HomeMy WebLinkAboutTDC0716AgendaPackagePlease note – Meetings are recorded.
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Club Med Sandpiper Bay
4500 SE Pine Valley Street
Port St Lucie, FL 34952
12:30pm
PLEASE NOTE LOCATION & TIME OF MEETING
1. Call to Order ....................................................................................................... Commissioner Dzadovsky
2. Roll Call .............................................................................................................................. Tayler Hardison
3. Self-Introductions ............................................................................................... Commissioner Dzadovsky
4. Approval of Minutes from June 8, 2016 ............................................................. Commissioner Dzadovsky
5. Public Comment… .............................................................................. ……… Commissioner Dzadovsky
6. Financial & Web Report ....................................................................................................Charlotte Bireley
a. May 2016 Revenue and P & L Report
b. May 2016 Monthly Expenses vs. Revenue Comp Report
c. June 2016 Website Activity Report
d. June Social Media Activity Report – Tayler Hardison
7. Indian River Lagoon – State of Emergency Update ........................................... Commissioner Dzadovsky
8. Other Business .................................................................................................... Commissioner Dzadovsky
9. Adjournment ....................................................................................................... Commissioner Dzadovsky
The Visitor Study Kick-Off Luncheon will begin at 1:15pm
immediately following the TDC Meeting.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, June 8, 2016 ◊ 12:30 P.M.
MINUTES
Members present: Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky
Vice-Mayor Linda Bartz, City of Port St. Lucie
Marilyn Minix, Road Runner Travel Resort
Terissa Aronson, St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
Commissioner Rufus Alexander, City of Fort Pierce
Michelle MacNichol, Perfect Drive Vacation Rentals
Clive Daem, Dockside Inn
Paul Taglieri, St. Lucie Mets
Members absent: Chris Egan, Vistana’s Beach Club – Sheraton PGA
Staff present: Katherine Barbieri, St. Lucie County Attorney
Charlotte Bireley, St. Lucie County Tourism
Tayler Hardison, St. Lucie County Tourism
Also present: Cathy Gibson, Motorized Kayak Adventures
Billy Gibson, Motorized Kayak Adventures
Laura O’Brien, Port St. Lucie Civic Center
Nicki Valenti, Treasure Coast Sports Commission
Zach Shew, Treasure Coast Sports Commission
Rick Hatcher, Treasure Coast Sports Commission
Buzz Smith, The Inlet
1. CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky called the meeting to order at
12:36 PM.
2. ROLL CALL: Tayler Hardison called roll.
3. GUESTS INTRODUCED THEMSELVES:
Guests introduced themselves.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes from May 11, 2016 were approved.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT:
No public comments.
Tourist Development Council Meeting ◊ May 11, 2016
Page 2 of 3
6. Financial & Web Report
Charlotte Bireley gave the financial report for April 2016. She stated that April revenues
were down 4.75% compared to April of 2015. Year to date, total revenues were up
6.3%. She went over the P&L and reported that the bed tax for April was $57,049, which
was 15% higher than what was budgeted. She also explained that for the month of
April, there were three pay periods, making the Salaries higher than usual. Charlotte
then went over the year to date and there were no questions. She explained that we are
right in line with our revenue and expenses for the month of April and stated that the
amounts do not reflect the fund balance forward.
Charlotte went over the website summary, stating that our page visits, views and
average time spent on the site is up.
Social Media Activity Update
Tayler Hardison gave the social media activity update. She reported there to be an
increase in Facebook likes to 13,706 from 13,585. She also went over the increase in
new followers on Instagram and Twitter. She explained the new key for the social media
terms on the report and there were no questions.
7. 2017 Proposed Budget
Charlotte Bireley first gave an ROI report as requested at the last TDC meeting. She
reviewed the 2015 objectives and goals and also gave the results from the digital and
print advertising done for the year. Following Charlotte’s ROI presentation, Rick
Hatcher of the Treasure Coast Sports Commission (TCSC) gave a brief summary on
total room nights tracked for fiscal year 2015 as well as economic impact.
