Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2026-06 Accepting Funding through the Florida Wildflower Foundation — reading text

RESOLUTION 2026-6 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING FUNDING THROUGH THE FLORIDA WILDFLOWER FOUNDATION; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ALL RELATED GRANT DOCUMENTS. AUTHORIZING A BUDGET AMENDMENT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Florida Wildflower Foundation offers grant funding to support educational demonstration gardens promoting Florida native wildflowers; and WHEREAS, the City Library applied for and has been awarded grant funding in the amount of $550.00 for its Seeds of Knowledge Demonstration Garden Program; and WHEREAS, the grant will support environmental education, sustainability initiatives, and community engagement; and WHEREAS, the grant requires execution of a Letter of Agreement outlining the terms and conditions of funding; and WHEREAS, this grant is exempt from Charter Amendment Ordinance 2145 as it constitutes external grant funding; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that acceptance of this grant is in the best interest of the City and its residents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA THAT: Section 1. City Council hereby adopts Resolution 2026-06 accepting $550.00 from the Florida Wildflower Foundation for the Library Seeds of Knowledge Demonstration Garden Program, authorizing the Mayor to sign the acceptance document(s), authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to complete the grant and grant-related purchases, and authorizing a budget amendment to record the grant within the General Fund. Budget Amendment for Grant Funds: Revenue Expense 001-1503-347-1000 $550.00 001-1503-572-5200 $550.00 Project Number: FLWF26 Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval by City Council and signature of the Mayor. RESOLUTION 2026-6 Adopted: Mace hy 10, doa Attest: HE, si PRarrcaanst Kim M. Barnes, City Clerk Nic Allegretto, Mayor} =§ Approved as toj¢gal form and sufficiency for the Cit¥ of/fort Walton Beach, only. Jeffrey i “Burns, City Attorney FLORIDA Wildflower FOUNDATION Seeds of Knowledge Library Landscape Demonstration Gardens Grant Program Letter of Agreement Grantee information Payee: City of Fort Walton Beach Project location: Fort Walton Beach Library 185 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Project manager: Meghan Duffey Phone number: 850-833-9590 Email address: mduffey@fwb.org Grant award amount $550 Terms of agreement 1. Use of grant funding will be restricted to the project outlined in Attachment II, with the following revision: None Wildflowers to be used in the above referenced project shall be: In accordance with the Foundation’s definition of native wildflowers and native wildflower cultivars: https://www.flawildflowers.org/wp- content/uploads/2022/01/FWF_WildflowerCultivarDefinitions. pdf Appropriate for the region of the state in which the designated site occurs Appropriate for the designated site’s conditions Plants shall be purchased when possible from a current member of the Florida Association of Native Nurseries (www.PlantRea!Florida.org) and seeds from the Florida Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association (www.FloridaWildflowers.com). The wildflower planting will be inspected by the Foundation or its representative during the grant cycle (through 2/28/27) to ensure grant requirements are being met. Two reports shall be submitted during the grant cycle. See Attachment | for reporting schedule. Follow-up surveys may be completed bi-annually to receive additional seed packets for replenishing seed library. Signage and educational materials related to the project must be approved by the Foundation prior to production. All other terms agreed upon in the project proposal. See Attachment Il. Payment will be made within 30 days of receipt of a signed copy of this agreement. CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH Attest: . Barnes, City Clerk CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH LIBRARY WZ Vy Maceh 10,203. Date gees Project Manager SignestGes— Meahvan Puree Printed hame (Wa Moura 202 Date Nic Allegretto, Mayor— ATTACHMENT | Reporting schedule and details Estimated planting date: 5/1-5/28 Initial progress report due via online survey by September 2026 (covering installation through and prior to second seed packet distribution). Report will include: °o e) ° oO ° an overview of site prep, construction and installation methods a list of all species installed, noting those that were purchased with funds from this grant estimate of visitation between installation and September 2026 details on associated educational programs conducted or materials produced/distributed between installation and September 2026 copies of/links to any publicity featuring the planting between installation and September 2026; this may include but is not limited to newsletter, website, Facebook, other social media, local TV or newspaper photos of site before and after installation 0 Additional photos of volunteers and/or visitors interacting with the site are encouraged. itemized receipts for expended grant funds Accounting of