AGENDA TAMPA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM POLICY BOARD MEETING ACTION ITEMS. 2. Changes to the agenda Holly Greening

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1 3 DATE/TIME: Friday, November 17, :00 a.m. AGENDA TAMPA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM POLICY BOARD MEETING LOCATION: Call to Order Roll Call Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council 4000 Gateway Centre Blvd., Suite 100 Pinellas Park, FL Citizens Comments ACTION ITEMS 2. Changes to the agenda Holly Greening 3. Approval of Minutes of August 18, 2017 Policy Board meeting 4. Acceptance of Financial Reports Ron Hosler (additional information to be provided) 5. Acceptance of the Final Agency-Wide Budget Ron Hosler (additional information) Bay Mini-Grants Misty Cladas (additional information) Recommended Action: Approve funding Bay Mini-Grants based on findings from the Community Advisory Committee. 7. Investigation of potential for remediation of algal blooms by shellfish Gary Raulerson Recommended Actions: a. Authorize Executive Director to enter into agreement not exceeding $50,000 with the FFWCC-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute for investigations of the utility of shellfish to decrease severity of Pyrodinium bahamense blooms. b. Authorize Executive Director to amend Scope and Budget (up to $25,000) of agreement if additional funds become available. available.

2 4 REPORTS/INFORMATION ITEMS 8. Executive Director and Staff Reports TBEP Staff (CCMP Public Summary) 9. Quarterly Grant Progress Report (information only) SPECIAL ACTION ITEM: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INTERVIEWS 10. Executive Director Interviews and Selection of Top-Ranked Candidates Upcoming Meetings The next Policy Board meeting will be February 16, 2018 at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Adjournment Please note that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Policy Board with respect to any matter considered at the above cited meeting or hearing he will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. ** THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC **

3 5 DESIGNATION OF ALTERNATE TO TAMPA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM POLICY BOARD I,, a member of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program s Policy Board, hereby designate: to serve as an alternate representing at the upcoming Policy (City/County/Agency/Organization) Board meeting scheduled for with full authority to act or vote on any issue. I also designate: to serve, in my absence, as an alternate at all future meetings with the full authority to act or vote on any issue. Signed: Date: Please return form by or mail to: Ron Hosler at ron@tbep.org or Tampa Bay Estuary Program th Avenue S., Suite 350 St. Petersburg, FL 33701

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5 7 TAMPA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM SUMMARY OF POLICY BOARD MEETING DATE/TIME: Friday, August 18, :00 a.m. LOCATION: Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council 4000 Gateway Centre Blvd, Suite 100 Pinellas Park, Florida Commissioner Justice chaired the meeting. Call Policy Board meeting to order: Mr. Ron Hosler took Roll Call: Commissioner Robin DiSabatino Commissioner Charlie Justice Commissioner Stacy White Mr. Jeff Adams Councilman Karl Nurse Councilman Bob Cundiff Councilman Guido Maniscalco Ms. Michelle Anderson Mr. Tom McGill Others in attendance included: Ms. Holly Greening Mr. Ed Sherwood Ms. Misty Cladas Mr. Ron Hosler Ms. Nanette O Hara Dr. Gary Raulerson Ms. Maya Burke Mr. Don Conn Manatee County Pinellas County Hillsborough County Southwest FL Water Mgt. Dist. Governing Board City of St. Petersburg City of Clearwater City of Tampa Pasco County US EPA TBEP TBEP TBEP TBEP TBEP TBEP TBEP TBEP Legal Counsel 1. PUBLIC HEARING ON FY PROPOSED PROGRAM-WIDE BUDGET Commissioner Justice announced this budget hearing is a requirement that has to be completed each August for the budget beginning October 1 st, This budget item has been advertised as required. a. Open Public Hearing b. Staff Presentation c. Citizens Comments. No citizens were present to make comment. d. Close Public Hearing 2. General Citizens Comments

6 8 There were no citizen comments. 3. Approval of changes to agenda Two changes to the agenda were announced. The minutes from the May 19, 2017 Policy Board meeting needed to include that the Operating Procedures updates were approved. Additionally, an item #8a, the TBEP Executive Director Performance Evaluation needs to be added, and included a handout at member s places. Motion by Commissioner White to approve changes to the agenda and seconded by Councilman Cundiff. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Approval of Minutes of May 19, 2017 Policy Board meeting Motion by Councilman Cundiff to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2017 Policy Board Meeting, as edited, and seconded by Mr. Jeff Adams. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Acceptance of Financial Reports Mr. Ron Hosler explained this budget covered the period ending June 30, 2017, nine months into this fiscal year. Some categories are under budget at this time, and the agency balance is $327,000 in revenue. Motion by Councilman Maniscalco to accept the Financial Reports and seconded by Councilman Cundiff. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Adoption of Initial FY17-18 TBEP Program-Wide Budget Mr. Hosler explained this budget item is not a requirement, but helps to align expenses as the year progresses. This budget begins October 1, The contract category footnote is included to indicate that once the remaining agreements are in place, the number will increase. The federal revenue is less than last year, which in turn will reduce the amount of in-kind TBEP is required to provide for this budget. Ms. Greening pointed out the unassigned funds category of $388,000; which just a little more than half way to the goal of $750,000. Motion by Councilman Maniscalco to adopt the Initial FY17-18 TBEP Program-Wide Budget and seconded by Commissioner Robin DiSabatino. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Approval of Hard Bottom Mapping contract Mr. Ed Sherwood stated that TBEP released an RFP in July and received one response. The selection committee met to discuss the RFP and decided to request a slight change in the proposed timeline as well as some additional details on the side scan components. Mr. Sherwood showed members photos taken around Tampa Bay highlighting some of the hard bottom areas, including sponges, sea fans and sea whips. Ms. Greening stated that this project will be taking TBEP into a new direction of focus on the underwater habitats. This study will

7 9 help to set targets for the underwater habitats and the results will be included in the Habitat Masterplan. Councilman Cundiff thanked Commissioner Justice and Pinellas County for their support. Commissioner Justice explained Ms. Levy and Mr. Squires made the recommendations. Motion by Commissioner DiSabatino to: a. Accept $100,000 in funds from Pinellas County to support the Hard Bottom Mapping and Characterization within Tampa Bay project. b. Accept $23,000 in funds from EPCHC to support the Hard Bottom Mapping and Characterization within Tampa Bay project. c. Approve CSA Ocean Services to conduct the Hard Bottom Mapping and Characterization within Tampa Bay project. d. Authorize Executive Director to enter into contract with CSA Ocean Services for an amount not to exceed $199,981. e. Authorize Executive Director to amend Scope and Budget (up to $25,000) for contract, if additional funds become available. And seconded by Councilman Maniscalco. Motion approved unanimously. 8. Ecologically-important shorelines and ship wakes Dr. Raulerson explained that this is another study where results will be included in the TBEP Habitat Masterplan. He stated that US FWS approached TBEP to help provide scientific evidence. This study is an assessment of ships such as cruise ships and cargo container ships which may be causing habitat degradation due to wave energy. The areas identified through this assessment may indicate areas in need of future habitat restoration. Potential next steps for this project include working with cruise lines and others to find funds to help prevent and restore areas identified through this study. There was discussion about the idea the degradation could be caused by wind instead of wave energy and this project should be able to identify and focus on those areas affected by ships wakes. Potential solutions could include reef balls, living shorelines, but likely not modification to ships, rather shoreline armoring. The final product will be a map highlighting areas of erosion. Motion by Councilman Maniscalco to: a. Authorize Executive Director to enter into agreement with USFWS to accept funds in the amount of $24,000 for the ecological analysis of impacts of ship waves. b. Authorize Executive Director to enter into an agreement not exceeding $14,000 with the Center for Maritime and Port Studies at the University of South Florida for analysis of frequency and magnitude of vessel generated wave interactions on shorelines along the major shipping corridors in Tampa Bay. c. Authorize Executive Director to amend Scope and Budget (up to $25,000) of agreement if additional funds become available And seconded by Commissioner DiSabatino. Motion passed unanimously. 8a Final Performance Evaluation for TBEP Executive Director, Holly Greening

8 10 Ms. Greening asked members to view the handout, labeled #8a, at their places. Members discussed whether the final performance review was necessary, as Ms. Greening will be retiring in February, However, TBEP s cooperative agreement with US EPA requires an annual Director evaluation, which can be accomplished by approving an evaluation. Members reviewed the evaluation for Ms. Greening. Motion by Councilman Cundiff to approve the final Director s evaluation and seconded by Mr. Jeff Adams. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Approval of TBEP Executive Director selection process Ms. Greening highlighted the section process timeline. She stated that applications will be due to TBEP by October 6, 2017 and Policy Board members will be able to review the applications and provide their top 5 candidate selections no later than October 25 th. A special meeting, at the TBRPC, on October 27 th will be held to select interviewees. On November 17 th, the Policy Board will have a brief meeting in the morning followed by interviews and selection of the next Executive Director. Mr. Don Conn made suggestions including: if a Policy Board member applies, they must recuse themselves from selection, also if their alternate applies. If a Management Board member applies, the Policy Board may fully participate. If TBEP staff applies, they will be treated as any other applicant and asked to leave during selection process. Mr. Conn suggested applicants not contact Policy Board members during this selection process. Mr. McGill stated he thought this was a great process, great approach and liked using the same questions for consistency. Motion by Mr. Adams to: a. Approve Executive Director selection process b. Approve Executive Director Position Announcement and seconded by Commissioner DiSabatino. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Executive Director and Staff Reports Ms. Greening announced that TBEP will be receiving $600,000 in Federal funding through the US EPA for this year, which begins on October 1, 2017 and ends on September 30, Congress has not yet passed a 2018 budget, but it looks like a continuing resolution may be in place which would include funding for the NEPs at $600,000 for Ms. Misty Cladas announced that the Bay Mini-Grant deadline is September 15, 2017 and a free webinar will be held on August 22 nd for any interested in learning more about the grants. Postcards were left at member places for distribution and information. Dr. Gary Raulerson stated that seagrass transect training recently took place. He thanked Mr. Frey for allowing the use of Lassing Park for the training areas, as it has multiple types of grass and serves as a good teaching area.

9 11 Ms. Nanette O Hara announced the Florida Birding Festival and directed members to the postcard at their places. She stated that TBEP helps to support the Birding Festival with printing of the postcards, social media and other items. Mr. Sherwood announced that staff have been working on a publication highlighting trends in seagrass. He informed members about the Open Science Synthesis Course he recently completed in California. He demonstrated some open-source science tools (the basis of the course). Due to the amount of data on habitats in Tampa Bay, TBEP was chosen to participate in this class and Tampa Bay used an example during the class. Mr. Sherwood stated this was basically a college course compressed into 3 weeks, and can be taught to others; maybe folks on the TAC, if interested. Mr. Hosler announced that TBEP had recently completed a State of Florida audit of the specialty license plate funds. While the audit has not been finalized, the auditors indicated that TBEP complied with requests and everything looked to be in order. 11. Final CCMP walk-through Ms. O Hara highlighted how the new digital CCMP will display on computer screens and showed how links will help users to find content. The on-line document will allow for printable pages. The completed document should be posted on TBEP website in a couple of weeks. 12. Quarterly Progress Report to the Boards Mr. Hosler reminded members the quarterly progress report is in their packet, and is for information purposes. He stated that the Critical Coastal Habitat and the Fish and Benthic Dredge Hole projects have been completed Management and Policy Board Dates Mr. Hosler directed members to the meeting dates for 2018 included in their packets. He stated that the dates do not conflict with Florida League of Cities or NAACO. 14. Board Comments/Announcements An announcement was made that the City of Clearwater will be holding a meeting on improving water quality at the site of the former Christian School, near Coopers Bayou. City and State funds will be used for this project and plans include a park, walkway and bridge at the site. The building will likely be used for a medical school. Meeting adjourned at 11:50 p.m. The Policy Board will be holding a Special Meeting to select interviewees for the TBEP Executive Director position on Friday, October 27, 10 a.m.- noon at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

10 Next regular Policy Board meeting will be Friday, November 18, 2016, 9 a.m. 3 p.m. at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, including interviews and ranking for Executive Director position. Lunch will be provided. 12

11 13 Agenda Item #5 Management and Policy Boards November 2017 Tampa Bay Estuary Program Proposed Final Budget FY 16/17 Final Budget Mid Year $ Per-Cent 2016/ /2017 Increase(Decrease) Increase(Decrease) Revenues: Federal 668, ,724 (116,986) % Specialty Plate 103,111 98,000 5, % 1 Fees and Contracts 1,063, , , % Membership Dues (Non Federal Contributions) 472, , % Other Revenues/Interest 2,345 3,000 (655) % 2 In Kind Services 182, ,668 (102,510) % Total Revenues 2,491,691 2,432,574 59, % Expenditures: Personnel 722, ,374 11, % Pubs., Subs, Dues 4,900 5,500 (600) % Travel, Conferences 7,500 18,000 (10,500) % Legal 7,600 10,000 (2,400) % Capital Outlays 0 2,000 (2,000) % Printing 2,607 4,000 (1,393) % Contracts, Consultants 1,270,525 1,290,500 (19,975) -1.55% Office Rental 34,886 33, % Equip. Maint. 4,000 5,000 (1,000) % Auditing 17,600 17, % Insurance 12,790 12,900 (110) -0.85% Communications 13,145 14,000 (855) -6.11% Office Supplies 1,063 2,000 (937) % Postage 0 1,000 (1,000) % 2 In Kind 182, ,668 (102,510) % Other 12,000 13,000 (1,000) -7.69% Total Expenditures 2,292,774 2,424,498 (131,724) -5.43% Agency Balance 198,917 8, , % Fund Balance-Beginning of Year 1,387,704 1,387, % Fund Balance-End of Year 1,586,621 1,395, , % 1 Additional TBERF revenue unanticipated at mid-year. 2 Additional In-kind from Hillsborough County's Delaney Creek outstanding.

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13 15 Agenda Item #6 Policy Board November 17, Bay Mini-Grants Action: Approve funding Bay Mini-Grants as recommended based on findings from the Community Advisory Committee. Background: This past fiscal year the TBEP received approximately $85,000 in license tag revenue and interest for Bay Mini-Grant funding. This year we received 28 proposals totaling $114,829 for the application period ending September 15th. Each proposal has been reviewed and scored by the CAC Bay Mini-Grants Judging Committee. The attached documents summarize the applications received and the 21 proposals recommended for full funding totaling $84, If you would like to see a copy of any of the project proposals, please contact Misty at or misty@tbep.org and she will gladly fax or send you a scanned copy by .

