Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Resilient Environment Division: Natural Resources Division
Information
Requested Action
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A. MOTION TO APPROVE Grant Agreement No. 4600005129 between Broward County and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) providing cost-share funding for water conservation investments as part of the Broward NatureScape Irrigation Service Program, and reimbursing Broward County for rebates issued to aid residential irrigation system improvements, for the period from October 1, 2023, to May 31, 2026, with a grant value of $26,250 and matching cost share amount of $26,250 for a total project amount of $52,500; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute the same; authorize the County Administrator to execute amendments to the Grant Agreement, subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, that do not impose additional financial obligations on the County; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the Grant Agreement.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution in the amount of $52,500 within the Natural Resources Division’s State Grants Fund to appropriate the $26,250 SFWMD grant, matching the $26,250 cost share amount, for the purpose of reimbursing Broward County for rebates issued through the NatureScape Irrigation Service.
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Why Action is Necessary
Motion A. In accordance with Broward County Administrative Code 20.31, action by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners is necessary to execute the Grant Agreement and delegate authority to the County Administrator.
Motion B. County Commission approval is necessary to receive and appropriate grant funds and unanticipated revenues.
What Action Accomplishes
Motion A. This action allows the County to receive grant funds, inclusive of the retroactive reimbursement period, to support implementation of the NatureScape Residential Irrigation Rebate program as part of the NatureScape Residential Irrigation Service with cost share for the issuance of rebates to aid residential irrigation system improvements.
Motion B. Recognizes and appropriates grant funding provided by SFWMD in support of the water conservation investments as part of the Residential Irrigation Rebate Program delivered by the Broward NatureScape Irrigation Service.
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 MOTIONS.
This item supports the County Commission’s Goal of Resilient Community of “ensuring accessible, seamlessly integrated investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices, manufacturing, resilient infrastructure, and environmental protection.”
This item provides Broward County with grant funds as cost-share support from the South Florida Water Management District to deliver the Residential Irrigation Rebate Program as part of the Broward NatureScape Irrigation Services (NIS) Program. The program is administered by the Natural Resources Division, in collaboration with municipal and water utility program partners, with cost-share reimbursement to the County for program and administrative services provided. This item will provide for additional rebates to be offered within the program partners’ water utility service areas, per interlocal agreements approved by the Board on May 19, 2020 (Item 19). The Broward NIS was launched in 2005 as a cooperative program supported by 20 municipal and water utility partners, focused on improving irrigation water use efficiency on large municipal and professionally managed properties, where the potential for achieving significant water savings was greatest. In 2020, Broward County expanded the NIS to include the Residential Irrigation Rebate Program, which provides irrigation system efficiency inspections and water conservation education to residents of partner municipalities and offers rebates to offset initial costs incurred in upgrading specified water-efficient irrigation system components.
The Grant Agreement has a retroactive reimbursement period; the Grant Agreement was not received from SFWMD until December 2024.
Because the County is a recipient of funds from SFWMD under this Grant Agreement, the County's standard contract terms are not included. Specifically, this Grant Agreement provides that: (i) SFWMD has the authority to cancel the agreement or reduce the funding under specified circumstances; (ii) a breach by the County could jeopardize future funding; (iii) only SFWMD (and not the County) has the ability to terminate for convenience; and (iv) the exclusive venue for any dispute(s) arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be Palm Beach County, Florida. This Grant Agreement has been reviewed for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, subject to the disclosure of the above-stated non-standard provisions. The Office of Management and Budget and Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Grant Section have also reviewed and approved this Grant Agreement.
Source of Additional Information
Monica Pognon, Director, Natural Resources Division, (954) 519-1476.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
This agreement provides Broward County with $26,250 in grant funding from the SFWMD for rebates to be delivered as a part of the Residential Irrigation Rebate Program on behalf of program partners in NIS. County cost share will be provided in the form of existing program dollars and future program dollars from the forthcoming five-year NIS renewal agreements with cost-share partners. No additional funds will be required from the County.