Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 66B-2.004 - Policy

The following constitutes the policy of the District regarding the administration of the program:

(1) Financial Assistance Eligibility: Financial assistance, support and cooperation may be provided to eligible governmental agencies for approved projects as follows:

(a) Member counties may be provided financial assistance, support or cooperation in planning, acquisition, development, construction, reconstruction, extension, improvement, operation or the maintenance of public navigation, local and regional anchorage management, beach renourishment, public recreation, inlet management, environmental education, maritime management plans, and boating safety projects directly related to the waterways.

(b) Eligible local governments may also be provided financial assistance, support and cooperation in planning and carrying out public navigation, local and regional anchorage management, beach renourishment, public recreation, inlet management, environmental education, and boating safety projects directly related to the waterways.

(c) Navigation related districts may be provided with financial assistance to pay part of the costs of the planning and acquisition of dredge material management sites if the Board finds that the site is required for the long-range maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway channel. All such sites must meet the development and operational criteria established by the District through a long-range dredge material management plan for that county. Navigation related districts may also be provided with assistance for waterway related access projects, environmental mitigation projects associated with waterway improvement related activities, and inlet management projects if the Board finds that the project benefits public navigation in the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. All navigation related districts shall contribute at least equal matching funds to any District financial assistance provided. Seaports may also be furnished assistance and support in planning and carrying out environmental mitigation projects. All seaport projects shall benefit publicly maintained channels and harbors. Each seaport shall contribute matching funds for funded projects.

(d) Eligible projects shall include the acquisition and development of public boat ramps and launching facilities, including those in man-made, navigable waterways contiguous to "waterways" as defined in Rule 66B-2.003, F.A.C.

(2) Notification: The District will notify by direct mail, email and/or advertised public notice all eligible governmental agencies of the program and the upcoming authorized submission period.

(3) Project Approval: Approval of projects by the District shall be in accordance with these rules.

(4) Project Accessibility: Facilities or programs funded in whole or in part by program funds shall be made available to the general public of all of the member counties on a non-exclusive basis without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex or similar condition. Additionally, facilities funded in whole or in part by program funds, shall not require a paid membership for the general public of all of the member counties as a condition to use the facilities. User or entrance fees may be charged for the use of facilities funded in whole or in part by program funds, however such fees shall be reasonable and shall be the same for the general public of all of the member counties.

(5) Waterway Impacts: All development projects must be designed so as not to impact navigation along the District's waterways through the placement of structures, attendant uses, or the necessity of a boating speed zone for safety purposes. Before applying for boating speed zone designation in District waterways because of a project funded by this program, the sponsor shall first receive approval from the Board. The Board will use the criteria found in Section 327.46(1), F.S., in determining whether to approve the proposed boating speed zone.

(6) Project Maintenance: The project sponsor shall be responsible for the operation, maintenance, and management of the project for the anticipated life of the project and shall be responsible for all expenses required for such purposes. The project shall be maintained in accordance with the standards of maintenance for other similar local facilities and in accordance with applicable health standards. Project facilities and improvements shall be kept reasonably safe and in reasonable repair to prevent undue deterioration and to encourage public use. The project sponsor shall have full legal authority and financial ability to operate and maintain the project facilities.

(7) Education Facilities and Programs: Waterways related environmental education facilities and programs sponsored by the District shall occur at specially designated environmental education facilities located adjacent and contiguous to the waterways. It is the District's intent to consolidate its environmental education efforts in the least number of facilities within an area that will adequately serve the education needs of that area of the District.

(8) Public Information Availability: Public information produced with assistance from this program shall not be copyrighted and shall be provided free of cost, except for the cost of reproduction, to the public.

(9) Third-Party Project Operators: Projects that are being operated by a third party shall have sufficient oversight by the eligible project sponsor as determined by the Board. Such oversight, at a minimum, will include a project liaison that is a staff member of the eligible project sponsor, and oversight of the operating hours and admission fees of the facility by the eligible project sponsor through a legal agreement. All third party projects shall be open to the public in accordance with this rule.

(10) Non-compliance: The District shall terminate a project agreement and demand return of program funds disbursed to the project sponsor for non-compliance with any of the terms of the project agreement or this rule, if such non-compliance calls into question the ability of the applicant to complete the project. Failure of a project sponsor to comply with the provisions of this rule or the project agreement shall result in the District declaring the project sponsor ineligible for further participation in the program until such time as compliance has been met to the satisfaction of the District.

(11) Fees: Any public project eligible for District program funds that charges a fee or will charge a fee must create and maintain an enterprise fund for the public project that shall plan for and retain at all times sufficient funds for the on-going maintenance of the facility during its project life. Accounting records of the previous five years of the public project's enterprise fund will be submitted as part of any subsequent assistance program application to the District.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 66B-2.004

Rulemaking Authority 374.976(2) FS. Law Implemented 374.976(1), (2) FS.

New 12-17-90, Amended 2-3-94, 2-6-97, Formerly 16T-2.004, Amended 5-18-98, 3-31-99, 5-25-00, 3-21-01, 7-30-02, 3-3-04, 4-21-05, 4-1-09, 2-22-10, 3-7-11, 3-7-12, 1-27-14, Amended by Florida Register Volume 41, Number 022, February 3 effective 2/17/2015.

New 12-17-90, Amended 2-3-94, 2-6-97, Formerly 16T-2.004, Amended 5-18-98, 3-31-99, 5-25-00, 3-21-01, 7-30-02, 3-3-04, 4-21-05, 4-1-09, 2-22-10, 3-7-11, 3-7-12, 1-27-14, 2-17-15.