seed packet distribution Additional follow-up surveys will be sent out twice yearly and must be received in order to continue receiving seed packets. These surveys will include estimation of visitation, Information about the seed library and photos of the site Seeds of Knowledge Grant Application (due February 15", 2026) How did you hear about our grant? | attended a Summer Reading workshop and one of the presenters mentioned this grant. In which county will this project be located? Okaloosa County Whatis the name of the library at which your garden will be located? Fort Walton Beach Library Who will be planting and tending to the garden? The Fort Walton Beach Library will be partnering with our local Garden Club to plant and tend the garden. The Garden Club currently tends to another library garden and are willing to help with a native garden as well. Project Lead Contact Information Meghan Duffey 185 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, USA Mduffey@fwb.org (850) 376-5654 Library Administrator Contact Information Savannah Cole Scole@fwb.org (850) 833-9590 | have received permission from the library administrator named above to apply fora Seeds of Knowledge grant and, if awarded, to plant a wildflower garden on library grounds. Yes Is the library located on city or county property? City We encourage libraries to partner with a community volunteer or organization who will commit to regularly work in the garden and ensure survival. Tellus if there is anyone you plan to recruit (master gardener, Florida Native Plant Society member, garden club member, etc.). Our local Garden Club has agreed to partner with the library for this grant. They currently maintain the garden on our walkway and are willing to help with a native wildflower butterfly garden as well. Provide any other information as to why the Foundation should provide grant funding for your project. We have been working to revitalize our library, inside and out. We are currently in the process of adding a nice fence around the side of our building, where the wildflower garden would be located. This fence would still allow the public access to the garden, but would also allow us to do outdoor, garden programs with all ages. With this grant, we'd be able to introduce patrons of all ages to native flowers, encourage a love of nature, and beautify our library. Have you received a previous grant from the Florida Wildflower Foundation? No What is the general location and total approximate area where wildflowers will be planted (square feet)? (100 word max) Garden space is located on the side of the library that faces downtown, near a sidewalk. It is approximately 97 square feet. Describe the garden space. Do you already have a dedicated outdoor learning site? Is your garden site prepared? Is the site free of sod? If non-native species are present, what are your plans for removal? (100 word max) The garden space used to be a butterfly garden, but has fallen by the wayside. The space will be prepared, with the help of our Garden Club, to accept native wildflowers. In addition to removing any non-native species, we will be turning over the soil to reintroduce oxygen. At the moment, there is no dedicated outdoor learning site. We are in the process, however, of adding a fence around the area surrounding the garden, which will allow for more outdoor programs for all ages. How will you water your garden? Automated sprinkler or soaker hose Sprinkler Soaker hose Hand-water with a hose What light exposure best describes where most or all of the wildflowers will be planted? Part sun (3 to 6 hours of direct sun from 9am to 5pm) Broadleaf shade (for example, shade from an oak or maple) most of the day High pine shade most of the day Bright light but no direct sun (for example, a woodland edge) What is the soil type at the project site? Clay Loam Bagged media Composted media How would you describe the soil moisture where most or all of the wildflowers will be planted? Occasionally moist Moist to wet Irrigated as needed Please upload a project budget outlining how you plan to spend the grant funds. You may request up to $750: however, only request the amount you can reasonabl this time. Smaller projects and funding requests are welcome. Supply Cost Black-Eyed $70 Susans x5* Stokes Aster x3* | $42 Purple $42 Cornflower x3* Pink Muhlygrass | $98 x7* Salvia Coccinea | $84 x6* Swamp Tickseed | $84 x6* Soil ** $105 Total: $525 se at *Plants to be bought from Wildwood Garden in Shalimar, FL. Costs based on their general estimates. **Soil based on costs at Home Depot. Please upload a garden site design. *This does not need to be a professional drawing, hand drawn in great. a oot, => Yalaly aeons 22s Aig 28> —_ Rseetea Spl Cicanen a, ; Lar Dae a> 4g~ if f | 6 Pt, | ; lace Eyed Quvpie, —-Blacr-Exea a: Son Cw . Suse f jf See Beate é | Piigie Block- Eyed Stes Conerone” SESH fe ssod yyy i | To consider your application, we must receive three photos of the space where ildflowers will be nted. Please upload thei ow. Be sure to inc [s} ¥ library name in the file name of the image. Maximum file size is 10mb. Flowers to be used: black-eyed susan Muhlygrass Stokes Aster carlet Salvia Purple Coneflower Swamp Tickseed