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Agenda 04/13/2021 Item #16A22 (Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact MOU)04/13/2021 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recommendation to approve a membership in the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact (Compact), designate a Collier County representative for Compact governance, and authorize the Chairman to sign the Compact Memorandum of Understanding. OBJECTIVE: Approval of Collier County membership in the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact and execution of the Compact Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). CONSIDERATIONS: During Staff and Commission General Communications at the March 23, 2021 Board meeting, the Board directed the County Manager, or his designee, to bring the Compact MOU back for consideration. On October 23, 2018, Dr. Michael Savarese from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) provided a presentation to the Board (Item 11.D) outlining the concept of forming the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact. The formation of a regional compact is consistent with Board direction provided at the October 11, 2016 meeting (Item 11.C) to continue partnership conversations with neighboring communities and governmental agencies. On June 25, 2019, the Board was provided an additional update on the status of the Compact formation and the associated MOU (Item 5.A). Representatives from the three counties, ten municipal governments, and one erosion prevention district convened to compose and finalize the MOU. The Compact is proposed to be governed by one voting member from each of the member counties, municipalities, and erosion prevention district. The Compact will seek to leverage resources and find consistent regional approaches to evaluate, mitigate and adapt to potential risks of long -term weather variability such as sea level rise, changing rainfall patterns, and increased storminess. Member entities retain their autonomy, have no financial commitment, and can leave the Compact at any time. The MOU details the intent and structure of the Compact. To date, the following jurisdictions have ratified the Compact MOU: Charlotte County, Lee County, City of Naples, City of Sanibel, City of Bonita Springs, Town of Fort Myers Beach, Village of Estero, City of Punta Gorda, City of Marco Island, City of Cape Coral, City of Everglades City, and the Captiva Erosion Prevention District. Similar to the actions taken by the other member jurisdictions, staff recommends that the current Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, Commissioner Penny Taylor, is named the voting member of the Compact for Collier County. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no growth management impact associated with this Executive Summary. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County attorney, is approved as to form and legality, and requires majority vote for approval. 16.A.22 Packet Pg. 784 04/13/2021 RECOMMENDATION: To approve membership in the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact, designate Commissioner Penny Taylor as the Collier County representative for Compact governance, and authorize the Chairman to sign the Compact Memorandum of Understanding. Prepared by: Amy Patterson, Director, Capital Project Planning, Impact Fees, and Program Management Division, GMD ATTACHMENT(S) 1. SWFL Compact MOU (DOCX) 16.A.22 Packet Pg. 785 04/13/2021 COLLIER COUNTY Board of County Commissioners Item Number: 16.A.22 Doc ID: 15536 Item Summary: Recommendation to approve a membership in the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact (Compact), designate a Collier County representative for Compact governance, and authorize the Chairman to sign the Compact Memorandum of Understanding. Meeting Date: 04/13/2021 Prepared by: Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager – County Manager's Office Name: MaryJo Brock 04/07/2021 11:50 AM Submitted by: Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager – County Manager's Office Name: MaryJo Brock 04/07/2021 11:50 AM Approved By: Review: County Attorney's Office MaryJo Brock Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Skipped 04/07/2021 11:49 AM Office of Management and Budget MaryJo Brock Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Skipped 04/07/2021 11:49 AM County Manager's Office Dan Rodriguez Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 04/07/2021 1:18 PM Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 04/13/2021 9:00 AM 16.A.22 Packet Pg. 786 1 Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact Memorandum of Understanding For Review and Ratification Draft Date: June 23, 2020 WHEREAS, the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact (hereinafter, the Compact) has been formed to develop a regionally consistent approach to the impacts of climate change and to advance local and regional responses to and preparations for economic and community disruption projected to result from the impacts of climate change; and WHEREAS, the Counties of Charlotte, Lee, and Collier and the municipalities in these counties (hereinafter, the Compact Members) form a unique and extraordinary area, sharing a sense of community, economy, and critically important environmental resources; and WHEREAS, the Southwest Florida region has some of Florida's most remarkable beaches, rivers, estuaries, and unique ecosystems which are closely coupled to the region's history and cultural heritage; and WHEREAS, the Southwest Florida region has approximately 1.26 million permanent residents which represents approximately 6.1% of Florida's population, and is projected to exceed 1.7 million residents by 2040; and WHEREAS, tourism is of critical importance to the Southwest Florida region with approximately 7.5M visitors to our 3 counties in 2019 and is heavily dependent on its unique natural resources to promote and sustain that tourism; and WHEREAS, the Southwest Florida region is especially vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate, including: sea-level rise, rainfall, heat events, wildfires, droughts, flooding, and storms, which threaten community priorities, human well-being, and natural resources; and WHEREAS, rising sea levels, intense rainfall, rising water temperatures, and other climatic stressors will compromise crucial drainage infrastructure and water quality (e.g., saltwater intrusion); and WHEREAS, extreme weather events can impact the lives of residents, damage property, and disrupt businesses; and WHEREAS, natural areas including forests, beaches with dunes, wetlands, mangroves, and oyster reefs can provide valuable flood risk reduction and water quality benefits and may be compromised by changing climate conditions; and WHEREAS, planning