Okaloosa County BOCC — March 18, 2014 — Action Item Printout — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: March 18, 2014 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: John Hofstad SUBJECT: 2014-2015 FWC Grant Application DEPARTMENT: Public Works BCC DISTRICT: STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Staff requests consideration from the Board to submit and compete for a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) 2014-2015 Artificial Reef Construction Grant application. BACKGROUND: The Florida Artificial Reef Program within the FWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management anticipates the availability of up to $500,000 in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program funds, and an estimated $300,000 in state saltwater fishing license revenues for artificial reef related activities. These funds will be made available through a grants-in-aid program for artificial reef construction on a cost reimbursement basis. This grant application describes the continuance of a multi-phased project. Phase 1 of the project was conceptually awarded to the County by the FWC through the 2013 FWC Supplemental Grant in the amount of $80,000 which the County matched with $80,000 for a total of $160,000. Staff proposes to construct four large artificial reefs utilizing materials donated to the artificial reef program from the USAF Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), City of Fort Walton Beach, and Mid-Bay Bridge Authority. The four reefs will be located in State waters at the centroids of Fish Havens 13, 14, 15 and 16. This material was originally intended to be deployed using NRDA funding. However, recent changes in the NRDA project requirements may not allow for deployment of reef material other than pre-fabricated reef modules. In order to continue to receive high quality donated reef materials from the USAF, staff considers using the County artificial reef budget and FWC grant funding as the best alternative to demonstrate our commitment to the resource. This approach will cause the project to be multi-phased. This grant application represents Phase 2 of this effort. Therefore, it is anticipated that future grant opportunities will be targeted for this effort until the AFRL material inventory is exhausted. The attached grant application will be distributed to Contracts and Grants and legal for review prior to the March 18, 2014 meeting. A status report of the review will be presented at that time. Minor revisions to the application support documentation may be made prior to the March 21, 2014 application deadline but no changes to the application itself are anticipated. The Okaloosa County Artificial Reef Program (OCARP) will be requesting $60,000 in grant funding with matching funds in the amount of $20,000 for a total project budget of $80,000. Matching funds are currently available in the Artificial Reef line item budget through the Tourist Development Department (Account #1175-563753). OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove RECOMMENDATIONS: Request Board approval and authorization for the Chairman to sign the grant application requesting funding for artificial reef construction during FY 14 and all future grant documents during the term of the grant. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator