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Agenda 03/26/2013 Item #16F411 � n 3/26/2013 16. F.4. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recommendation to approve Natural Resources Department Director William Lorenz as second Alternate to represent Collier County at the monthly Consortium meetings held in Gulf coastal counties as part of the RESTORE Act. OBJECTIVE: Collier County joined the Consortium of 23 counties along the Gulf of Mexico impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of April 2010 and eligible for funding through the RESTORE Act, federal legislation passed last summer mandating states and counties be compensated for resulting damages. The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Collier County approved the Consortium Interlocal Agreement at the Jan. 8 meeting. Commission Vice Chair Tom Henning was named Collier County's Consortium Representative and Commissioner Donna Fiala was selected as the Alternate. Due to tight BCC schedules which may conflict with Consortium meetings at locations far from Collier County, a second Alternate is now available to represent the Collier BCC when the designees have calendar conflicts or travel coordination issues. The meetings are held in locations from Monroe County in the Keys to Escambia County in Northwest Florida. It is important to have a Collier representative at every meeting. CONSIDERATION: The Consortium in Florida was legislated in the RESTORE Act to direct funding allocations to 23 Gulf coastal counties affected by the spill. This funding "pot" is a 30 percent distribution, which may be up to $6.3 billion, from the total 80 percent amount to be awarded the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund when the British Petroleum (BP) Clean Water Act civil penalties are determined. These dollars are to be distributed for state proposals for environmental restoration and economic recovery work to all five states — Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas - impacted by the oil spill. The mandated Consortium in Florida is the disbursement vehicle, preserving local authority and home rule rather than tuming all funds over to state government for disbursement. These plans must be approved by the Governor's Office and the federal Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, and will allow states to undertake projects and programs to restore/protect natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and the economy of the Gulf Coast. The specific amount of funding may be significant based on the Clean Water Act penalties when the civil settlement is determined with BP in federal court, which at this time continues in New Orleans. Counties are preparing project lists in advance of receipt of funds. Many unanswered questions are pending settlements of civil penalties and rule making by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Packet Page -1034- 3/26/201316. A FISCAL IlVIPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this executive summary. GROWTH MANAGEMENT E%IPACT: There is no growth management impact associated with this executive summary. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: There are no legal considerations associated with this executive summary. This item requires majority support for approval. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners selects Collier County Natural Resources Department Director William Lorenz as the second Alternate to represent Collier County at monthly Consortium meetings in the event the Representative and first Alternate are unavailable to attend. Prepared by Debbie Wight, Legislative Affairs Coordinator Packet Page -1035- 3/26/2013 16.F.4. COLLIER COUNTY Board of County Commissioners Item Number: 16.16.F.16.F.4. Item Summary: Recommendation to approve Natural Resources Department Director William "Bill" Lorenz as second Alternate to represent Collier County at the monthly Consortium meetings held in Gulf coastal counties as part of the RESTORE Act Meeting Date: 3/26/2013 Prepared By Name: CurranJanet Title: Supervisor - Operations,Communication & Customer R 3/14/2013 9:48:39 AM Submitted by Title: Legislative Affairs Coordinator, n Name: WightDebbie 3/14/2013 9:48:41 AM Approved By Name: SheffieldMichael Title: Manager - Business Operations, CMO Date: 3/14/2013 4:14:45 PM Name: SheffieldMichael Title: Manager- Business Operations, CMO Date: 3/14/2013 4:52:30 PM Packet Page -1036-