Opinion ID: 1828490
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Statutes Related to the Contract with DEP

Text: The Legislature expressly granted DEP contracting authority in section 258.007(3), Florida Statutes (2000), which authorizes DEP through its Division of Recreation and Parks to grant privileges, leases, concessions, and permits for the use of land for the accommodation of visitors in the various parks, monuments, and memorials. [1] This statute was in effect before enactment of section 11.066 and has remained in effect ever since. Section 258.007(3) is an explicit authorization by general law for DEP to enter into express, written concessions contracts with private parties and it was under this legislative authority that DEP contracted with ContractPoint in this case. Moreover, the Legislature expressly encouraged and authorized DEP to contract with private entities for the specific type of project contemplated in the concessions contract between DEP and ContractPoint. Subsection (3)(a) of section 258.015, Florida Statutes (2000), enacted prior to the execution of the contract in this case, provides: (3) PARTNERSHIPS IN PARKS.  (a) The Legislature recognizes that many of the parks in the state park system need a variety of facilities to enhance their use and potential. Such facilities include, but are not limited to, improved access, camping areas, picnicking shelters, park management offices and facilities, and environmental education facilities. The need for such facilities has exceeded the ability of the state to provide such facilities in a timely manner with moneys available. The Legislature finds it to be in the public interest to provide incentives for partnerships with private organizations with the intent of producing additional revenue to help enhance the use and potential of the state park system. The Legislature also appropriated $9.5 million to DEP in fiscal year 2000/2001, which DEP intended to use in its cabins initiative, although under the Concession Agreement, the burden of financing and construction of cabins in eight state parks was placed on ContractPoint. DEP's contract with ContractPoint appears to fall squarely within the purview of the Partnerships in Parks program. Under the terms of the contract, DEP would increase the use and potential of the state park system, while receiving fifteen percent of gross sales for the new facilities and without increasing the burden on the State to provide the facilities  a goal specifically encouraged by section 258.015. Under the contract, ContractPoint would receive profit incentives to build and operate the cabins and concessions. In fact, it was primarily ContractPoint's expenditures made toward performing under this contract that formed the basis of the final judgment in this case. We must now answer the question posed by the First District Court of Appeal and decide whether section 11.066 was intended to apply to breach of contract judgments and thus prohibits DEP from paying the judgment obtained by ContractPoint in this case.