14 Bay Mini-Grants /2018 ID No. Organization Project Title Funded Yes/No Amount Requested Amount Funded County Project Will Take Place Education/ Restoration CCMP Goal 1 Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch Loose the Straws-Save the Sea Turtles YES $4, $4, Manatee Education PE-1 2 Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee CChanging Climate-Changing Bay-Changing Futures YES $2, $2, Manatee Education PE-1 3 Buchanan Middle School Hydroponic School Garden YES $4, $4, Hillsborough Education PE-1 4 Canterbury School of Florida Canterbury Bay STEAM YES $5, $5, Pinellas Education PE-1 5 City of Oldsmar Mobbly Bayou Preserve Environmental Education Center Upgrades YES $5, $2, Pinellas Both PE-1, BH-1 6 City of Safety Harbor Tampa Bay History and Living Legacy NO $5, $0.00 Pinellas Education PE-1 7 Creative Play School Creative Play Preschool Estuary Educational Initiative NO $5, $0.00 Pinellas Education PE-1 8 Cross East Lake Remote Control Precip. Sensors for Community Dual well-based NO $1, $0.00 Pinellas Both PE-1, BH-1 9 Foundation for Sustainable Sustainable Family Farm NO $5, $0.00 Pinellas Both PE-1, BH-1 10 Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Lake Maggiore Mechanical Cattail Removal NO $5, $0.00 Pinellas Both PE-1, BH-1 11 Friends of the Tampa Bay Florida Coastal Environmental Education YES $5, $5, Pinellas Education PE-1 12 FWC/FWRI Natural Collection Areas Mapping to Determine Marine Debris YES $4, $4, All Both PE-1, BH-1 13 Just Learn Ware's Aquaponics Classroom NO $ $0.00 Pinellas Education PE-1 14 Keep Pinellas Beautiful Right Plants,Righ Place-Restoring Healthy Watersheds One Plant at a YES $5, $5, Pinellas Both PE-1, BH-1 15 Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful Environmental Education Program NO $5, $0.00 Hillsborough Education PE-1 16 Manatee School for the Arts MSA: Marine Science Education Program: Exploring and Conserving YES $5, $5, Pin. Hills. Man. Both PE-1, BH-1 17 Manatee Co Park and Natural Snorkeling 101 YES $1, $1, Manatee Education PE-1 18 Nature's Academy Coastal Connections for Florida 5th Graders YES $4, $4, Manatee Both PE-1, BH-1 19 Palmetto Youth Center Environmental Collaboration & Connections YES $4, $4, Manatee Education PE-1 20 Planet Love Life, Inc. Personal Monofilament Collection Tubes YES $5, $4, Pin. Hills. Man. Both PE-1, BH-1 21 SCUBAnauts International SNI's Post Release Evaluation of FDOT Seagrass Mitigation Site YES $3, $3, Manatee Both PE-1, BH-1 22 Shorecrest Preparatory School Ecosystem Restoration Project YES $5, $5, Pinellas Both PE-1, BH-1 23 St.Pete Saturday Morning Market Bay Before Bags YES $5, $5, Pinellas Education PE-1 24 Surfrider Foundation Suncoast Single-Use Plastics in Tampa Bay Awareness and Avoidance YES $2, $2, Pinellas Both PE-1, BH-1 25 Tampa Bay Waterkeeper Swim Guide and Water Quality Monitoring Program YES $3, $3, All Both PE-1, BH-1 26 Terrace Community Middle School Stewardship Science YES $2, $2, Hillsborough Both PE-1, BH-1 27 The Florida Aquarium Adaptions of the Estuary YES $3, $3, All Education PE-1 28 Great Explorations Children's Remodel of Explorer's Cove YES $5, $5, Pinellas Education PE-1 $114, $84, County break-out of projects received/funded Received Recommended for funding Percent Funded per County Total all county projects % Total all Hillsborough county projects % Total all Pinellas county projects % Total all Manatee county projects % Total all Pasco county projects 0 0 0% Total all projects received % 16

15 /2018 BAY MINI-GRANTS FINDINGS BY THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (November 16/17, 2017) This year $85,000 was available to fund Bay Mini-Grant projects. TBEP received 28 applications totaling $114,829 in funding requests. This list contains the 21 grant applications that were recommended by the Executive Director using findings supplied by the Community Advisory Committee. 1. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch $4, Loose the Straws-Save the Sea Turtles Students from AMI Elementary School (Young Ambassadors) will deliver contracts and paper straws to local beach businesses, restaurants and convenience stores. Business owners will pledge to stop using plastic straws with the goal being elimination of plastic straw use by the end of summer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County $2, History of Tampa Bay Conservation A Bird s-eye View Middle school aged students, many economically disadvantaged, will be part of a 7-week class. The class, which includes several field trips, will be taught be Around the Bend Nature Tours and use State of Florida Education Standard curriculum to teach topics such as the carbon cycle, mangrove migration and lessons on migratory birds. 3. Buchanan Middle School $4,622,24 Hydroponic School Garden Middle School aged students will help design and build a series of hydroponic gardening systems for the entire school. More than 300 students will participate in engineering, constructing, painting and monitoring the garden systems. The systems will become a teaching tool for students to learn efficient use of water and incorporate STEM into curriculums. 4. Canterbury School of Florida $5, Canterbury Bay STEAM Grant funds will be used to expand an existing marsh grass nursery and create an outdoor classroom space where teachers can use STEAM to promote Tampa Bay awareness and education. Along with students from Canterbury School, students from First Presbyterian, Shore Acres school and Academy Prep will visit the outdoor Bay STEAM Classroom for interactive lessons. 5. City of Oldsmar $2, Mobbly Bayou Preserve Environmental Education Center Upgrades

16 18 Funding for this grant project will focus on materials and plants used to create a garden and accompanying interpretive signage. Mobbly Preserve Adopt-A-Park volunteers will work under UF/IFAS direction to create the garden which will divert stormwater runoff from the Environmental Education Center and adjacent parking lot before entering Tampa Bay. 6. Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges $5, Florida Coastal Environmental Education Grant funds will pay for bus trips to bring more than 300 students to Weedon Island and Fort DeSoto parks to provide outdoor learning opportunities. Students, from local Title 1 schools, will participate in STEM activities including a clean-up. 7. FWC/FWRI $4, Natural Collection Areas Mapping to Determine Marine Debris Hotspots FWRI staff will use satellite imagery and circulation models of Tampa Bay to create a marine debris hot spot map. This map will be in the form of a GIS layer to an existing map housed on the FWC/FWRI website and presented to the FWC Marine Debris Working Group and NOAA Office of Response and Restoration Marine Debris Management Office. 8. Keep Pinellas Beautiful $5, Right Plants, Right Place-Restoring Healthy Watersheds One Plant at a Time This comprehensive program includes teaching identification and removal of invasive species, native plantings, education using a curriculum focused on invasive species in the Tampa Bay watershed, monthly classroom presentations, and quarterly service projects round out this impressive educational and restoration effort. 9. Manatee School for the Arts $5, Exploring and Conserving Tampa Bay through Field Work, Interactive Notes, and Community Microplastic Awareness The main goal of this project is to engage and educate the marine science students through hands-on curriculum, not only in the classroom, but in and around Tampa Bay. The students will participate in field trips to Tampa Bay Watch and the Florida Aquarium, as well as making Trash Art, an art display using trash found during clean-ups. 10. Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources $1, Snorkeling 101 Using education and snorkeling, participants visiting a local Preserve will learn the basics of the sport and how to protect the habitats they are experiencing. Programs will take place using County staff at Emerson Point Preserve. 11. Nature s Academy $4, Coastal Connections for Florida 5th Graders

17 19 Coastal Connections will bring this program, for free, to 32 schools including 14 Title 1 schools. Students will participate as citizen scientists using dip nets and sensors with data uploaded to the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) database. Students will conduct sampling in Manatee County. 12. Palmetto Youth Center $4, Environmental Collaboration & Connections Funding will go to hire professional guides for environmental education field trips and eco-tours to provide hands-on education and visit science-based centers. Many of the more than 100 underserved members attend Title 1 schools and do not have opportunities to attend trips and be part of environmental learning using hands-on channels. 13. Planet Love Life, Inc. $4, Personal Monofilament Collection Tubes This small non-profit located in Wimauma will create 1,000 personal monofilament collection tubes using repurposed tennis canisters. The tubes will have a strap and float system to prevent accidental loss and marine pollution. Monofilament line will be sorted and sent for recycling. 14. SCUBAnauts International $3, SNI's Post Release Evaluation of FDOT Seagrass Mitigation Site Approximately 45 teen-aged youth will monitor this previously released seagrass mitigation site to evaluate whether the area is still providing the cover and function that it had at regulatory release in TBEP will receive a summary of the data and a presentation on the project by the young SCUBAnauts. 15. Shorecrest Preparatory School $5, Ecosystem Restoration Project Students will continue to remove invasive plants, a project begun by a previous grant, and plant native plants along the school shoreline. Funding will provide for the purchase of additional tools, plants and irrigation materials to ensure plant survival. Nearly 1,000 students will participate in creating this native coastal zone at the school. 16. St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market $5, Bay Before Bags Just as the name suggests, this grant aims to cut back on the single-use plastic bags at the Market. This initiative will work with local organizations and universities to create an awareness campaign at the Market and provide re-useable bags instead of plastic. 17. Surfrider Foundation Suncoast $2, Single-Use Plastics in Tampa Bay, Awareness and Avoidance

