabilitate, Educate) Center will comprise of six pools: one 20 ft diameter, one 12 ft diameter, and four 6 ft diameter. ∗ This phase will cost approx $240,000.00 ∗ The requested Direct Component Funds will provide the funding necessary to refurbish fiberglass pools and to purchase and install state-of-the-art Life Support Systems (filtration) ∗ Future phases of the Center include additional pools, hospital, classrooms, lab space, natural history educational opportunities, outreach programs, etc. ∗ Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Packet Pg. 29  9 C.W. Ruckel STEM Class ∗ Amount Requested: $16,500 ∗ Proposer: C.W. Ruckel Middle School ∗ Project Summary: ∗ Ruckel Middle School currently has a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) class where students work in groups of two on various computer-based modules ∗ Modules are designed to experience in STEM activities and explore various careers related to the module topic ∗ Requested funds will cover the purchase and shipping of the modules ∗ Long-term cost are minimal and related strictly to purchasing refills of consumable materials; long-term cost will be covered using lead teacher money, Adopt-a-Class program, and small grants such as the Hurlburt Air Force Association grant Packet Pg. 30  Project: Student-Led Habitat 10 Restoration in Okaloosa County ∗ Amount Requested: $90,000 ∗ Proposer: Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance of Northwest Florida State College ∗ Project Summary: ∗ Student led restoration and protection of property that belongs: City of Fort Walton Beach, City of Valparaiso, State of Florida, City of Destin, Okaloosa County ∗ CBA holds permits for the Choctawhatchee Bay shoreline restoration sites in Valparaiso's Florida Park, Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, and Okaloosa's Longwood Park ∗ Project will train AmeriCorps education team, provide hands-on education component, lead student field trips to restore habitat at selected sites, produce student-developed outreach materials and compile monitoring data ∗ CBA will use the results of this project (both education and restoration components) to leverage future activities such as college and high school student monitoring of sites and community volunteer Packet Pg. 31  The NeighborWood at Emerald 11 Coast Science ∗ Amount Requested: $89,999 Center ∗ Proposer: Emerald Coast Science Center ∗ Project Summary: ∗ The NeighborWood is a habitat restoration and expansion project designed to improve 30,000 SF owned by ECSC for wildlife, citizens, & tourists of all ages ∗ This naturalized outdoor learning environment is designed to offer integrated experiential education on many levels ∗ Restoration of the NeighborWood will improve nonpoint source pollution that affects Gulf marine habitats by creating bioswales, contouring the trails with the land and reducing the amount of loose sediment in the runoff ∗ The project will be monitored and evaluated by the biological community by volunteers (Audubon Society, The Center for Snake Conservation, The Orianne Society, and the North American Amphibian Monitoring Project) ∗ Horticulture classes will be offered by Okaloosa County Master Gardeners and Okaloosa County Cooperative Extension Service ∗ The strategic plan will be implemented in three phases: (1) the pavilion and the trail; (2) bog environment and native plant area; (3) interactive play areas ∗ Revenue generated through rental of the NeighborWood pavilion will help sustain this project and ensure funds will be available for upkeep Packet Pg. 32  Multi-use Outdoor Community 12 Facility ∗ Amount Requested: $83,000 ∗ Proposer: Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce ∗ Project Summary: ∗ The proposed facility will provide a beautiful, environmentally friendly place to hold community functions ∗ Provides fully accessible outdoor area for: residents of Twin Cities Pavilion (County-owned assisted living facility); Disabled American Veterans Facility; Children’s Advocacy Center; Sharing and Caring of Niceville; Emergency Management Station; the Chamber of Commerce ∗ Chamber of Commerce will manage and monitor use of the facility ∗ Improvement of this property will have a positive economic impact on the neighboring business, residential, and non-profit properties ∗ Maintenance on the existing stormwater system will have a positive impact on the environment ∗ Major features: gazebos; benches; sidewalk network; wooden bridge; parking improvements; fencing; landscaping; stormwater area; signage ∗ Labor will be provided as an in-kind investment by the City of Niceville (estimated value of $13,000) Packet Pg. 33  Life Center of Gregg Chapel 13 African Methodist Episcopal Church ∗ Amount Requested: $90,000 ∗ Proposer: Gregg Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (GCAMEC) ∗ Project Summary: ∗ GCAMEC is transforming the former Chester Pruitt Rec Center to a community center to serve a diverse, low-to-moderate income neighborhood ∗ Will create new jobs, implement workforce development programming, and allow for the acceleration of the refurbishment/renovation ∗ The Life Center houses one of the Okaloosa Head Start Programs— has increased families served as well as the number of employees ∗ RESTORE Act funding requested to complete 4th phase of the building retrofit in a single year, rather than in the projected three years ∗ Renovations include: air conditioning; parking lot; windows; flooring; technology required to enhance conferences and meetings Packet Pg. 34  Enhancing the STEM Biomedical 14 Sciences ∗ Amount Requested: $11,038 Program ∗ Proposer: Fort Walton Beach High School ∗ Project Summary: ∗ Receiving this grant will allow the FWBHS BioMedical Sciences Program to offer a more intense professional program enabling students to have success in the workplace and to meet industry demand for our local area ∗ Primary objective of program is to prepare students to investigate the roles of biomedical professionals as they study the concepts of human medicine, physiology, genetics, microbiology, and public health ∗ Once students complete the program, they will be prepare to take and pass industry certification exam offered by the Center of Excellence for Regenerative Health Biotechnology (Univ of Florida) ∗ Project expenditures include a series of required items to remain on the leading edge of education (Durastill Water Distiller, MakerBot Replicator Desktop 5th Generation 3D Printer; etc) Packet Pg. 35  15 Choctawhatchee High School Workforce Development Program ∗ Amount Requested: $89,995 ∗ Proposer: Choctawhatchee High School ∗ Project Summary: ∗ Goal is to increase