After announcing that the proposed revenue budget increase was approved from
$550,000 $600,000, Charlotte went over the updated 2017 budget presentation. She
asked where the TDC would like to allocate the extra $50,000 funding. It was
recommended to increase funding to the TCSC as well as to other contract services –
specifically for search engine optimization (SEO) and promotional advertising. The
following was raised for a motion:
• $30,000 to the TCSC
o $25,000 to Grants
o $5,000 to Administration
• $10,000 Promotional Advertising
• $10,000 Other Contract Services
Michelle McNichol made the motion and Terissa Aronson seconded. The motion passed
unanimously.
8. Other Business
Tourist Development Council Meeting ◊ May 11, 2016
Page 3 of 3
Commissioner Dzadovsky passed out an article to the board titled, Port St. Lucie Top
City to Retire.
Terissa and Charlotte went over the results of the Tourism Showcase. They stated that
last year there were about 200 people who attending the event and this year there
was approximately 350 guests.
Terissa went over the Fishing Frenzy event and its success in bring many room nights
to the county.
Buzz Smith from the Inlet announced the building of the Causeway Cove Marina. He
reported that the new marina will bring 42 new boat slips, 4 boat ramps and 16 acres
of trailer parking. He said that this construction should be completed in time for the
SKA Tournament in November this year. Buzz then went over the attendance of the
Inlet and stated that approximately 50% of their guests come from Palm Beach
South. He posed the question to the TDC of how much money is being spent in Fort
Pierce and that a new parking garage on south beach is much needed.
Commissioner Dzadovsky replied in saying that the county has funded capital
projects through it capital grant program to Heathcote Botanical Gardens, the Backus
Museum and the National Navy SEAL Museum and that as soon as there are more
hotels meaning more revenue in Fort Pierce there will be more available funding to
spend in Fort Pierce.
Charlotte Bireley gave an update on the social meet-up that was hosted by St. Lucie
Tourism and Visit Florida the previous weekend.
The meeting concluded with an announcement from Rick Hatcher announcing the new
business development director of the TCSC.
9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 1:37 PM
TDC May 2016 Variance
P & L Report Actual Budget Budget
Bed Tax Revenue $48,445 38,500$ 26%
Carry Forward 32,667$ 32,667$ 0%
Interest 42$ 42$ 0%
Total Revenue 81,154$ 71,209$ 14%
Direct Expenses
Salaries 6,893$ 9,161$ -25%
Benefits 3,508$ 3,570$ -2%
Other Contract Services 9,500$ 5,417$ 75%
Software Support 311$ 2,333$ -87%
Travel 212$ 583$ -64%
Communications 575$ 83$ 590%
Postage 46$ 1,000$ -95%
Printing -$ 2,333$ -100%
Promotional Activities -$ 333$ -100%
Promotional Entertainment 393$ 1,250$ -69%
Office Supplies 32$ 83$ -62%
Dues 1,031$ 333$ 209%
Aid -$ 9,000$ -100%
G & A 5,156$ 5,156$ 0%
Materials Center 111$ 83$ 33%
Promotional Advertising 10,484$ 16,667$ -37%
Tax Collector 1,218$ 1,218$ 0%
Total Direct Expenses 39,469$ 58,605$ -33%
Net Income 41,685$ 51%
TDC Year to Date 2016 YTD as of
5/31/2016 Annual Variance
P & L Report Actuals Budget Budget
Bed Tax Revenue 547,311$ 550,000$ 0%
Carry Forward 261,336$ 392,000$ -33%
Interest 336$ 500$ -33%
Total Revenue 808,983$ 942,500$ -14%
Direct Expenses
Salaries 67,955$ 109,934$ -38%
Benefits 28,418$ 42,834$ -34%
Other Contract Services 12,120$ 65,000$ -81%
Software Support 23,580$ 28,000$ -16%
Travel 2,579$ 7,000$ -63%
Communications 776$ 1,000$ -22%
Postage 7,649$ 12,000$ -36%
Printing 22,994$ 28,000$ -18%
Promotional Activities 3,786$ 4,000$ -5%
Promotional Entertainment 9,684$ 15,000$ -35%
Office Supplies 406$ 1,000$ -59%
Dues 3,939$ 4,000$ -2%
Aid 148,000$ 175,000$ -15%
G & A 41,248$ 61,868$ -33%
Materials Center 317$ 1,000$ -68%
Promotional Advertising 87,724$ 200,000$ -56%
Tax Collector 9,654$ 14,616$ -34%
