Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Resilient Environment Division: Choose a Division.
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO APPROVE Grant Agreement No. 4337-4-Pf with the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) for the Broward County Board of Commissioners Watershed Management Plan, in the amount of $350,000, of which the County in-kind match is $100,000, and with a contract term effective upon execution through September 30, 2023; and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same.
ACTION: (T-11:01 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0. Commissioner Udine voted in the affirmative telephonically.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution in the amount of $350,000, for the purpose of recognizing $250,000 of grant funds from FDEM, of which the County in-kind match of $100,000, reflected within the Natural Resources Division’s Federal Grant Fund.
ACTION: (T-11:01 AM) Approved Resolution No. 2023-072.
VOTE: 9-0. Commissioner Udine voted in the affirmative telephonically.
body
Why Action is Necessary
Motion A. In accordance with Broward County Code, Chapter 1, Section 1-20, action by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners is necessary to execute the grant agreement.
Motion B. County Commission approval is necessary to receive and appropriate grant funds and unanticipated revenues.
What Action Accomplishes
Motion A. Approval of the FDEM Grant Agreement enables the County to accept grant funding from FDEM.
Motion B. Recognizes and appropriates grant funds provided by FDEM.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None taken
Summary Explanation/Background
THE RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
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.”
Approval of this item supports the development of a watershed master plan focused on the Broward Municipal Services District which is already experiencing extensive inland and coastal flooding and will continue to worsen due to sea level rise, future rainfall intensification and increased storm surge. The development of a watershed master plan will lead to a better understating of climate change impacts and identify potential opportunities to mitigate and adapt infrastructure. The watershed master plan will accomplish this by building on the hydrologic model and asset analysis as part of the County’s current effort involving development of a County-wide Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan, to deliver a more granular and site-specific assessment of the BMSD and local flood mitigation challenges, now and in the future.
Due to flood risk, many residents of the BMSD are required to maintain flood insurance policies. Currently, there are 487 Federal flood insurance policies in the BMSD under the current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). However, these maps are being updated due to changing standards and it is expected that the number of insurance policies is expected to increase to 2326 this year. As the BMSD participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and Community Rating System, discounts are provided to participants for planning and flood mitigation programs and projects. Once accepted, the watershed master plan and other updates will be used to seek advancement of the BMSD to the next discount level.
FDEM awarded Broward County $250,000 for this project. The County will use $100,000 of current work being performed as part of the County-wide Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan as in-kind match for this project as this work will provide context for the Watershed Management Plan. County staff is in the process to select a consultant via the County’s Qualified Vendor List for Environmental and Professional Services.
The proposed Grant Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. The Grant Agreement does not include the County's standard Agreement provisions, as FDEM requires the County to use its form Agreement.
Source of Additional Information
Dr. Jennifer Jurado, Chief Resilience Officer and Deputy Director, Resilient Environment Department, (954) 519-1464.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The County will receive $250,000 of grant funds for the Watershed Master Plan, reflected in the Natural Resources Division’s Federal Grant Fund. County matching funds of $100,000 are budgeted in the General Capital Fund.