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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO APPLY FOR, RECEIVE, AND EXPEND FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT WATERWAYS GRANT FUNDS FOR A MARINE VHF COMMUNICATION RADIO SYSTEM FOR MIAMI-DADE FIRE RESCUE MARINE OPERATIONS BUREAU; AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO MODIFY OR AMEND THE APPLICATIONS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS OR TO EXTEND THE PERFORMANCE PERIOD

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WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum and attachments, copies of which are incorporated herein by reference,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board authorizes the Mayor or his designee to apply for, receive, and expend grant funds from the Fiscal Year 2007- 2008 grant application for Florida Inland Navigation Waterways Assistance to be used for a project to improve a Marine VHF Communication Radio System for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Marine Operations Bureau; and authorizing the Mayor or his designee to modify or amend the applications in order to receive additional funds or to extend the performance period.

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Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Bruno A. Barreiro
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: George M. Burgess
County Manager

Subject: Resolution for the Application of Funds for
Florida Inland Navigation District Waterways
Program for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board approve the attached resolution authorizing the Mayor or his designee to apply for $11,900 in grant funds from the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) Waterways Assistance Grant Program. The grant will supplement county funding for a VHF communication system for the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) Marine Operations Bureau.

Scope
Florida Legislature created F.S 374.976 F.S. which authorizes and empowers each inland navigation district to fund and undertake programs intended to alleviate the problems associated with its waterways. The Florida Inland Navigation District receives its operational funding through ad-valorem taxes levied on property within the eleven Florida counties that border the Intra-Coastal Waterway, from Duval County to Miami-Dade County. These funds are made available to eligible local governments, member counties and navigation districts for waterways related projects.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The grant is a matching grant that requires a fifty percent match from the applicant. The total cost of the Marine VHF Communication Radio System is $23,800. The project was initially approved for funding under MDFR�s Marine Operations Bureau�s operating budget. MDFR will provide a fifty percent match of $11,900 and FIND will fund the remaining fifty percent or $11,900. This grant from FIND will allow the Marine Operations Bureau to supplement the cost of this valuable project and reduce the financial impact to MDFR�s Marine Bureau�s operating budget.

Track Record/Monitor
MDFR Marine Operations Bureau will administer this grant. This award will be tracked and monitored by MDFR Grants Management Bureau for consistency with applicable OMB Circulars, audit requirements and award directives.

MANAGER'S BACKGROUND
Background
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Marine Operations Bureau has developed an all inclusive, all threat, marine waterways fire rescue response plan. This plan addresses the fire rescue needs for the entire waterways of Miami-Dade County.

The Emergency Response plan encompasses the Port of Miami, areas of Biscayne Bay and adjacent waterways, public beaches and off shore areas up to 20 miles.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Marine Operations Bureau determined that the current Marine Radio System has limited capabilities, and a more comprehensive VHF Marine Radio communication system is needed to strengthen the marine waterways fire rescue plan. The Marine VHF radio system is a line of site system which is reliant on antenna height for performance. Currently, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Marine Operation�s access to the VHF Marine band is a base radio located at Fire Station 73. The antenna height is 30� feet and the coverage area is limited to (7-10) miles from the Port of Miami. This grant funding will allow MDFR to increase the height of the antenna to allow for a improved communication throughout the county.

MDFR�s current Marine base antenna configuration is unable to relay emergency distress calls from stranded vessels. The majority of emergency transmissions from distressed vessel are received by the US Coast Guard or Commercial tow companies because they both operate VHF high site systems. Marine Operation has to rely on US Coast Guard and commercial tow companies to relay communications to MDFR on the free band radio system. The deficiency in communications creates difficulty in our response and operations. This technology is essential to MDFR�s effective waterway safety protection because MDFR is the first responder agency for emergency medical services on the waterways.

The implementation of the VHF radio system will improve the Marine Operation Bureau�s communication capabilities, response time, and prevent the department from losing calls during the most critical emergencies. This system will also increase coordination with other emergency agencies during major Homeland Security emergencies.





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Alina T. Hudak
Assistant County Manager