18 20 This single-use plastic awareness campaign aims to educate the public on the hazards of singleuse plastics using printed materials distributed at numerous tabling events. Grant funds will also support clean-ups at local beaches, recycled paper bags to promote use non-plastic bags targeted at business in Grand Central District, and a partnership with USF St. Pete. to provide data collection and analysis of effectiveness of program. 18. Tampa Bay Waterkeeper $3, Swim Guide and Water Quality Monitoring Program Using citizen scientists to sample water from 10 sites within the Tampa Bay watershed, the project will create a Swim Guide app focused on enterococci and e. coli levels at sampling sites. This app will allow users to find levels of contaminants quickly in an effort to bring awareness to possible causes and solutions for future improved water quality. 19. Terrace Community Middle School $2, Stewardship Science Seventh grade science students, teachers and parents will continue improvement to the modified wetland area on the school s campus. Funds will go towards wetland plants and the students and teachers will partner with The Florida Suncoast Native Plant Society to ensure correct plants and placement in the wetland area. 20. The Florida Aquarium $3, Adaptions of the Estuary Teachers of grades five through eight within the Tampa Bay watershed will participate in two estuary-based workshops. Adaptions of the Estuary explores how organisms adapt to everchanging estuary dynamics such as salinity, temperatures, pollution and nutrient loadings. Workshops will be both at The Aquarium and field-based at the Florida Conservation and Technology Center. When complete, teachers will receive lesson plans, presentations and activities to practice in their classrooms. 21. Great Explorations Children s Museum $5, Remodel of Explorer s Cove Grant funds will pay for permanent hands-on, interactive programming through the re-model of the Explorer s Cove, which will be converted into an underwater learning and play space. Four educational stations, Sea Species Wall, Don t Pollute, Mangrove Seed Pods, and a Book Nook featuring the Florida Water Story series are all part of the exhibit remodel. Each component will feature fish and wildlife conservation and habitat protection messages appropriate for children.

19 /2018 BAY MINI-GRANTS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING (November 16/17, 2017) This year $85,000 was available to fund Bay Mini-Grant projects. TBEP received 38 applications totaling $114,829 in funding requests. This list contains the grant applications that were not selected for funding. The judges felt the projects had merit but contained components that were not as strong as the recommended grant projects. This list represents the $26, that was not recommended for funding by the Community Advisory Committee (CAC). 1. City of Safety Harbor $5, Tampa Bay History and Living Legacy Funding for this project would focus on bookmarks, water bottles and video production costs to educate visitors about the history of the Bay and the Tocobaga people. 2. Creative Play School $5, Creative Play Preschool Estuary Education Initiative This project would provide for Growing Up Wild curriculum training and materials for students to use as part of an outdoor classroom experience. Field trips to Clam Bayou and supplies to further their 5-year plan for environmental education were budget items. 3. Cross Creek at Eastlake Woodlands HOA $1, Remote Control Precipitation Sensors for Community Dual Well-Based Irrigation System The HOA group would install remote control rain sensors on 2 wells that provide irrigation to a community along South Brooker Creek. Installation, tracking and adjustments of sensors for desired goals would run through 2018 hurricane season. 4. The Foundation for Sustainable Families $5, Sustainable Family Farm The Sustainable Family Farm project will educate and assist at-risk families and youth on how to sustain themselves and gain life skills through urban gardening and farming. Funding would provide for gardening supplies and administrative costs. 5. Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve $5, Lake Maggiore Mechanical Cattail Removal This Friends project would fund a third party contractor to work with the City of St. Petersburg staff to remove selected areas of cattails around Lake Maggiore. 6. Just Learn $ Ware s Aquaponics Classroom Grant funding would supply fish, gravel, plants and tank décor for a classroom aquaponics system to fill an existing empty tank. 7. Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful $5, Environmental Education Program

20 Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful proposed field trips, including hands-on lessons, to the Florida Learning Garden, located at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Funding would cover educational materials, instructor costs and supplies. 22

21 23 Bay Mini-Grant Schedule 2017/2018 Grant Cycle May 31st May 31st August 1st August 22nd September 15th September 18th October 5th October 5th October 6th November 1st November 16th November 17th December 1 st December 15 th January, 2018 Judge Selection for Bay Mini-Grant Committee at CAC Meeting Send out postcards (distributed at CAC meetings, etc.) Apply for grant Press Release for 2017/2018 Mini-Grants Grant Writing Workshop Webinar (3:00pm) Deadline to submit Mini-Grants to TBEP Mail grants to judging committee (including additional info.) Deadline for judges to submit reviews/scores to TBEP First cut judging meeting at TBRPC (3:00pm-7:00pm) Questions to applicants (if necessary). Responses ed to judges for decision. Mailout deadline for MB/PB Approval at MB meeting Approval at PB meeting Grants awarded, award letters, thank you letters to judges Press release to media Presentation at CAC meeting **Underlined dates printed in red require participation by CAC Bay Mini-Grant judging committee members.** G:\Bay Mini-Grants\2017 Mini Grants\2017_18_GrantSchedule.docx

