Okaloosa County BOCC — August 4, 2015 — Turtle Lighting Services RFP — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: August 4, 2015 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Ed Schroeder SUBJECT: Turtle Lighting Services RFP DEPARTMENT: Tourist Development Department BCC DISTRICT: 2,5 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Request approval to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of a lighting retrofit plan for conservation lands and adjacent properties in Okaloosa County to reduce lighting impacts through replacement of existing exterior lights with fully shielded, long wavelength fixtures and appoint members of the review committee. BACKGROUND: The County has tentatively been awarded a FL Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP) and FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) grant to install wildlife friendly lighting on or near beachfront conservation lands at no cost to the County. FWC has identified the following beachfront conservation lands: James Lee Park, John Beasley Park, and Newman C. Brackin Park. Lights visible from the beach that could impact nesting and hatchling sea turtles on these conservation lands will be replaced with wildlife friendly lighting, which would qualify for Early Restoration funding pursuant to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Phase II Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Review. Some of the funds will also be used to maintain the lighting retrofits once replaced over the next three years. Funds are available for all County-owned conservation lands and the adjacent properties located 1,000 feet surrounding the nesting beach on the conservation land. The County would be reimbursed 100% of the retrofit lighting costs for County-owned parks. FWC requests a 25% match for private properties located within 1,000 adjacent feet; however, the County is not involved in that element of the grant except to contact the property owners to gauge their interest in participating in this program. The amount of the grant award has yet to be confirmed, but is estimated at $431,900. In order to proceed and finalize the grant award for approval, FWC needs an estimate of the cost to develop the lighting plan. The cost of developing the lighting plan is eligible for reimbursement under the grant agreement. The following RFP review committee members are proposed: Coastal Management Coordinator, Marine Economic & Tourist Development Resource Coordinator, and a member of the Tourist Development Council (or a member of the Board of County Commissioners if so desired). The Purchasing Department will coordinate the process and serve as a facilitator for meetings of the review committee. OPTIONS: Approve or Disapprove RECOMMENDATION: Issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of a lighting retrofit plan for conservation lands and adjacent properties in Okaloosa County to reduce lighting impacts through replacement of existing exterior lights with fully shielded, long wavelength fixtures and appoint members of the review committee. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator