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Agenda 12/02/2008 Item #16D 9 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Agenda Item No. 16D9 December 2, 2008 Page 1 of 6 Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve the submittal of the Aquatic Pond Renovation and Education Development Project to the Big Cypress Basin South Florida Water Management District for a grant to continue and expand water conservation education through the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program in the amount of $56,000.00 OBJECTIVE: To receive approval from the Board of County Commissioners to submit an Aquatic Pond Renovation and Education Development Project grant application to the South Florida Water Management District to continue and expand water conservation education in Collier County, CONSIDERATIONS: The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) Program is a resource conservation outreach education program for homeowners and is administered through the University of Florida and Collier County University Extension in partnership with government agencies and stakeholders such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Florida Sea Grant, local water management districts, and concerned citizens. The goal of the FYN Program is reduction and prevention of non-point source pollution and resource conservation in an effort to protect Florida's unique environment. Follow-up surveys of educational programs indicate significant reductions in water use and cost for five individual homeowners and three Home Owner Associations during the past four months, It is expected that continued and expanded education, provided through Florida Yards & Neighborhood's and the Aquatic Pond Renovation and Education Development Project, will result in further conservation of water used in the home landscape and increased savings for homeowners, ,'- Grant funds if awarded will be used to renovate existing retention pond and develop educational materials to support future water conservation programs. FISCAL IMPACT: The total project cost is expected to be $135,500. The Collier County University of Florida Extension Services is requesting $56,000 in grant funds. The remaining funds are available through County Wide Capital Projects Fund 301 (WBS 501131), There is no local financial or in-kind match required. A budget amendment will be processed for the grant funds at the time the Board of County Commissioners considers acceptance of the grant award. GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: The Aquatic Pond Renovation and Education Development Project supports Strategic Focus Goal I, Neighborhood Preservation and Enhancement A 1 and B3. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney's Office and is legally sufficient for Board action. - CMG RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County CommissiDners approves the submittal of the Aquatic Pond Renovation and Education Development Project to the Big Cypress Basin South Florida Water Management District for a grant to continue and expand water conservation education through the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program in the amount of $56,000,00. ~- PREPARED BY: Cathleen Feser, Urban Horticulture Extension Educator, Collier County University of Florida Extension Services, Page 1 of I Agenda Item No. 16D9 December 2. 2008 Page 2 of 6 COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Item Number: Item Summary: 16D9 Meeting Date: Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners approve the submittal of the Aquatic Pond Renovation and Education Development Project to the Big Cypress Basin South Florida Water Management District for a grant to continue and expand water conservation education through the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program in the amount of $56.000 00. 12/212008 9:0000 AM Prepared By Linda Hetrick Customer Service Specialist Date Public Services University Extension Services 11/5/200812;23:35 PM Approved By Colleen Greene Assistant County Attomer Date County Attorney County Attorney Office 11/5/20085;00 PM Approved By Robert Halman Director Date Public Services University Extension Services 11/6/20081 ;24 PM Approved By Marlene J. Foard Grants Coordinator Date Administrative Services Administrative Services Admin. 11/13/20088;53 AM Approved By Marla Ramsey Public Services Administrator Date Public Services Public Services Admin. 11/18/200811 :46 AM Approved By OMS Coordinator OMS Coordinator Date County Manager's Office Office of Management & Budget 11/18/20082;07 PM Approved By Susan Usher Senior ManagemenUBudget Analyst Date County Manager's Office Office of Management & Budget 11/19/20083:46 PM Approved By Leo E. Ochs, Jr. Board of County Commissioners Deputy County Manager Date County Manager's Office 11/20/20083;07 PM file:l/C:\A"enchTe,t\Fxnnrt\ 117-necemher%?O? %?()?()()R\ 1 Ii %?OrONSFNT%?()AGFN 11/)';/)()OR UF I FLoRiDA I. I~:AS LdellS;OIl Cnlllcr Countv Co~r Count. y ~ A "ublic Services Hl"p.llrtmcnl Agenda Item No. 16D9 December 2, 2008 Page 3 of 6 Horticulture \'o/ur;"f1_'_ /or '{trilf!" 1.1/<' ]4700 Immokalee Rd., Naples, FL 34120 Ph,239.353-4244 Fax: 239-353-7127 October 29, 2008 Mr. Clarence Tears, Jr. Director, Big Cypress Basin South Florida Water Management District 2640 Golden Gate Parkway, Suite 205 Naples, Florida 34105 RE: Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Funding: 2009 Grant Request The Collier County University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Science (UF/IF AS) Extension respectfully submits the enclosed application requesting funding for the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) Program in Collier County beginning January 1,2009 and ending December 31, 20 10. Since the beginning of the year, the FYN program in Collier County has increased its educational efforts on water conservation in the landscape for area residents. Our efforts have resulted in very positive feedback from homeowners who have reduced water use in the landscape, and consequently lowered their monthly water bill by 47-53%, representing a significant savings. The FYN program seeks to continue and expand its educational efforts and respectfully requests your consideration of the attached proposal for funding assistance. We look forward to working with the Big Cypress Basin to help meet its mission and goals of conserving our water resources and improving the quality of our natural waters, Sincerely, Robert Halman County Extension Director Cathleen Feser Urban Horticulture Educator Agenda Item No. 16D9 December 2, 2008 Page 4 of 6 Title: Aquatic Pond Renovation and Education Development Project P.I. Robert D. Halman, Director and Agricultural Agent, Collier County UF/IF AS Collaborators: Cathleen Feser, Urban Horticulture Extension Agent, Collier County Bryan Fluech, Sea Grant Extension Agent, Collier County Doug Caldwell, Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent, Collier County Representative, Collier County Storm Water Department Representative, Natural Resources Department