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Leon County
Board of County Commissioners Agenda Item#5 January 27, 2026 |
| To: | Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board |
| From: | Vincent S. Long, County Administrator |
| Title: | Acceptance of a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant for the Munson Slough Embankment Repair Project |
| Review and Approval: | Vincent S. Long, County Administrator |
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Department/Division Review and Approval: |
Ken Morris, Assistant County Administrator Nawfal Ezzagaghi, Assistant County Administrator Nicki Hatch, Assistant to the County Administrator for Legislative and Strategic Initiatives Roshaunda Bradley, Director, Office of Management and Budget Brent Pell, Director, Public Works Charles Wu, Director, Engineering Services |
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Lead Staff/ Project Team: |
Anna Padilla, Stormwater Management Coordinator Eryn Calabro, Principal Budget and Grants Coordinator |
Statement of Issue:
This item seeks Board acceptance of a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant in the amount of $800,000 to support the design and construction of the Munson Slough Embankment Repair Project and approval of the associated agreement.
Fiscal Impact:
This item has a fiscal impact. A Resolution and Budget Amendment is provided to realize the $800,000 in state funding. There is no required County match; however, this $1.6 million project, previously approved by the Board and funded in part through the FY 2026 capital improvement program budget, will improve water quality and aquatic habitat by stabilizing and replanting eroded sections of Munson Slough.
Staff Recommendation:
Option #1: Approve the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant Agreement for the Munson Slough Embankment Repair Project (Attachment #1), and authorize the County Administrator to execute the Grant Agreement, including any future modifications or amendments, subject to final legal review by the County Attorney.
Option #2: Approve the Resolution and associated Budget Amendment (Attachment #2)
Report and Discussion
Background:
This item seeks Board acceptance of a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Grant in the amount of $800,000 to support the design and construction of the Munson Slough Embankment Repair Project and approval of the associated agreement (Attachment #1). This item also recommends approval of a Resolution and Budget Amendment (Attachment #2) to realize the funding into the budget.
The Munson Slough Embankment Repair Project advances the following FY 2022 – FY 2026 Strategic Initiatives:
Ensure County’s water quality and stormwater regulations, programs and projects are evaluated and implemented holistically to advance the County’s adopted strategic priority: to protect the quality and supply of our water. (2022-16)
Implement the comprehensive Action Plan for Lake Munson to support the long-term water quality of the lake and surrounding water bodies. (2023-51)
These particular Strategic Initiatives align with the Board’s Environment Strategic Priorities:
(EN1) Protect the quality and supply of our water.
(EN2) Conserve and protect environmentally sensitive lands and our natural ecosystems.
The Board has long prioritized the protection of Leon County’s natural resources and waterbodies. Munson Slough, located between Lake Henrietta and Lake Munson, was constructed in the early 2000s with living shorelines designed to reduce bank erosion and improve downstream water quality. Over time, the vegetation has been lost along portions of the slough banks, resulting in erosion and transport of sediment downstream into Lake Munson. This $1.6 million project—prioritized by the Board through the County’s Capital Improvement Program, the Lake Munson Action Plan, and Legislative Funding Requests—seeks to improve water quality and aquatic habitat by stabilizing and replanting eroded areas within Munson Slough.
During the County’s annual Legislative Priorities Workshop, the Board typically considers and preliminarily approves a list of projects to seek State and Federal line-item funding for local projects. At the October 22, 2024 Workshop, the Board preliminarily approved the County’s 2025 legislative funding requests, including a request for state budget line-item funding for the Munson Slough Embankment Repair Project, and such approval was subsequently ratified at the Board’s November 19, 2024 meeting. The Governor signed the FY 2025 – 2026 State budget on June 30, 2025, which included $800,000 in funding for this project. These funds will be provided to the County through a grant administered by FDEP.
To ensure the County maximizes grant leveraging opportunities, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) coordinates with department liaisons and actively seeks grant funding opportunities throughout the fiscal year. These efforts include contacting and communicating with previous funders for any new or forthcoming grant opportunities. Through timely submittals of reporting and invoices, satisfactory compliance with grant closeouts, as well as on-site and desk monitoring by the granting agencies, Leon County has proactively positioned itself as a responsive and accountable funding partner.
In addition, the County’s partnership with state and federal lobbyists garners access to recently announced federal funding opportunities and OMB routinely monitors the federal Grants.gov portal for granting opportunities. The County aggressively seeks state and federal grant funding to support County projects and initiatives and has achieved considerable success in leveraging County dollars. Excluding the septic-to-sewer grants which require significant County match, the County otherwise maintains a grant leveraging ratio of $19.52 to $1.
Analysis:
The Munson Slough Embankment Repair Project is a $1.6 million initiative to improve water quality and aquatic habitat by stabilizing and replanting eroded sections within Munson Slough. The Agreement provides $800,000 in new state funding to support the design and construction of this project, supplementing County funding included in the adopted CIP budget.
Upon execution of the Agreement, staff will begin preparing the competitive solicitation documents for a design services contractor. At the conclusion of the competitive solicitation, a recommendation will be provided to the Board for the selection of the design services contractor. Following completion of the design, another competitive solicitation will be needed to select a construction contractor. Construction is anticipated to begin in FY 2027.
This item seeks Board acceptance of an FDEP Grant in the amount of $800,000 for the Munson Slough Embankment Repair Project and approval of the associated agreement and a Resolution and Budget Amendment to realize the state funding.
Options:
Approve the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant Agreement for the Munson Slough Embankment Repair Project (Attachment #1), and authorize the County Administrator to execute the Grant Agreement, including any future modifications or amendments, subject to final legal review by the County Attorney.
Approve the Resolution and associated Budget Amendment (Attachment #2).
Do not approve the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant Agreement for the Munson Slough Embankment Repair Project.
Board direction.
Recommendation:
Options #1 and #2
Attachments: