Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Environmental Protection Division: Environmental Planning & Comm. Resilience
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Fourth Amendment to Interlocal Agreement between Broward County and the School Board of Broward County (SBBC) under which the County is provided reimbursement for technical services, staff training, and educational programming in support of the School District’s educational and sustainability goals, from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 6 and authorize the County Administrator to take any and all necessary administrative and budgetary actions required for implementation and execution subject to the final review and approval as to form by the Office of the County Attorney.
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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 an amendment to the interlocal agreement between Broward County and the School Board of Broward County and delegation of authority by the Board of County Commissioners is required for the County Administrator to execute the amendment to the agreement on behalf of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.
What Action Accomplishes
This action supports continued implementation of NatureScape education and outreach within Broward County Schools.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None taken.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
Approval of this item supports the Board’s Value of “Encouraging investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices and environmental protection” and Goal 1: Seek funding for, implement policies and pursue projects promoting, the use of alternative energy, and sustainable practices; Goal 3: Increase water quality protection efforts and lead creative approaches to water storage and aquifer recharge, as well as diversification of water supplies, regionally; and, Goal 4: Educate the public about the fragile South Florida ecosystems, impacts of severe weather, sea level rise, and climate change, with special emphasis on the coral reef ecosystem.
Approval of the item provides for amendment of the environmental partnership agreement between Broward County (“Board”) and the School Board of Broward County (SBBC) under which the County is provided reimbursement for technical services, staff training, and educational programming within the Broward Public School District in support of the School District’s educational and sustainability goals. The original agreement was approved by the Board on December 11, 2017 (Item No. 28), providing for an initial term of 12 months and four individual one-year renewals. The first amendment realigned the Agreement term and annual renewal terms to match the SBBC Fiscal Year calendar and was approved by the Board on January 18, 2019 (Item No. 25). The Second Amendment was approved by the Board on June 11, 2019 (Item No. 33). The Third Amendment was approved by the Board on June 16, 2020 (Item No. 29). This Fourth Amendment was approved by the School Board on May 18, 2021. The signature pages are en-route and will be submitted to the Office of the County Attorney for final approval.
The original partnership agreement was first established in 2007 and renewed in 2012 and 2017. Services in the agreement include the continued implementation of the P3 Eco-Challenge; development of new programs, tools, and teacher trainings; the coordination of a Youth Climate Summit; NatureScape presentations in the schools; training for school support personnel; certification of NatureScape properties; Water Matters Day partnerships; irrigation system evaluations; water audits within schools; and administration of the agreement.
The Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division (EPCRD) is responsible for developing and implementing county-wide water resource management, water conservation, water quality protection programs and environmental education and outreach with emphasis on urban and natural systems interactions, including the Everglades, urban water resources, and our coastal environment. Under this agreement, staff provides education to students, teachers, and school personnel about the relationship between the Everglades, urban water resources, and our coastal environment and training in best management practices that protect water quality and improve water resource management. Services include landscape enhancements, the establishment of learning gardens, hands-on and outdoor learning experiences, and irrigation system evaluations and improvements on school properties.
Since last year, and in response to specific priorities expressed by the District Superintendent and the School Board, staff has been coordinating directly with the District STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) team to provide for sea level rise adaptation as the basis for project-based learning, through training, instruction, resources, and e-learning modules. Additionally, the EPCRD program has been organized to develop E-learning modules across broader disciplines to support the School District in the e-learning environment during the COVID-19 response. Additional modules include assessment of the coral reef hard bottom, water resources and conservation, water quality and our canal network, urban habitat and the quality of our environment, with curricula that include appropriate grade-level environmental challenges, worksheets, and assignments.
This item provides for two and one-half grant positions to meet the terms of the interagency agreement with SBBC. This initiative directly supports the objective to promote greater environmental stewardship and sustainability, through the education of our future citizens in conservation and natural resource protection.
Source of Additional Information
Dr. Stephanie Molloy, Director, Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division, (954) 519-1436
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
There is no fiscal impact associated with approval of this amendment. Revenues are reflected in the Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division’s Contract Fund.