Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Monica Cepero
Department: County Administration Division: Parks & Recreation
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE Memorandum of Understanding between the South Florida Water Management District, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Fish and Wildlife Services, United States National Park Service, and Broward County for the establishment of an Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area and a Steering Committee to share information regarding invasive species management within the Everglades region (“MOU”) and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative actions to implement the MOU; and authorize the Director of the Parks and Recreation Division to designate County representatives to serve on the Steering Committee. (Commission District 1)
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Why Action is Necessary
Agreements with external agencies require Board approval.
What Action Accomplishes
Approves the Memorandum of Understanding.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This action supports the Commission’s value of building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives, as well as the Commission’s goal of a resilient community through ensuring accessible, seamlessly integrated investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices, manufacturing, resilient infrastructure, and environmental protection. By partnering with other national and state agencies, Broward County, through the Parks and Recreation Division (Parks), will continue ongoing efforts to control the expansion and removal of invasive species in the Everglades.
The Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (ECISMA) is an interagency partnership that was informally created in 2008 that manages, researches, and educates about invasive species across South Florida. Participants in ECISMA have developed an integrated invasive species management framework that includes education and training on invasive species, coordination of invasive species control efforts and methods, resource sharing, and other natural resource protection measures throughout the Everglades. Parks staff has participated in these collaborative efforts since the ECISMA’s founding. This ongoing collaboration promotes the participating agencies’ desire to work cooperatively on rapid response efforts for the purpose of containing and eradicating newly-detected, non-native, invasive species within and in proximity to the Everglades ecosystem.
The participating agencies have recommended the creation of an MOU to formalize the goals and processes of the ECISMA. The Board’s approval of the MOU will solidify the County’s participation in the ECISMA for the next five years. Parks staff currently participates as set forth in the MOU and is meeting the commitments outlined therein. Parks staff has hosted the annual ECISMA Summit at Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center for many years, where ECISMA participants present their annual summaries of activities, new research, and other pertinent information relating to invasive species management. County staff also participates in quarterly ECISMA Steering Committee Meetings and various subcommittees. This MOU standardizes expectations and commitments across all participating agencies. Additionally, this item delegates authority to the Director of Parks and Recreation to appoint staff members to serve on the steering committee on behalf of the County.
The MOU has been reviewed for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney. The MOU was prepared by the South Florida Water Management District and does not include any of the County’s standard terms and conditions, including sovereign immunity protection and indemnification. The MOU does not commit the County to make any financial contributions and also permits the County to withdraw at any time with 30-days’ advance notice.
Source of Additional Information
Dan West, Director, Parks and Recreation, 954-357-8106
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
There is no additional fiscal impact estimated at this time related to the approval of the MOU, since no additional County funds will be required other than the current staff and operating costs currently budgeted for the County functions detailed in the MOU.