Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Monica Cepero
Department: County Administration Division: Parks & Recreation
Information
Requested Action
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A. MOTION TO APPROVE acceptance of a grant award (“Award”) from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (“FWC”) in the amount of $15,000 to remove invasive vegetation and to replant native vegetation around gopher tortoise burrows at Deerfield Island Park; to authorize the County Administrator or written designee to approve and execute any documents necessary for reimbursement under the Award, including any amendments to the Award that do not impose any costs to County, all subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the County Attorney’s Office; and to authorize the County Administrator to take the necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement and administer the Award. (Commission District 2)
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution within the Parks State Grants Fund for the Parks and Recreation Division in the amount of $15,000 for the removal of invasive vegetation and ground cover planting around gopher tortoise burrows at Deerfield Island Park.
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Why Action is Necessary
Section 20.31(b)(3) of the Broward County Administrative Code requires that the Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) approve all state and federal grant agreements. Pursuant to section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, requires Board approval to recognize grant funding not anticipated in the current budget.
What Action Accomplishes
Accepts the $15,000 grant Award to remove invasive vegetation and to replant native vegetation around gopher tortoise burrows at Deerfield Island Park and authorizes the County Administrator or written designee to submit any required reports, certifications, and reimbursement documentation, and authorizes the County Administrator to take administrative and budgetary actions to implement the Award.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (“FWC”) has awarded Broward County up to $15,000 in grant funding through its Habitat Management Assistance Funding Program to be used for the removal of five acres of invasive herbaceous vegetation within a 50-foot buffer around gopher tortoise burrows and for the planting of native ground vegetation across one acre around gopher tortoise burrows at Deerfield Island Park (the “Project”). The funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis, and no matching funds are required by the County. The award letter is attached as Exhibit 1 and serves as FWC’s funding commitment.
The primary purpose of the Habitat Management Assistance Funding Program is to optimize gopher tortoise carrying capacity on protected lands through appropriate habitat management.
The Project will be conducted at Deerfield Island Park. Deerfield Island Park is a 53.3-acre natural area bordered by the Intracoastal Waterway and the Hillsboro and Royal Palm canals, is Broward County’s only island park, and is only accessible via boat.
Deerfield Island Park was designated an Urban Wilderness Preserve in 1984 by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and is designated a Critical Wildlife Area for the gopher tortoise by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The manual removal of invasive vegetation around the burrows will create open patches that will provide more habitat for sunning, native vegetation growth, and ease of access to the burrows.
Source of Additional Information
Dan West, Director, Parks and Recreation Division, (954) 357-8106
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
This $15,000 Award is funded by FWC on a reimbursement basis. There is no County match required.