Welcome New Member!

Council Attorney Norman White administered the new member Oath of Office to Charlie Lowrance, City of Sebring Councilman.

Finance Committee Recommendations

The Council’s Finance Committee conducted a virtual meeting on June 1, 2020.  After reviewing the budget items, the Finance Committee is recommending the Budget Amendment for FY 2019-20, Proposed FY 2020-21 Annual Budget, and Member Assessments for FY 2020-21 for approval.

• MOTION:  To approve the Budget Amendment for FY 2019-20 carried unanimously.
• MOTION:  To approve the Proposed FY 2020-21 Annual Budget carried unanimously.
• MOTION:  To approve the $0.30 per capita Member Assessment for FY 2020-21 carried unanimously.

Economic Status of the Region

An overview of the current economic status of the region including Glades and Hendry Counties was presented including building permits, single-family housing sales, sales tax revenue collected by the State, and the unemployment rates.

Economic Development Administration CARES Act Funding Grant Application

The CFRPC, in its capacity as the Economic Development District for the region, has been invited to apply for supplemental grant funding from the Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This grant is in the amount of $400,000 with no match requirement. The funding will be used for economic recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic. The project will include hiring a Program Manager to serve as the Disaster Economic Recovery Coordinator to implement these efforts while working with partners to speed the recovery process through strategic technical assistance and local capacity building for impacted communities in the region.

• MOTION:  To approve the EDA CARES Act grant submittal and authorize the Executive Director to sign and administer the grant carried unanimously.

FY 2019/20 Competitive Florida Partnership Grant and Community Planning Technical Assistance Grants updates

In  2019/20 the CFRPC, often in partnership with a local government agency, completed all deliverables for the following State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)  Competitive Florida Partnership and Community Planning Technical Assistance Grants:

• City of Okeechobee – Economic Development Strategy & Disaster Resiliency Plan, DEO Competitive Florida Partnership Grant
• City of Okeechobee – Comprehensive Plan & LDC Update addressing Economic Development & Disaster Resiliency, DEO Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant
• City of Fort Meade – Economic Development Strategy & Disaster Resiliency Plan, DEO Competitive Florida Partnership Grant
• City of Frostproof – Administration for Utility Study Grant, DEO Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant
• CFRPC – Heartland 2060 Revisted, DEO Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant

Authorization to Execute and Administer Grants

The CFRPC administers grant programs bringing technical assistance, economic development, Local Emergency Planning, and Hazardous Analysis (HA) Services to the Region.

• MOTION:  To adopt Resolution 2020-6A authorizing the Executive Director to sign and administer the Competitive Florida Partnership Grants for FY 2020/21 carried unanimously.
• MOTION:  To adopt Resolution 2020-6B authorizing the Executive Director to sign and administer the Community Planning Technical Assistance Grants carried unanimously.
• MOTION:  To approve the reoccurring contract to support the Central Florida LEPC program carried unanimously.
• MOTION:  To approve the Hazardous Analysis Grant Agreement and authorize the Executive Director to sign and administer the Grant Agreement carried unanimously.

Update on Heartland 2060

CFRPC Staff is in the second year of work updating Heartland 2060: Building a Resilient Region. Two successful summits were held in late 2019. The third summit was canceled due to the current public health crisis. An online survey was conducted and staff received 504 responses from stakeholders and the general public.

Updates to Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)

The COOP that addresses how the timely completion of all tasks throughout the duration of an emergency regardless of the nature and duration of that emergency, will be accomplished.

• MOTION:  To approve the updated Continuity of Operations Plan for CFRPC 2020 as presented carried unanimously.

Status Report for The Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO)

The next HRTPO Board meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2020, at which the Board will be asked to approve the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). The TIP includes the Draft Tentative Five Year Work Program for FDOT. Staff continues to work to update the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for 2045, which is an ongoing process. The staff has also prepared a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Plan, which is a required document and will also be presented to the Board for approval.

Executive Director’s Report

M-CORES Southwest/Central Task Force

• M-CORES Southwest/Central Task Force has been conducting meetings and workshops virtually. View the M-CORES Schedule.

Project Updates

• Staff continues to work with local governments and are in the process of completing many tasks related to the HRTPO, Emergency Management, and other grant deliverables that are required to be completed by the end of June.

Florida Regional Councils Association (FRCA) Monthly Report

Florida Regional Planning Council Executive Directors are conducting weekly conference calls to continue coordinating work activities and statewide initiatives. The FRCA Policy Board will conduct a virtual meeting on July 10, 2020.