for and implementation of activities to reduce the Southwest Florida region's vulnerability to a changing climate is among the most consequential actions the Southwest Florida region could pursue; and WHEREAS, a regionally consistent message communicated through a coordinated outreach program to citizens of, and visitors to, the Southwest Florida region is critically important to ensuring thorough understanding of the issues facing the region; and WHEREAS, the Compact Members are committed to being resilient to a changing climate, and will consider adaptation and risk reduction strategies intended to ensure public safety and safeguard infrastructure, 16.A.22.a Packet Pg. 787 Attachment: SWFL Compact MOU (15536 : SWF Regional Resiliency Compact) 2 property, cultural and environmental assets, and basic quality of life for current residents and future generations; and WHEREAS, measures to mitigate hazard risks provide a significant return on investment because resilient communities and regions support a thriving economy and create opportunities to attract new businesses and economic investments; and WHEREAS, proactively preparing for a changing climate will be less costly and enhance the major sectors of the regional economy, maintaining and growing manufacturing, health care, tourism, agriculture, and other economic drivers; and WHEREAS, many of the activities undertaken to enhance resiliency to a changing climate will be concurrent and supportive of existing local efforts, such as addressing aging infrastructure, emergency management, and public health; and WHEREAS, local governments play a critical role in fostering social equity in the face of climate-related challenges, including the potential for community displacement; and WHEREAS, while counties and cities in Southwest Florida have independently identified and undertaken activities to address vulnerabilities, they recognize the value of a collaborative commitment to build resiliency in the region; and WHEREAS, the Compact Members have joined in formation of the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact to coordinate their efforts and enhance their abilities to prepare, adapt, and mitigate for the effects of climate change in their individual communities and throughout the entire Southwest Florida region. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF THE COMPACT MEMBERS THAT: SECTION 1. Findings - The findings set forth above are adopted and set forth as the reasons and statement of purpose for the formation of the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact. SECTION 2. Regional Cooperation - The Compact Members shall work together to maximize their efforts to adapt to and work to mitigate the effects of climate change by: identifying vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change in their communities; identifying common vulnerability assessment methodologies; planning for adaptation and mitigation actions that will enhance the resiliency of their communities; learning from each other and their prior efforts and planning documents; leveraging their resources; and pursuing public-private partnerships. SECTION 3 Regional Resiliency Action Plan - The Compact Members shall develop a Regional Resiliency Action Plan which shall include strategies for coordinated regional preparation for and adaption to a rapidly changing global environment. SECTION 4. Science-based Decisions - The Compact Members will base their strategies and actions on sound science and technical data and shall work together to identify experts for guidance and use recognized and consistent sea-level rise projections to assess vulnerability and inform planning efforts. SECTION 5. Legislative Strategy - The Compact Members shall develop a legislative strategy which 16.A.22.a Packet Pg. 788 Attachment: SWFL Compact MOU (15536 : SWF Regional Resiliency Compact) 3 recognizes the region-specific vulnerabilities of Southwest Florida to the impacts of climate change and includes recommendations for the allocation of state and federal resources. SECTION 6. Community Involvement - Recognizing the importance of involvement in these regional, cooperative efforts by all members of the community, the Compact Members shall engage and involve local businesses, organizations, associations, and individuals in developing the Compact’s plans, policies and recommendations. Additionally, the Compact membership may grow, with private and public organizations joining as best seen fit by the existing members. SECTION 7. Education and Outreach - It is critical that the Southwest Florida region present a cohesive and consistent message to avoid ambiguity across jurisdictional lines. Therefore, the Compact Members will develop a Regional Resiliency Education and Outreach strategy to assist the Compact Members in communicating efforts to their citizens. SECTION 8. Intent - The Compact Members each join the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact as an expression of their intent and commitment to work together on a regional level to identify and address the effects of climate change. SECTION 9. Funding – The compact members do not hereby commit any financial resources to the operation of the compact and shall seek alternative funding sources through grants, philanthropic funding and other means to fund the operation of the compact. SECTION 10. Governance – The compact shall be governed by a leadership committee consisting of one member appointed by each compact member. This member may be staff or an elected official of the jurisdiction they are representing. Each compact member shall have one vote on the actions of the compact and all actions shall require a majority vote to progress. SECTION 11. Autonomy – Nothing in this compact will prevent any compact member from taking actions to increase their own resiliency nor shall this compact take any power or authority away from the individual compact members. SECTION 12. Separation from the Compact – Any compact member may leave the compact at any time by informing the other compact members in writing of their intent to leave the compact. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the party hereunder has executed this instrument for the purposes herein on this ____ day of __________ 2021. 16.A.22.a Packet Pg. 789 Attachment: SWFL Compact MOU (15536 : SWF Regional Resiliency Compact) 4 ATTEST BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Crystal K. Kinzel, Clerk OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA By: ______________________________ By: ______________________________ , Deputy Clerk Penny Taylor., CHAIRMAN Approved as to form and legal sufficiency: _______________________________ Jeffrey A. Klatzkow County Attorney 16.A.22.a Packet Pg. 790 Attachment: SWFL Compact MOU (15536 : SWF Regional Resiliency Compact)