Representative, Big Cypress Basin, South Florida Water Management District Tabitha Stadler, Coastal Training Coordinator, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Preserve Project Summary The proposed project is a continuation of the FYN program implemented by the UFIIFAS Extension as funded through the 2005 funding request from the Big Cypress Basin South Florida Water Management District. The FYN Program addresses care, maintenance and proper landscape practices as well as adaptation and use of Best Management Practices (BMPs). A major educational outreach component of the FYN Program will be increased emphasis on water conservation and storm water retention pond management, including demonstration of appropriate plant selection for naturally fluctuating pond water levels. The project will illustrate the curtailment of invasive exotic plants and utilization of native aquatic vegetation and will highlight the function and importance of storm water retention ponds, which also serve as natural nutrient buffers from surface water runoff. The target audiences include homeowners, homeowner associations, landscape maintenance companies, property management companies, golf course superintendents, and school-aged youth. Need for Project Many Florida residents share misconceptions about proper landscape care. Faced with Florida's diverse and often unfamiliar conditions, well meaning individuals often waste water, fertilizers, pesticides and energy through inappropriate landscape designs and improper landscape practices. These existing practices can contribute to the degradation of the environment through storm water runoff, leaching and misuse of resources, The overall goal of the FYN program is to educate residents and the landscaping business industry on how to create and maintain attractive and sustainable landscapes in Florida. Our specific goals focus on resident education to: 1), Incorporate environmental considerations into their landscape planning, design and management, and 2) Adopt landscape maintenance practices that minimize negative environmental impacts, particularly those affecting our waterways, and conserve natural resources, Implementation Strategies The FYN program in Collier County addresses the aforementioned goals by establishing and promoting programs to provide sound horticultural guidelines for Florida-friendly landscape design and maintenance. The FYN programs encourage residents and other stakeholders to use the right plant in the right place, water efliciently. mulch, recycle yard waste, fertilize only when necessary, use pesticides responsibly, provide food, shelter and water for wildlife, protect ground water and surface water bodies, minimize storm water runoff, and improve water quality, The Agenda Item No. 16D9 December 2, 2008 FYN program will proactively address improvement of water quality through increased pu1:il'AAe 5 of 6 education concerning maintenance of storm water retention ponds, The proposed project will be implemented in phases to allow homeowners and homeowner associations to participate, Each phase will address homeowner concerns about pond management, including exotic vegetation removal, creation of buffer zones, and sustainable management. Evaluation of Short Term and Long Term Benefits and Basin Mission Goals Benefits to the residents of Collier County include: I), Awareness of the importance of water and natural resource conservation; 2). Decreased potential of storm water runoff and groundwater pollution by fertilizer and pesticide use in and around storm water retention ponds 3), Decreased long term management/maintenance costs through creation of healthier, more sustainable landscapes, particularly landscapes in the immediate vicinity of natural or man-made water bodies. Proposed Project Plan The Collier County UFIIFAS Extension Urban Horticulture Agent will be responsible for management of the program, and the FYN educator will be provided to the project through county contractual services, Technical assistance will be provided by the faculty and staff expertise through the University of Florida. Administration of the program will be though the Collier County UF/IF AS Extension office. The attached budget illustrates the total request amount for Big Cypress Basin's support for the program to be $56,000 with contributions of in- kind and state FYN program support from Collier County UF/IF AS Extension and University of Florida IF AS, The FYN program will utilize the FYN educator to develop printed outreach materials, conduct outreach seminars and workshops, provide educational exhibits and displays and draw upon the expertise of the Collier County Certified Master Gardener program for assistance. The program benefits, establishment, and maintenance of wetland areas will be incorporated into the Master Gardener (MG) curricula, and participants in the program will be trained to assist in providing tours for school groups and the general public. Dclivcrablcs . Identification of invasive plants and methods fur non-disruptive removal . Identification of plants suitable for landscaping around bodies of water and wetlands · Development of age-appropriate literature and workshops for soil, water, and pH testing . Development of basic and advanced self-guided tour literature . Provide opportunities for multi-discipline research and academic field trips . 1nformation dissemination through multi-media vcnues including brochures, newspapers, and horticulture and ecology publications . On-site assessments with pre- and post implantation surveys Accoun tabiIity Accountability will include quarterly activity reports and program updates highlighting FYN's: . Development of working relationships with various agencies · Number of participants in FYN outreach education programs and activities . V olumeer participation rates Agenda Item No. 16D9 December 2, 2008 . Participation in public awareness and educational efforts (fairs, special events, exhillItllJe 6 of 6 etc.) . Post-education follow-up surveys to measure changes in public attitude and action over time Project Timeline: Phase I: January 2009 - March 2009 . Project committee meeting: Determination of property lines . Overall design and identification of appropriate plants Phase II: April 2009 - September 2009 . Planning for educational workshops . Removal of exotic vegetation Phase III: October 2009 - December 2009 . Irrigation planning . Installation of plant material Phase IV: January 2010- . Implementation of education programs . Development and publication of educational materials . Incorporation of pond management component to current MG and FYN curricula . Workshop sessions Budget Big Cypress Basin Collier County UF/IFAS and South Florida Water University of Florida Management District Contribution Education Development/Delivery $ 55,000 Travel 1,000 Exotic Vegetation Removal $ 25,000 Equipment Printing, Postage and Supplies 4,000 Clerical Support 10,000 Volunteer Support (l6.501hr) 16,500 (In-Kind) CC UF/IF AS Extension Support 12.000 State FYN Support 12,000 Total Cost: $ 56,000 $79,500