Florida Administrative Code › 66 - NAVIGATION DISTRICTS › 66B - Florida Inland Navigation District › Chapter 66B-2 - WATERWAYS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM › Section 66B-2.005 - Funds Allocation

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
The Board will allocate funding for this program based upon the District's overall goals, management policies, fiscal responsibilities and operational needs for the upcoming year. Funding allocations to navigation related districts, member counties and local governments shall be based upon the proportional share of the District's ad valorem tax collections from each county. If funds are determined to be available for the program, the District will notify potential eligible governmental agencies of the availability of program funding. Applications will be reviewed by the Board utilizing District Forms No. 91-25 and 91-25 (A) through (F) Waterways Assistance Program Application and Evaluation Worksheet (effective date 1/2014), hereby incorporated by reference and available at:
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-03568
, and available from the District office or by download from the District's webpage at:
www.aicw.org
.
(1) Funding Assistance Availability: In as much as the District has other fiscal responsibilities and operational needs, financial assistance to eligible government agencies shall not exceed an amount equal to eighty (80) percent of the proportional share of the District's ad valorem tax collections from each county in which such agencies are located. The District may make an exception to this funding limitation, if funds are determined to be available based upon the District's overall goals, management policies, fiscal responsibilities and operational needs, or in counties that are recovering from a state of emergency declared under Chapter 252, F.S.
(2) Project Funding Ratio: All financial assistance and support to eligible governmental agencies shall require, at a minimum, equal matching funds from the project sponsor, with the exception of public navigation projects that meet the provisions of subsection   66B-2.005(6), F.A.C., land acquisition projects in accordance with subsection   66B-2.005(7), and Rule   66B-2.008, F.A.C., small-scale spoil island restoration and enhancement projects that meet the provisions of Rule   66B-2.014, F.A.C., derelict vessel projects consistent with Rule 66B-2.0015, F.A.C., and Waterway Cleanup Projects approved under Rule 66B-2.0016, F.A.C., and projects approved in counties recovering from a state of emergency. Applicant's in-house costs are limited pursuant to paragraph   66B-2.008(1)(c), F.A.C. All financial assistance to seaports shall require equal matching funds. The District shall contribute no more than fifty percent (50%) of the local share of the cost of an inlet management or beach renourishment project. The District shall not contribute funding to both the state and local shares of an inlet management or beach renourishment project.
(3) Pre-agreement Expenses: The project sponsor shall not commence work on an approved project element prior to the execution of the project agreement unless authorized by the Board during the review and funding approval process. Board authorization of pre-agreement expenses will be given for the commencement of work prior to the execution of a project agreement if the Board determines that there is a benefit to the District, its waterways or its constituents. All project costs must be incurred and work performed within the project period as stipulated in the project agreement unless pre-agreement costs are approved by the Board. Pre-agreement expenses will be approved if they are consistent with the provisions of Rule   66B-2.008, F.A.C., and occur within the fiscal year of the grant application submission (October 1st to September 30th). Pre-agreement expenses, except for projects approved by the Board as multi-year projects, will be limited to fifty (50) percent of the project's total cost and if the expenses are eligible project expenses in accordance with this rule. Only one-half (1/2) or less of the approved pre-agreement expenses will be eligible for reimbursement funding from the District, except for projects approved by the Board as multi-year projects. The Board shall consider a waiver of the limitation on pre-agreement expenses for Small-Scale Derelict Vessel grants and land acquisition projects when the applicant demonstrates a direct need and benefit and the project is in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 66B-2, F.A.C.
(4) Multi-Year Funding: The construction phase of projects that are large scale, involve multiple phases, have a construction time line of one year or longer, or are requesting a significant amount of assistance funding in relation to the total assistance available for the county where the project is located, will be reviewed and approved by the District Board for a multiple year period subject to budgeting and allocation pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 200, F.S. The determination by the Board to provide assistance funding on a multi-year basis can be made at any time during the application review process. All approved multi-year projects are limited to a maximum of two (2) additional funding requests.
(5) Inlet Management and Beach Renourishment: Projects and project elements in the categories of inlet management and beach renourishment shall be subject to the following provisions. The District shall contribute no more than fifty percent of the local share of the cost of the project. The District shall not contribute funding to both the state and local shares of an inlet management or beach renourishment project. Funding for the construction phase of an inlet management or beach renourishment project may be approved by the District Board for a multiple year period subject to budgeting and allocation pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 200, F.S. Additionally the following provisions shall be met for inlet management or beach renourishment projects:
(a) Inlet Management: Inlet management projects shall benefit public navigation within the District and shall be consistent with Department of Environmental Protection approved inlet management plans and the statewide beach management plan pursuant to Section   161.161, F.S. Prior to funding any inlet management project, the Board shall make a finding that the project is a benefit to public navigation in the District. Inlet management projects that are determined to be consistent with Department of Environmental Protection approved inlet management plans are declared to be a benefit to public navigation.
(b) Beach Renourishment: All projects in this category shall be consistent with the statewide beach management plan. Beach renourishment projects shall only include those beaches that have been adversely impacted by navigation inlets, navigation structures, navigation dredging, or a navigation project. Prior to funding any beach renourishment project, the Board shall make a finding that the beaches to be nourished have been adversely impacted by navigation inlets, navigation structures, navigation dredging or a navigation project. The determination of beach areas that are adversely impacted by navigation for the purposes of this program shall be made by Department of Environmental Protection approved inlet management plans. If state funding is not provided for a beach project, public access with adequate parking must be available in accordance with Chapter 161, F.S.