Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Resilient Environment Division: Natural Resources Division
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Interlocal Agreement between Broward County and the City of Wilton Manors providing for cost-share support in Broward County’s operation of the Residential Irrigation Rebate Program (RIRP) within the City and reimbursing Broward County for performing specific technical activities associated with landscape and irrigation system evaluations in support of county-wide water conservation goals and the Broward County-wide Integrated Water Resource Plan, effective upon execution and end at 11:59 p.m. on April 1, 2025 and a cost not-to-exceed $9,000; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute the same. (Commission Districts 4 and 8)
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Why Action is Necessary
Pursuant to Section 163.01, Florida Statutes, action is required by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners to approve Interlocal agreements between Broward County, municipal governments, and independent districts.
What Action Accomplishes
This agreement supports implementation of the Broward County-wide Integrated Water Resource Plan through County-wide operation of a Residential Irrigation Rebate Program designed to reduce water consumption and improve the quality of landscape runoff through more efficient irrigation operations and implementation of landscape best management practices.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☒Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None taken.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the County Commission’s Value: Encouraging investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices and environmental protection; and the Goals: Seek funding for, implement policies and pursue projects promoting, the use of alternative energies and sustainable practices; and increase water quality protection efforts and lead creative approaches to water storage and aquifer recharge, as well as diversification of water supplies, regionally.
Action on this item approves an Interlocal Agreement between Broward County and the City of Wilton Manors to opt-in to the County’s Residential Irrigation Rebate Program (RIRP), an optional program of the NatureScape Irrigation Service (NIS). Under this agreement, Broward County’s Natural Resources Division is provided reimbursement for NIS evaluations and administrative services associated with delivery of this regional program. The City of Wilton Manors is entering the program in the final year of NIS’ current five-year Interlocal Agreement with other partner municipalities and utilities that entered into agreements with the County in 2020 and demonstrates cost-effective collaborations in furtherance of regional water quality and water conservation goals.
On December 6, 2005, Broward County and 21 municipal and water utility partners entered into an interlocal agreement providing for an initial five-year partnership and cost-share funding to launch and operate an urban mobile irrigation lab, aka NatureScape Irrigation Service (NIS). The NIS partnership was renewed on April 13, 2010, for a second five-year term, with the participation of 18 municipal and water utility partners, in the spring 2015 (March 17, April 14, and May 5, 2015, Commission meetings) for a third five-year term, with the participation of 19 municipal and water utility partners, and in the fall of 2020 (May 19, 2020), with the participation of 19 municipalities and water utility partners.
In 2019, the NIS pilot-tested a Residential Irrigation Rebate Program, distributing 60 rebates to residents for irrigation system upgrades and providing education and guidance on efficient landscape irrigation practices. The applications for rebates under the pilot program well-exceeded the pilot program capacity, revealing a significant opportunity and need for a more sustained residential irrigation program component from the public. As such, in 2020, the County began offering the Residential Irrigation Program as an optional program of the NIS.
Source of Additional Information
Monica Pognon, Director, Natural Resources Division, (954) 519-1476.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The amount of funding expected to be provided to the County based on the Interlocal Agreement in Exhibit 1 is up to $9,000, over the course of the contract term, with in-kind services to be provided by Broward County. Collected revenues will be deposited into the Water Resources NatureScape Irrigation Services contract fund budget.