HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem Q04 Q4
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE Mayor James K.Scholl,District 3
The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern Michelle Lincoln,District 2
Craig Cates,District 1
David Rice,District 4
Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
December 10, 2025
Agenda Item Number: Q4
2023-4739
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: Sustainability
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Rhonda Haag
N/A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval to advertise for the Canal 293 restoration project located
between Avenues I & H on Big Pine Key, the first of 6 canal restoration projects funded by a
$12,444,530 sub-recipient grant Agreement from The Gulf Consortium passed through from the federal
granting agency of the Gulf Coast Restoration Council, for Monroe County's share of the Gulf
Consortium Pot 3 RESTORE funds.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
This item is for restoration of Canal#293 on Big Pine Key, funded by RESTORE through a sub-
recipient grant Agreement for $12,444,530.00 from the Gulf Consortium for up to 6 canal restoration
projects geographically grouped together on Big Pine Key on the "Avenues".
The design and permitting has been completed for Canal #293, which was funded by a DEP
Stewardship appropriation grant. The canal requires organic removal, backfill, and an air curtain. The
Agreement includes tasks for the construction, oversight, and post monitoring effectiveness of the
projects. The operations and maintenance of the weed gate/air curtain required for this project will be
funded by an assessment set up on the canal. The residents have participated in meetings hosted by the
County and voted to proceed with the project with an understanding of the requirement for an
assessment.
RESTORE Act funds came about as the result of the civil and criminal settlements of responsible actors
(namely BP) in the aftermath of the Deep-Water Horizon Oil Spill. RESTORE Act legislation passed
by Congress in 2010 directed those funds to the States and communities along the Gulf that were
directly and indirectly impacted in order to restore and protect their environments, water quality and
habitats.
The funds discussed here are those distributed to the State of Florida's 23 Gulf Coast counties which
formally organized as the Gulf Consortium. The purpose of the Consortium was to determine the use
and distribution of its share of settlement monies in compliance with the RESTORE Act. The funds
currently total approximately $290 Million. Over the course of about 5 years, the Gulf Consortium
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worked on priorities, eligibility, distribution formulas, and then drafted and approved its State
Expenditure Plan (SEP). Each county submitted eligible environmental and water quality restoration
projects into the plan, and each county was allocated an equal share of the funds (about $12.6 M).
Monroe County submitted canal restoration as its project. The County Commission approved the
inclusion of this project, and its full allocation to this project, with Resolution 276-2016.
The six canal restoration projects are for Canals #293, #295, #297, #299, #300 and#315 within the Big
Pine Key area of the Avenues, which represent some of the worst water quality throughout the Florida
Keys. The canals are geographically located near each other and were included in one grant application
to improve the cost efficiencies of the projects and to enhance the effectiveness of the nearshore water
quality. These projects will restore canal water quality, and provide healthy, diverse, and sustainable
living for coastal and marine resources. Additionally clean water will restore and conserve the health,
diversity, and resilience of key coastal, estuarine, and marine habitats.
Currently the canals waters have poor circulation, weed wrack loading, organic sediment accumulation,
and excessive depths. The restoration work aims to improve the oxygen level, remove accumulated
organics from within the canals, and add physical barriers to minimize additional organic accumulation
in these areas. These technologies will improve the water quality in canals.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
November 2016: the BOCC approved the inclusion of canal restoration projects in the State Expenditure
Plan and allocation of the entire allocation of Monroe's share of Gulf Consortium pot funds ($12.6m) to
canal restoration projects (Resolution 276-2016).
2013 through 2018: the BOCC designated Commissioner Neugent to serve as Monroe County's
representative on the Gulf Consortium to develop the State Expenditure Plan and to advocate for
inclusion of Monroe's canal restoration project, and since 2014, to serve as an elected member of the
Consortium's Executive Committee.
September 21, 2012: Monroe County joined the Gulf Consortium by approving the Inter-local
Agreement to participate in a consortium of counties to develop a State Expenditure Plan for
RESTORE Act funding allocated to the Florida's 23 Gulf Coast counties. (Resolution 246-2012).
October 16, 2023: Approval of a grant application to the Gulf Coast Restoration Council for Monroe
County's share of the of the Gulf Consortium Pot 3 RESTORE funds for $12.65 M with no match
pursuant to the approved project for Monroe County in the State Expenditure Plan: Canal Restoration.
These funds will be used for 6 canal restoration projects on Big Pine Key. The Monroe County Board of
County Commissioners retroactively ratified the grant application submitted October 6, 2023, and
provided authorization for the County Administrator to sign all necessary documents in connection with
this grant.
March 25, 2025: Approval of a $12,444,530.00 sub-recipient grant Agreement from the Gulf
Consortium passed through from the federal granting agency of the Gulf Coast Restoration Council, for
Monroe County's share of the Gulf Consortium Pot 3 RESTORE funds, to be used for up to 6 canal
restoration projects on Big Pine Key.
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INSURANCE REQUIRED:
No
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
DOCUMENTATION:
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date: N/A Expiration Date: N/A
Total Dollar Value:
Total Cost to County: None Current Year Portion: TBD
Budgeted: Grant Funded
Source of Funds: RESTORE Grant 250064231.01 CPI: N/A
Indirect Costs:
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts: O&M for canal projects, which will
be funded by assessments
Revenue Producing: No If yes, amount:
Grant:
County Match: None
Insurance Required: No
Additional Details:
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