Total Direct Expenses 470,829$ 770,252$ -39%
Net income 338,154$ 42%
REVENUE VS. EXPENSE COMPARISON REPORT
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A B C D E F G H I J K L
FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016
Revenue/Expenses Revenue/Expenses Revenue/Expenses Revenue/Expenses
Oct 29,907/64,915 Oct 37,747/59,908 Oct 36,505/26,241 Oct 38,190/68,910
Nov 31,030/21,990 Nov 38,322/33,206 Nov 40,217/69,602 Nov 45,677/35,981
Dec 38,317/41,879 Dec 43,340/35,143 Dec 50,417/38,845 Dec 60,421/37,675
Jan 53,040/114,083 Jan 65,220/99,342 Jan 74,046/104,150 Jan 84,832/66,124
Feb 63,715/44,793 Feb 92,615/54,995 Feb 97,234/43,806 Feb 96,839/91,967
Mar 78,681/74,028 Mar 122,457/58,448 Mar 109,221/51,665 Mar 115,858/58,382
Apr 47,873/43,389 Apr 51,043/22,700 Apr 59,760/47,839 Apr 57,049/56,421
May 36,763/39,537 May 39,488/17,578 May 45,070/44,247 May 48,445/39,469
Jun 36,026/42,975 Jun 40,300/38,109 Jun 42,301/45,680 Jun
Jul 37,501/42,929 Jul 46,119/90,391 Jul 46,827/40,112 Jul
Aug 33,897/17,838 Aug 38,691/25,846 Aug 44,255/25,105 Aug
Sep 31,214/34,978 Sep 26,413/31,450 Sep 34,153/46,309 Sep
TOTAL 517,694/583,715 TOTAL 602,981/567,117 TOTAL 680,005/583,614 TOTAL 490,262/398,508
TDC Website Visitor Summary
www.visitstluciefla.com
2014 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Visits 12,183 14,343 14,114 9,642 8,990 12,628 10,378 8,963 7,578 7,459 7,514 10,570 124,362
Pageviews 33,558 37,766 37,652 24,667 22,694 30,011 26,661 22,454 18,808 17,756 20,954 25,658 318,639
Bounce Rate 54%56%56%56%57%60%58%59%59%60%61%61%58%
Avg Time 2:33 2:01 2:03 2:03 1:58 1:43 2:02 1:57 1:58 1:52 1:53 2:01 2.00
New Visits 83%85%83%82%82%84%81%80%82%83%83%84%83%
2015 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Visits 14,865 15,849 18,593 10,851 10,572 18,151 11,410 11,793 10,472 11,492 10,711 11,821 156,580
Pageviews 36,667 37,505 42,836 25,700 24,525 33,831 27,491 26,869 24,112 26,482 25,124 28,690 359,832
Bounce Rate 59%61%64%63%63%73%59%60%57%57%57%56%61%
Avg Time 1:59 1:48 1:41 1:44 1:46 1:17 1:54 1:50 1:52 1:52 1:59 1:56 1:48
New Visits 83%84%86%84%83%85%73%70%65%62%65%65%75%
2016 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Visits 15,433 14,475 15,109 13,008 13,391 18,662 90,078
Pageviews 37,689 35,205 36,253 30,731 31,847 37,874 209,599
Bounce Rate 55%55%57%56%55%64%57%
Avg Time 1:59 1:57 1:47 1:55 2:08 1:29 1:52
New Visits 69%68%68%64%60%68%66%
Social Media Activity
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
Jan-16 Feb-16 Mar-16 16-Apr May-16 Jun-16 Jul-16 Aug-16 Sep-16 Oct-16 Nov-16 Dec-16 Totals
Facebook
Page Likes Total 13,147 13,457 13,585 13,706 13,796 --
Reach 21,575 70,283 42,443 53,155 40,168 227,624
Engagement 13,370 21,571 12,581 9,916 6,433 63,871
Instagram
Posts 22 27 15 13 14 91
Engagement 583 1,701 1,937 557 940 5718
New Followers 252 177 88 93 124 734
Twitter
Tweets 43 49 51 44 60 247
Mentions 31 20 24 38 93 206
New Followers 172 182 169 63 170 683
Impressions 6,583 22,800 16,000 29,000 25,800 100,183
Profile Visits 1,145 2,170 1,664 1,376 2,238 8,593
Reach/Impressions Number of how many people viewed our posts
Enagagement Likes/favorites, comments and/or shares
New Follower A new user that can see all Visit St. Lucie posts on their feed
Tweet A status posted on Twitter via text, photo or video in 140 characters
Mention Someone tagged @VisitStLucie in their own post
Page Likes Someone on Facebook has liked the Visit St. Lucie page
A DECLARATION OF THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY
PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR DECLARING A
STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, the St. Lucie County Public Safety Director has made the following determinations:
1. The Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County has adopted Resolution No. 00-
277 authorizing the County Administrator and the Public Safety Director to exercise certain emergency
powers and authority during a local emergency.