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23 25 Agenda Item #7 Policy Board November 17, 2017 Investigation of potential for remediation of algal blooms by shellfish Recommended Actions: a. Authorize Executive Director to enter into agreement not exceeding $50,000 with the FFWCC-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute for investigations of the utility of shellfish to decrease severity of Pyrodinium bahamense blooms. b. Authorize Executive Director to amend Scope and Budget (up to $25,000) of agreement if additional funds become available. Background: Blooms of Pyrodinium bahamense have been occurring on an annual (summertime) basis in Old Tampa Bay since the early 2000s, with severe blooms occurring on occasion. These blooms, similar to other harmful algal species such as red tide, can cause both fish kills and create health issues for humans, both through respiratory problems and the potential for saxitoxins to cause direct illnesses after consumption of affected fish. An FWRI study completed in 2016 (partly funded through TBERF) characterized seeding potential of Pyrodinium bahamense cyst beds occurring in Old Tampa Bay. Some preliminary research has indicated that severe blooms of P. bahamense result from a combination of stormwater events and physical water quality conditions in Old Tampa Bay. Creation of shellfish (e.g., American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and Quahog clam, Mercenaria campechiensis) nurseries that could compete with the dinoflagellate for nutrients or directly consume the microorganism is a potential management solution for P. bahamense, but requires additional research within Tampa Bay to understand potential effectiveness and limitations. The duration of the project is anticipated to be 12 months. Funding for this project is from the TBEP FY workplan and may be leveraged with additional funding sources. Objectives: 1) Identify native shellfish species capable of survival during P. bahamense blooms in aquarium settings. 2) Investigate potential for those shellfish species to interfere with one or more life cycle stages of P. bahamense. 3) With input from the TBEP Technical Advisory Committee, determine next steps, including potential for larger scale (in-situ) experiments in Old Tampa Bay.

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25 27 Executive Director and Staff Reports

26 Public Outreach Report November Public Outreach activities during the 4th quarter of FY 16-17, covering the months of July-September 2017: Coordinated final draft of web-based Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan document, including actions and all required components. Produced a 12-page Public Summary of the CCMP. Managed the Facebook page for the Florida Birding and Nature Festival and produced postcards and flyers to promote it. Participated in an EPA Conference Call and walk-through of the CCMP for EPA and NEP staff. Gave a presentation at Brooker Creek Preserve for National Estuaries Day. Coordinated logistics for a 2-day Give-A-Day for the Bay event to celebrate National Estuaries Week at Perico and Robinson Preserves in Manatee County. Scheduled four (4) Give-A-Day events for workday season Provided content guidance and editing services for content for Bay Soundings website. Continued working with Euonia contractor for Communications Evaluation. Coordinated logistics to host students from Eckerd College for Into the Streets Coordinated logistics for Bay Mini-Grant judging session for CAC judging committee Maintained a database of contacts for volunteer opportunities. Coordinated tabling events and presentations attended by CAC members. Attended 2 EPA sponsored webinars for Trash Free waters and microplastics. Updated and maintained 3 Flickr accounts for Give-A-Day for the Bay, King Tide, and grant summary reports used for photos and sharing. Maintained and marketed #LoveTampaBay social sharing campaign, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels. Updated and maintained TBEP s social media tools, including a listserve, two Facebook pages, You Tube channel and Pinterest boards. Compiled and distributed monthly e-blasts with news of events and activities sponsored by TBEP partners. Produced a quarterly e-newsletter that is distributed to more than 5,000 people. Maintained a database of Give A Day statistics, such as number of volunteers, hours, description of work completed and number of acres restored. Tracked media mentions of TBEP and compiled in a quarterly summary. Served as staff coordinator for the Manatee Awareness Coalition and Community Advisory Committee. Served on the DOT Stormwater Education Committee, City of St. Petersburg Program for Public Information, Suncoast Invasive Species Cooperative Management Area, Hillsborough and Pinellas FY&N Advisory Committees, Let s Move Outside! Tampa Steering Committee, Trash-Free Waters Program and Bay Soundings Editorial Advisory Board.

