SUBJECT
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Heartland Headwaters Act Member Agreements (Action Item)
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DESCRIPTION
The Florida Legislature passed HB 573, known as the Heartland Headwaters Protection and Sustainability Act, which recognizes the importance of water resources in and around Polk County. The Act declared that fostering partnerships between Regional Water Supply Authority and local governments is in the state interest, and in doing so requires that the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) prepare an annual comprehensive report listing projects that are needed to protect and restore the region’s water resources so that these may be considered for state funding support. The Annual report must be submitted to the State by December 1 of each year.
The Florida Legislature and Governor appropriated $7,122,052 for PRWC projects in FY 2019-2020 and FY 2021-22 and the PRWC has executed an agreement (LPA0212) with the FDEP for these funds. The table below shows how those funds will be distributed to the PRWC and PRWC member governments.
Contract agreements with the four local governments receiving funds (Eagle Lake, Winter Haven, Frostproof, and Polk County) have been prepared and approved by the respective City/County Commissions and are attached for review. These contracts will pass funds through the PRWC to the member government to complete the projects.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Heartland Headwaters Act Member Agreements for FY2021-2022.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is minimal fiscal impact to the PRWC in passing the funds from FDEP to the Member Governments.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Eric DeHaven