Subject:
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Recommended projects for submittal to the Gulf Consortium for inclusion in the State Expenditure Plan.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the project list for submittal to the Gulf Consortium for inclusion in the State Expenditure Plan.
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Strategic Plan:
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.2 Preserve and manage environmental lands, beaches, parks, and historical assets
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public resources
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
County staff from Public Works, Parks and Conservation Resources, Solid Waste, and Utilities developed a list of projects that met the State Expenditure Plan (SEP) requirements and refined the list based on guidance from the Gulf Consortium’s consultant team. The recommended projects total $30.9M and include:
1. Lake Seminole Sediment Removal: $5.2M
2. Wastewater Collection System Improvements: $18.2M
3. Vulnerable Property Acquisition for Floodplain and Environmental Restoration: $5M
4. Public Access to Waterways: $2M
5. Artificial Reef Program: $500K
Background Information:
The Gulf Consortium is a public entity created in October 2012 by Interlocal Agreement among Florida's 23 Gulf Coast counties, stretching from Escambia County to Monroe County.
Florida’s 23 Gulf Coast Counties formed the Consortium to meet the requirements of the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act in order to develop a State Expenditure Plan for economic and environmental recovery of Florida’s Gulf Coast following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Working with the Consortium’s consultant team, each County developed a list of projects that are consistent with RESTORE Act eligible activities, and that align with the Gulf Restoration Council’s Comprehensive Plan and Gulf Consortium’s adopted objectives. Upon approval by each County’s elected officials, the projects will be submitted for approval into the SEP. As requested by the SEP Project Manager the County needs to submit their list of project by March 31, 2017. The final approved lists from all Counties will be presented to the Consortium on April 6, 2017.
Fiscal Impact:
Should the project list be approved by the Governor’s office, the County will receive $30.9M in RESTORE Act funding for the above listed projects.
Staff Member Responsible:
Rahim Harji, P.E., Director of Public Works
Partners:
Members of the Gulf Consortium
Attachments:
SEP Lake Seminole
SEP Wastewater Collection System
SEP Vulnerable Property Acquisition
SEP Public Access to Waterways
SEP Artificial Reef Program
Memo from SEP Project Manager
PowerPoint