66B-1.006. Application Process

(1) Application Period: With the exception of eligible Disaster Relief Projects, eligible Small-Scale Spoil Island Restoration and Enhancement Projects, eligible Small-Scale Derelict Vessel Applications, and Waterway Cleanup Events, all applications for assistance through this program will be submitted during the authorized submission period which shall be established by vote of the Board at a scheduled meeting.

(2) Application Form: Florida Inland Navigation District Cooperative Assistance Program Application; Applicant Information – Project Summary, Form No. 90-12 (effective date 4-24-06) is hereby incorporated by reference and available from the District office. All applications for financial assistance and support through this program shall be made on this form. With the exception of projects eligible under the Small-Scale Spoil Island Restoration and Enhancement program, the Small-Scale Derelict Vessel program, and eligible Waterway Cleanup Events, all applications for financial assistance and support through this program from state agencies shall also be made on FIND Form Number 90-12a Project Information (effective date 4-24-06) and shall include a detailed cost estimate submitted on FIND Form No. 90-25 Florida Inland Navigation District Assistance Program Project Cost Estimate (effective date 4-24-06), hereby incorporated by reference and available from the District office. In addition, all applicants shall submit a complete and detailed Project Timeline (FIND FORM No. 96-10) (effective date 4-15-07).

(3) Sponsor Resolution: The project sponsor shall approve the submission of an application by official resolution from its governing board or commission. Said resolution shall be made on FIND Resolution Form No. 90-11 (effective date 10-14-92) hereby incorporated by reference and available from the District office located at 1314 Marcinski Road, Jupiter, Florida 33477.

(4) Attorney’s Certification: If the application is for a project that is a land based development project the applicant shall submit an Attorney’s Certification of Title, FIND Form Number 93-26 (effective date 3-5-00) hereby incorporated by reference and available from the District office.

(5) Maps and Geographic Information: All applicants shall be required to submit, at minimum, the following geographic information: A County location map, a project location map, a project boundary map, and a clear and detailed site development map for land development projects.

(6) Application Review: If the proposed project is a construction project within a single County, applicants shall obtain the local FIND Commissioner’s initials on Form No. 90-16 prior to submitting the application to the District office. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make timely arrangements for the local FIND Commissioner’s review. If the proposed project is a regional project, a pre-application meeting will be held with District staff prior to formal submission of the application. In the absence of extenuating circumstances outside of the applicant’s control as determined by the Board of Commissioners, a single County application shall not be considered complete if it does not include the local FIND commissioner’s initials on Form No. 90-16.

Upon receipt in the District office, staff will review the applications for completeness of the informational requirements identified in the Application Checklist, FIND Form Number 90-16 (effective date 7-30-02) hereby incorporated by reference and available from the District office, and for compliance with the eligibility requirements of this rule. When an application is determined by staff to be incomplete or ineligible, Staff will immediately inform the applicant by mail. The applicant will then have until the date established by the Board in the application package to bring the application into compliance. If the applicant fails to provide a complete application in compliance with these rules, the application will not be considered for funding. In order to have a complete application, the applicant shall not only submit the forms required under Rule 66B-1.006, F.A.C., and any other information requirements identified in the Application Checklist (FIND Form Number 90-16), but such forms and other submitted information must be completely filled out, executed as applicable, and also establish compliance with Chapter 66B-1, F.A.C.

(7) Interlocal Agreements: The District may enter into interlocal agreements to accomplish the goals of this program provided that funds are determined to be available based upon the District’s overall goals, management policies, fiscal responsibilities and operational needs at the time of the request. Interlocal agreements will be considered by the Board at any time upon submission of a proposal on the forms of this program. Interlocal agreements under this program shall be in compliance with Chapters 374 and 163, F.S., and will only be approved for multi-agency projects that involve more than one project site or more than one political sub-division of the state, will directly benefit the maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway channel as documented by the District’s long range dredged material management plans, will directly benefit the maintenance of the Okeechobee Waterway channel as documented by the District’s long range dredged material management plan, will directly benefit the maintenance or improvement of District property, right-of-way or navigation interests, or will have multiple funding partners including the Corps of Engineers as the project manager. Interlocal agreements may include participation in government sponsored projects at privately owned waterway related facilities that serve the public on a first come, first serve basis. Applications that the Board determines meet the criteria set forth in subsection 66B-1.005(5), F.A.C., can qualify for project assistance through an interlocal agreement pursuant to Chapter 163, F.S., or Section 374.984(6)(a), F.S. District staff will identify applications that appear to meet these criteria and present them to the Board for its determination as to the funding. Interlocal agreement projects shall comply with all other provisions of this rule, except for pre-agreement, permitting and property control requirements.

(8) Application Presentations: Applications determined to be complete and in compliance with this rule shall be forwarded to the Board for review and then scheduled for presentation to the Board at a scheduled meeting of the Board. Applicants can decline to make a presentation to the Board by submitting a written request.

(9) Application Evaluation: Following the presentations, the Board will review the applications and evaluate them using the Cooperative Assistance Program Application Evaluation and Rating Worksheet No. 00-25 available from the District office. The total points awarded to each application by the Commissioners will be averaged to determine an application’s final rating score. The final rating score for each application must equal or exceed 35 points for the application to be considered for funding assistance. Reconsideration of any application with a final rating score of less than 35 points will only occur if the majority of the Commissioners evaluating the project rated the project equal to or exceeding 35 points and two-thirds of the Commissioners vote for reconsideration of the application.

(10) Funding Determination: The Board will hold a funding allocation meeting at which time the Board will determine the allocation of funds, if any, to each project and the projects will be ranked by overall average score to facilitate final funding decisions by the Board. Allocations will be based in part upon the cumulative score of the applications as calculated from the Project Evaluation and Rating Form.

Rulemaking Authority 374.976(2) FS. Law Implemented 374.976(1) FS. History–New 12-17-90, Amended 2-6-97, Formerly 16T-1.006, Amended 3-5-00, 3-21-01, 7-30-02, 3-20-03, 4-21-05, 4-24-06, 4-15-07, 3-25-08, 3-7-11, 4-10-13.