2. The Public Safety Director has determined that a State of Local Emergency exists within
St. Lucie County.
3. Toxic blue-green algae persists and has to spread to waterways in the County, including
our coastal ocean and beaches.
4. The toxic blue-green algae poses a danger to health, life, property and the economic
well-being of St. Lucie County residents.
5. Chapter 252.38 (3), Florida Statutes provides authority for the County to declare a State
of Local Emergency and to waive the procedures and formalities otherwise required by law pertaining
to:
a. Performance of public works and taking whatever action is necessary to ensure
the health, safety and welfare of the community;
b. Entering into contracts;
c. Incurring obligations;
d. Employment of permanent and temporary workers;
e. Utilization of volunteer workers;
f. Rental of equipment;
g. Acquisition and distribution, with or without compensation, of supplies,
materials and facilities;
h. Appropriation and expenditure of public funds.
6. In order to respond to such emergency, upon this declaration, the County Administrator
or her designee is authorized to initiate and take such actions authorized by Resolution No. 00-277 for
and on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners during the term of such local state of emergency.
7. Such declaration shall remain in full force and effect for seven (7) days unless extended
in seven (7) day increments with the concurrence of the Board of County Commissioners or sooner
rescinded by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County or the County Administrator.
6. This Declaration shall become effective immediately upon signing this 6th day of July,
2016 at 8:00 a.m.
_______________________________
Ron Parrish
Public Safety Director
July 5, 2016
The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy
Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy
Department of the Army, Civil Works
108 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-0108
Dear Secretary Darcy:
At our meeting on July 5 the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners discussed the
rapidly deteriorating water conditions and the devastating blue-green algae bloom in the St.
Lucie Estuary, Indian River Lagoon and coastal Atlantic Ocean waters. At the meeting, the Board
authorized a letter to Governor Rick Scott urging him to formally request a declaration of a
federal State of Emergency to address the potential hazardous health, safety and welfare
considerations that exist and are likely to continue. On behalf of St. Lucie County Board of County
Commissioners I invite you to come tour our waterways and witness this devastation firsthand;
the severity of this water crisis is immeasurable.
St. Lucie County Commissioners and citizens are concerned about the impacts associated with
damaging freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary. The Indian River
Lagoon, St. Lucie Estuary and coastal Atlantic Ocean waters have long suffered from altered water
flow patterns and degraded water quality, and the current discharges from the Lake have
contributed to toxic algae blooms throughout our water system. Over the weekend we received
alarming reports that the algae bloom spread into the Atlantic Ocean and onto our beaches. In
order to protect our citizens and visitors from the potentially harmful green tide, we have been
forced to close some of our beaches to direct the community to avoid all contact with the water.
We recognize the extensive coordination among state agencies and the federal government who
took a bold step in issuing the Emergency Order that allowed water to flow south to the northern
portions of Everglades National Park in February 2016. Our local conditions have only worsened
since that Emergency Order expired on May 11, 2016. We ask the Corps to immediately stop all
discharges into St. Lucie County. Further, we implore the Corps to exercise all options to move
water away from the estuaries.
Sincerely,
Kim Johnson
Chairman
/sb
Enc.
C: Honorable Members of the St. Lucie County Legislative Delegation
Honorable Members of the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners
County Administrator
July 5, 2016
The Honorable Governor Rick Scott
Governor Rick Scott
State of Florida, The Capitol
400 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Dear Governor Scott:
On behalf of St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners, I am writing to thank you for
declaring a State of Emergency in Martin and St. Lucie Counties to help us protect the health and
safety of our residents, and save our local economy and ecosystem. In addition, we call on you
to formally request a federal State of Emergency be declared by President Obama to address
potential hazardous health, safety and welfare considerations that exist and are likely to
continue. A copy of a Resolution requesting this and other actions is enclosed with this letter.
