AnIntroductiontoSt.Petersburg’sNorthShoreSeagrassMitigationBank

MichaelJ.Dema,Esq.ManagingAssistantCityAttorney–LandUseandEnvironmentalMatters

CityofSt.Petersburg,Fla.November9,2017

Theviewpointsexpressedhereinaresolelythepresenter’sopinionsandarenotthoseoftheCityofSt.Petersburg.

PhotoCredit:TheNatureConservancy

PresentationOutline

• SeagrassOverview• TrendsinSeagrassCoverageinTampaBay• St.Petersburg’sNorthShoreSeagrassMitigationBank(SGMB)

• Whereisit?• Howwasthesiteselected?

• LaunchingtheSGMB• Referendum• BaselineEstablishmentandRestorationDesignPhase• Permitting

• ProposedServiceArea• AnticipatedCreditsandCosts

SeagrassOverviewSeagrassesareavitalmarineresource,functioningin:• Nurseryandhabitatforfishandbenthicorganisms• Structuralsupportforalgae• Foodweb• Sedimentstabilization• Nutrientcycling• Waterqualityintegration

TrendsinSeagrassCoverageinTampaBay

• 1950:~40,000acres

• 1982:~22,000acres

• 1995:TBEPandstakeholdersseektorestoreTampaBayseagrassto95%of1950level.• ~38,000acres

• 2016:41,655acres

NorthShoreSGMBLocation

City’sOwnershipofSubmergedLands

• CitywasgrantedfeesimpleownershipofsubmergedlandsinTampaBaybyFloridain1918• RelativelyrareinstanceofStategivinguptitletootherwisesovereignsubmergedlands• LargegrantoflandneededtofacilitatetheSGMB

LaunchingtheSGMB:ReferendumCityCharter§ 1.02(a):

Purpose. ThepurposeofthissectionistoprotectCity-ownedparkandwaterfrontproperty.Exceptasprovidedherein,nowaterfrontorparkpropertyownedbytheCitymaybesold,donatedorleasedwithoutspecificauthorizationbyamajorityvoteinaCity-widereferendum.

ReferendumQuestion

ShalltheCityCouncilbeauthorizedtoapprove,afterproperlynoticedpublichearing,theplacementofpermanentuseanddevelopmentrestrictionsoveraportionoftheCityownedsubmergedlandspropertylocatedadjacenttoNorthShoreParkforthepurposeofprotectingandenhancingseagrassbedstofurthergoalsofwaterqualityimprovementandhabitatconservation?

YES NO

Timesrecommends:YesonSt.Petersburgreferendumquestions

ReferendumQuestion 1empowerstheCityCounciltoimposerestrictionsonsubmergedcitylandeastofNorthShoreParkwithoutholdingacumbersomevoterreferendum.AswaterqualityinTampaBayhasimprovedovertheyears,seagrasshasproliferatedinthisarea,enhancingmarinelifeandwaterquality.Becausethesegrassbedsarepartofthewaterfrontparksystem,userestrictionscouldrequireaspecialreferendum.Thechangewouldallowthecounciltopassprotectiveordinancesafterapublichearingbutwithoutholdingareferendum.OnReferendumQuestion1,theTampaBayTimesrecommendsvotingyes.

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/times-recommends-yes-on-st-petersburg-referendum-questions/2247598

84.6%YES!

BaselineEstablishmentandRestorationDesignPlan• Sedimentcores• Bathymetry• Seagrasstransects

• DredgeHole:~32-34acres• Beneficialuseprogram

• EnhancementAreaA:~4acres

PermittingPhase

• Prospectushasbeensubmitted• CurrentlyinpermittingwithUSACEandSouthwestFloridaWater

ManagementDistrict• LegalissuesassociatedwithRAI:

• Obtainingatitlecommitmentandtitleinsurance• ConservationEasement• EstablishingaMotorExclusionZonefortheSGMB

• FloridaFishandWildlifeConservationCommission- BoatingandWaterways• Cityordinancerequired• Non-motorizedboatingwillbeallowed

• Potentialforearlyreleaseofcredits

PropellerScars

ProposedServiceArea• Theextentofthe

potentialServiceAreaoftheSGMBandthatwhichwillberequestedbytheteamisco-extensivewiththecoastalboundariesoftheSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrict.

AnticipatedCreditsandCosts

• 40-50creditsgenerated• Estimatedvalue$500,000to$700,000percredit• Totalrevenueestimate(range):$20,000,000to$35,000,000

• $4.4Mto$16.85Mincosts• PlanningandPermitting:$387,500• Dredgeholefillingandotherenhancements:$2M-$5M• Seagrassinstallationandmonitoring:$2M-$5M•MaintenanceandPierEnvironmentalEducationCentertrusts:$6.5M

•Maintenancecostestimatedat$50K-$60Kannually

Thankyou!

• TampaBayWatchandalloftheCityofSt.Petersburg’spartners• StetsonUniversityCollegeofLaw• EnvironmentalLawInstitute