Subject:
Title
Grant agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District Phase 1-Real Time Flood Forecasting Project.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the grant agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) Phase 1-Real Time Flood Forecasting (RTFF) Project.
• Project provides Real-Time Flood Forecasting models for Brooker Creek, Lake Tarpon, and South Creek watersheds.
• RTFF models and dashboard system will allow County to better predict flood extents that impact streets and structures within study areas.
• Grant award of $300,000.00. Required County match of $300,000.00. Award and match over a five-year period from Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2030.
• Funding for this authorization is included in the FY26 budget for Public Works within the Surface Water Utility Fund. Funding for future years is dependent on approval in the annual County Operating Budget.
SWFWMD Agreement No. 26CF0004888; Total grant funding amount requested is $300,000.00 with required County match of $300,000.00; Approval amount is $600,000.00; Agreement expiration date is December 31, 2030.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure.
1.4 Improve environmental quality.
1.5 Strengthen resilience and adaptation.
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health.
2.2 Enhance community safety.
Smart Service Delivery
4.3 Improve efficiency of service delivery through technology.
Summary:
Summary
Grant award of $300,000.00 with a required County match of $300,000.00 for a total project amount of $600,000.00. The project involves development of RTFF models for Brooker Creek, Lake Tarpon, and South Creek watersheds. Project will consist of combining existing hydrologic and hydraulic ICPR4 models so an RTFF model and dashboard system can be developed for the system. Based on dashboard warnings and alerts, the County will be able to make better decisions on road closures, notifying and/or evacuating residences, mobilizing pumps and signage, and flood proof utilities.
Section 12 of the Agreement requires the County to indemnify SWFWMD. County Resolution 06-70 prohibits the County from indemnifying others in most situations. The County requested SWFWMD modify this provision which was denied by SWFWMD as it is a standard provision in CFI Agreements. Staff agree that the indemnification requirement is within an acceptable level of risk.
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Background Information:
The resulting RTFF models and dashboard system will allow the Country to better predict flood extents that may impact streets and structures within study areas. The project enhances existing watershed management plans by transitioning away from event-based modeling and toward continuous simulations that can be modified to account for specific storm events, sea level changes, and future rainfall forecasts.
Fiscal Impact:
Total grant funding amount requested is $300,000.00. Total County match required is $300,000.00. Total project approval amount is $600,000.00.
This is a five (5) year project. Year one (1), FY 2026, request is $125,000.00 with a $125,000.00 County match. Year two (2) FY 2027, request is $125,000.00 with a $125,000.00 County match. Year three (3) and four (4), FY 2028-2029, have a request for each year of $16,667.00 with a $16,667.00 County match each year. Year five (5), FY 2030, has a grant request of $16,666.00 with a $16,666.00 County match. The Grant and County matches will be added into FY 2027-2030 Annual Budgets. The tables in Exhibit C (page 16 of Agreement) provides a breakdown of funds and a schedule.
Funding for this authorization is included in the FY 2026 budget for Public Works within the Surface Water Utility Fund. Funding for future years is dependent on approval in the annual County Operating Budget. However, Exhibit B, Paragraph 2 - Repayment contains terms (2.1(c) and 2.4) that may be potential unfunded liabilities. SWFWMD would not agree to modify their terms.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
SWFWMD
Attachments:
Agreement
Resolution 06-70
Approval Email
Project Location Map