St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners and St. Lucie County citizens are concerned
about the impacts associated with damaging freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee to
the St. Lucie Estuary. The Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary have long suffered from
altered water flow patterns and degraded water quality, and the cur rent discharges from the
Lake have contributed to toxic algae blooms throughout our water system. Over the weekend
we received reports that the algae bloom spread to St. Lucie County beaches along the Atlantic
coast. In order to protect our citizens and visitors from the potentially harmful green tide, we
have been forced to close some beaches to direct the community to avoid all contact with the
water.
This has been devastating to our local economy and way of life. Our citizens are demanding swift
action, as we stand beside them. St. Lucie County has requested the Army Corps to immediately
cease releasing water into the Lagoon until the algae bloom conditions improve. The
unprecedented damage and health hazards that our community is experiencing requires
unprecedented actions to provide relief.
On behalf of the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners I invite you to witness this
devastation firsthand. We remain grateful for your support of the greater Everglades ecosystem
and are proud to serve as a partner with the State in ongoing solutions to these most critical
issues.
Sincerely,
Kim Johnson
Chairman
/sb
Enc.
C: Honorable Members of the St. Lucie County Legislative Delegation
Honorable Members of the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners
County Administrator
July 5, 2016
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
At our meeting on July 5 the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners discussed the
rapidly deteriorating water conditions and the devastating blue-green algae bloom in the St.
Lucie Estuary, Indian River Lagoon and coastal Atlantic Ocean waters. At the meeting, t he Board
authorized a letter to Governor Rick Scott urging him to formally request from you a declaration
of a federal State of Emergency to address the potential hazardous health, safety and welfare
considerations that exist and are likely to continue. On behalf of St. Lucie County Board of County
Commissioners I invite you to come tour our waterways and witness this devastation firsthand;
the severity of this water crisis is immeasurable.
St. Lucie County Commissioners and citizens are concerned about the impacts associated with
damaging freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary. The Indian River
Lagoon, St. Lucie Estuary and coastal Atlantic Ocean waters have long suffered from altered water
flow patterns and degraded water quality, and the current discharges from the Lake have
contributed to toxic algae blooms throughout our water system. Over the weekend we received
alarming reports that the algae bloom spread into the Atlantic Ocean and onto our beaches. In
order to protect our citizens and visitors from the potentially harmful green tide, we have been
forced to close some of our beaches to direct the community to avoid all contact with the water.
Businesses in our community have cancelled or cut their operations due to the toxic water
conditions, forcing many to close after experiencing this on an almost annual basis. The
environment, its natural wonders, and plant and animal life are being destroyed and are on the
verge of total collapse.
Due to the economic impact of the release, St. Lucie County requests emergency federal
assistance to provide immediate relief and to advance overall Everglades restoration including:
1. Require the Interior Department, Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies to find
additional land to store water north and south of Lake Okeechobee and ultimately
restore the natural southward flow of the Everglades;
2. Emergency funding for Herbert Hoover Dike repairs;
3. Emergency Presidential Disaster Declaration – accompanied by assistance from FEMA
and USDA, in addition to the recent announcement of emergency SBA loans;
4. Estuary restoration funding;
5. Everglades restoration funding and fast tracking high impact Everglades projects in
both construction and planning phases;
6. Acceleration of the existing and funded projects identified in the Integrated Delivery
Schedule (IDS);
7. Expansion of proven water farm projects;
8. Creation of a septic to sewer infrastructure assistan ce program to partner with state
and local governments and homeowners.
We recognize the extensive coordination among state agencies and the federal government who
took a bold step in issuing the Emergency Order that allowed water to flow south to the northern
portions of Everglades National Park in February 2016. Our local conditions have only worsened
since that Emergency Order expired on May 11, 2016 . We ask you again today to consider all
options that are available to you to help our community before we see the complete collapse of
our ecosystem and economy. Further, we implore that federal government exercise all options
to move water away from the estuaries.
We remain grateful for your support of the greater Everglades ecosystem and are proud to serve
alongside our federal partners in ongoing solutions to these most critical issues.
Sincerely,
Kim Johnson
Chairman
/sb
Enc.
