Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Glenn Wiltshire (Acting Director)
Department: Port Everglades Division: Business Administration
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE Broward County's Application to the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board requesting approval of a Minor Boundary Modification of Foreign-Trade Zone No. 25 under the alternative site framework to designate a new non-contiguous zone site consisting of 11.54 acres of marina basin and adjacent buildings located at 2700 SW 25th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL; and authorize the Port Everglades Department Chief Executive & Port Director to take all necessary administrative actions to effectuate same.
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Why Action is Necessary
Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) approval is required to submit an Application for a Minor Boundary Modification to the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board.
What Action Accomplishes
Authorizes the Port Everglades Department Chief Executive & Port Director to submit an Application to the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board for a Minor Boundary Modification of Foreign-Trade Zone No. 25 to designate a non-contiguous site in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
This action supports the Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ (“Board”) Value of "Ensuring economic opportunities for Broward’s diverse population and businesses" and the Goal to "Increase the economic strength and impact of revenue-generating County enterprises balancing economic, environmental, and community needs."
The Board is the Grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone (“FTZ”) No. 25 (“Grantee”) as authorized by the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board (“FTZB”). The FTZB approves the boundaries where FTZ activity may take place under Broward County’s FTZ Grant of Authority. FTZ No. 25 has approximately 81 activated acres of the designated 435 acres within Broward County. Under the alternative site framework, the FTZB authorized the standard 2,000-acre activation limit for FTZ No. 25.
Broward County, as Grantee of FTZ No. 25, is seeking approval of a Minor Boundary Modification to designate a new non-contiguous FTZ site, consisting of 11.54 acres of marina basin and adjacent buildings located at 2700 SW 25th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL (see Exhibit 1), requested by Universal Shipyard, LLC, the owner of the property, for use by its lessee, Universal Marine Center, Inc. (“Universal”), to receive FTZ benefits.
Universal was established in the State of Florida in 2008. Universal is a fully licensed and insured marina which offers boat storage and repair facilities that can accommodate vessels of up to 180 feet in length. Universal’s facilities include 40 boat slips equipped with utilities. Universal’s planned FTZ activities consist of docking and safe harboring foreign flagged yachts to be serviced, shown to prospective buyers, taken for “sea trials”, and exported. FTZ designation for the property must first be obtained from the FTZB for Universal’s plans to proceed. The Grantee is seeking FTZ designation for the site through an Application for Minor Boundary Modification (see Exhibit 2). Before submitting the Application for Minor Boundary Modification to the FTZB, Port staff will request a concurrence letter from the U. S. Customs and Border Protection (see Exhibit 3).
The FTZB’s approval will make it possible for Universal to improve its business offering, fostering job creation and investments in local buildings and equipment. Since this new FTZ activity will take place outside of the on-port FTZ in Port Everglades, operation of the non-contiguous FTZ site will be authorized pursuant to the FTZ No. 25 Tariff No. 4 and an agreement approved by the Port Everglades Department Chief Executive & Port Director for a term not to exceed three years.
Source of Additional Information
Jorge Hernández, Director of Business Administration, Port Everglades Department, (954) 468-3501
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Universal will pay a FTZ Operator Activation Fee of $5,000 and a FTZ Operator Annual Fee of $12,000, as provided for in the FTZ No. 25 Tariff No. 4.