Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Public Works and Environmental Services
Division: Administration
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE Broward County Resilience Plan (“Resilience Plan”) Near-Term Implementation Strategy and Grant Criteria as the basis for the Fiscal Year 2027 Resilience Plan Grant Awards, attached as Exhibit 1.
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Why Action is Necessary
Board approval is required to formalize the evaluation criteria that will govern distribution of County resilience grant funding.
What Action Accomplishes
Provides staff with direction regarding the criteria to be used in the review and ranking of applications for County cost-share funding.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
On March 3, 2026 (Item No. 13), the Board directed staff to provide the Board with a Resilience Plan Near-Term Implementation Strategy (“Strategy”).
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PUBLIC WORKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the County Commission’s Goal of Resilient Community, “Ensuring accessible, seamlessly integrated investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices, manufacturing, resilient infrastructure, and environmental protection.”
On February 4, 2025, staff presented the Resilience Plan to the Board of County Commissioners (“Board”). On March 3, 2026, the Board discussed the Resilience Plan’s status and directed staff to develop a Strategy for the Board’s consideration.
On April 28, 2026 (Agenda Item No. 48), the Board allocated $20 million in reserve funds to support implementation of the Plan via a grant program, with general support for:
1. Incentives to advance Tier 1 Capital Projects identified in, or consistent with, the Plan;
2. Grant funding for up to 25% of eligible construction costs;
3. Eligibility for municipalities and drainage/water control districts; and
4. A goal of leveraging County funding at a 5:1 ratio via partner cost-share contributions.
On May 8, 2026, staff transmitted a proposed Strategy to the Board through the County Administrator (Exhibit 1). The Strategy is designed to provide cost-share funding for culverts, control structures, and pump projects identified in, or consistent with, the Plan. The proposed Strategy assumes use of the $20 million previously allocated by the Board and is consistent with the above implementation principles.
The Strategy also proposes the following criteria for staff review and ranking of project applications, with recommended awards to be submitted to the Board for approval:
1. Consistent with the 2025 Resilience Plan (required; early priority projects receive additional consideration);
2. Minimum 5:1 leveraging of County funds (additional consideration for if project receives federal or state matching funds);
3. Project readiness, including design and permitting status;
4. Inclusion in an approved resilience plan, stormwater plan, or vulnerability assessment;
5. Demonstrated and quantifiable flood-risk reduction;
6. Demonstrated cost effectiveness (e.g., number of structures benefited per $100,000 or similar);
7. History of flooding impacts with the project area; and
8. Interlocal or regional partnerships.
The estimated cost for Year 1 program administration is $220,500, which includes 1.5 project-bound positions (1.1% of the $20 million allocated for the Year 1 program).
Subject to Board action and direction, staff will conduct municipal and drainage/water control district outreach during summer 2026 to prepare for a formal grant solicitation in August/September 2026. Staff proposes to conduct the grant announcement following the same mechanisms employed for the 2025 culvert grant announcement, with notice to municipalities, water control/drainage districts, and the Water Advisory Board distribution, coupled with a webinar. Staff anticipates completing project review and ranking by December 2026, and presenting grant recommendations to the Board in February/March 2027 in conjunction with a template form agreement for Board approval. A three-year grant term is proposed. Staff also proposes to seek the Board’s delegation of authority for grant execution by the County Administrator, for board approved project grant amounts and recipients. Project contracting is estimated to take place in April/May 2027.
The attached Exhibit 1 Strategy was amended post distribution on May 8, 2026, to the Board to clarify on page 7 the reference to “a new funding source” as being an “infrastructure or other Surtax”.
Source of Additional Information
Dr. Jennifer Jurado, Deputy Director, Public Works and Environmental Services Department, 954-519-1464
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
There is no fiscal impact associated with action on this item.