C: Honorable Members of the St. Lucie County Legislative Delegation
Honorable Members of the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners
County Administrator
1
RESOLUTION NO. 16-XXX
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING EMERGENCY ACTION REGARDING
NUTRIENT OVERENRICHMENT IN AND AROUND THE INDIAN RIVER
LAGOON AND OTHER AFFECTED WATER BODIES, LAGOONS AND
ESTUARIES, RESULTING IN TOXIC ALGAL BLOOMS THAT ENDANGER
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, FISH AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS, AND
SENSITIVE SEAGRASS AND WETLANDS AREAS CAUSING SUBSTANT IAL
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS THE RESPONSE TO WHICH
IS BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
SUCH THAT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.
WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon is North America’s more diverse estuary, with more than 2100
species of plants and 2200 animals, including 35 species listed as threatened or endangered; and
WHEREAS, over the course of Florida’s history, human activity has caused the runoff of nutrients
into the Indian River Lagoon and other affected watersheds from a number of sources; and
WHEREAS, Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake in Florida and the second largest
freshwater lake contained entirely within the contiguous 48 states; and
WHEREAS, in order to prevent a breach in Lake Okeechobee’s Herbert Hoover Dike, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers releases nutrient-rich freshwater east and west through the St. Lucie River and the
Caloosahatchee River; and
WHEREAS, due to historic high rainfall during the dry season, the Army Corps of Engineers has
been discharging nutrient-rich water into the St. Lucie River at a rate of hundreds of millions of gallons
every day; and
WHEREAS, this nutrient-rich discharge flows into the St. Lucie Estuary, the Indian River Lagoon and
other affected water bodies, estuaries, wetlands, tidal waters and lagoons including the Lake Worth
Lagoon, contributing to toxic algal blooms which adversely affect public health and safety, and marine plant
and animal life; and
WHEREAS, these conditions have also caused the cessation and/or significant reduction of
recreational activities and local business operations, impacting Florida’s economy and job market; and
WHEREAS, because the Atlantic Hurricane Season officially began on June 1, 2016, and will end on
November 30, 2016, the likelihood of these discharges increases dramatically; and
WHEREAS, past and current efforts to address these impacts have been insufficient, resulting in
the continuing degradation of the ecosystem and an immediate crisis; and
WHEREAS, success in reversing this devastating trend will require the support and cooperation of
the state and federal government; and
2
WHEREAS, Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42
U.S.C. State Statute 5121-5191, authorizes the Governor to request a federal declaration of emergency by
the President based upon a finding that the situation is of such severity and magnitude that effective
response is beyond the capabilities of State and local governments; and
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County,
Florida respectfully request that Governor Scott:
1. Request an immediate Emergency Disaster Declaration from the President on the affected
water bodies – to be accompanied by assistance from FEMA and USDA, in addition to the
announcement of emergency SBA loans.
2. Request an immediate review of the current Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS)
which was last revised in 2008.
3. Request a 10-day temporary suspension of the releases from Lake Okeechobee to allow
estuaries to flush with the natural flow of salt water. The suspension of releases to the St.
Lucie River eastward should not be offset by releases to the Caloosahatchee River westward,
although any temporary suspension would be subject to exigent flood safety measures
required before and during active storm events.
4. Request emergency funding to accelerate Herbert Hoover Dike repairs.
5. Request Everglades restoration funding and the fast tracking of high impact Everglades
projects in both construction and planning phases.
6. Support use of Amendment 1 funds for design of 507,000 acre-feet of additional storage,
treatment, and conveyance south of Lake Okeechobee, and for the associated purchase of
identified land for said storage to redirect water that would otherwise be discharged into the
estuaries, away from the estuaries, as recommended in the 2015 Independent Technical
Review by the University of Florida Water Caloosahatchee Estuaries and Move More Water
from Lake Okeechobee to the Southern Everglades.
7. Support completion of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County,
Florida, that:
After a motion and second, the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Chairman Kim Johnson XXX
Vice Chairman Chris Dzadovsky XXX
Commissioner Tod Mowery XXX
Commissioner Paula A. Lewis XXX
Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson XXX
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this ______ day of ____________________, 2016.
3
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
_________________________ BY: ___________________________
Deputy Clerk Chairman
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND
CORRECTNESS:
BY: ___________________________
County Attorney