27 29 Community Advisory Committee Report November, 2017 Among the CAC s activities 3rd quarter (July through September, 2017): Tra James and David Westmark attended Give-A-Day for the Bay at Perico Preserve AND Robinson Preserve; a 2-day event to celebrate National Estuaries Week. Total= 2 x 4 hours = 8 hours Jan Allyn, Sue Brandon, Harry Cunningham, III, Marjorie Karvonen, Kristin Lehman and Nadine Nickeson participated in reviewing and touring sites to determine the Golden Mangrove Award winner (for most outstanding Bay Mini-Grant) Total = 6 x 10 hours = 60 hours Kristin Lehman served as Golden Mangrove Award Chair, organizing review documents and coordinating schedules for site visits (in addition to the above committee duties) Total = 1 x 5 hours = 5 hours Jan Allyn tabled a booth at Sunrise Over the Bay Sustainability Summit at FWC/WFRI. Total = 1 x 6 hours = 6 hours Christine Sciarrino prepared and presented a PowerPoint, How I spent my summer break AgroEcology in Ecuador to the members. Total = 1 x 3 hours = 3 hours Tra James and David Westmark attended Management and Policy Board meetings. Total = 2 x 5 hours = 10 hours Jan Allyn, Stephanie Ellington, Jim Igler, Marjorie Karvonen, Kristin Lehman, Joanne Lentino, Andy Lykens, Nadine Nickeson, Cathy Quindiagan, Dorothy Rainey, Christine Sciarrino, David Westmark, Catie Wonders and Ray Wunderlich attended CAC meeting in September. Total = 14 x 3 hours = 42 hours David Westmark updated the CAC Facebook account to keep members informed of community events and opportunities (a closed group for CAC members only). Total= 1 x 2 hours = 2 hours Total CAC contributions for this quarter were 136 hours

28 30 TBEP Technical Advisory Committee Report August 18 November 15, 2017 TBEP Senior Scientist and Ecologist, in coordination with FDEP staff, conducted Seagrass Transect Monitoring around the Interbay Peninsula on August 24 and September 27. TBEP Technical Projects Coordinator and Ecologist led representatives from Restore America s Estuaries on a Blue Carbon Tour on August 23. TBEP Technical Projects Coordinator helped coordinate a Blue Carbon Workshop on August 24. TBEP Executive Director, Senior Scientist, Technical Projects Coordinator and Ecologist met with faculty from the USF College of Marine Sciences to discuss a pending Ship Wake Impacts to Critical Habitat project on August 30. TBEP Senior Scientist presented information to the technical team regarding information gained from the Open Science Symposium on August 31. TBEP Senior Scientist and Ecologist met with representatives from CSA to discuss the scope of work for the Hard Bottom mapping project on August 31. TBEP Technical Projects Coordinator attended several meetings to coordinate a Climate Science Adaptation Program workshop held at USF St. Petersburg Campus on October 4-5. TBEP Senior Scientist participated in monthly teleconferences to discuss progress and updates on the USGS- NASA SPARROW Model grant on September 5 th and October 3 rd. TBEP Senior Scientist, Technical Projects Coordinator and Ecologist assisted with a Give-a-Day native plant harvest at Perico Bayou on September 22. TBEP Technical Projects Coordinator attended the League of Women Voter s Sustainability Summit on September 23. TBEP Technical Projects Coordinator attended Shell Key Advisory Group meetings on September 20 & 25. TBEP Senior Scientist and Ecologist met with representatives from FWRI to discuss a project to investigate the potential for remediation of algal blooms by shellfish on September 28. TBEP Ecologist attended a webinar describing different components of the Federal Farm Bill Program on September 28. TBEP Senior Scientist presented and facilitated a Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium meeting on September 29. NMC participants reached consensus approval to submit the 2017 RA Update to FDEP and EPA by the end of October TBEP Ecologist attended a workshop at the EPA Gulf Breeze Laboratory to discuss Gulf of Mexico seagrass status and trends on October 1-4. TBEP Technical Projects Coordinator attended and moderated two panels at the ICAR Conference at USF-SP on October 4-5. TBEP Ecologist participated in sampling run for TBERF project investigating fish use of hard bottom habitat in Lower Tampa Bay on October 9. 1

29 31 TBEP Executive Director, Senior Scientist, Technical Projects Coordinator and Ecologist participated in Technical Advisory Committee meeting at RPC discussing multiple habitat topics on October 10. A link to presentations is: TBEP Technical Projects Coordinator met with TBRPC staff to discuss the CCMP Crosswalk Project on Oct. 10. TBEP Executive Director met with TNC and Florida Aquarium representatives on October 17. TBEP Senior Scientist participated in teleconference to plan for an ANEP Tech Transfer meeting session on monitoring programs in estuaries on October 18. TBEP Executive Director presented information on TB s recovery to the Wekiva Friends Organization on Oct. 20. TBEP Executive Director facilitated a session and presented at the Florida Marine Science Symposium in St. Petersburg, FL on October 25. TBEP Technical Projects Coordinator participated in a BIG-C Climate Compact meeting on October 25. TBEP Senior Scientist participated in a teleconference to discuss an Open Science Synthesis project on restoration success in the Tampa Bay estuary on October 27. TBEP Executive Director presented a talk at the Florida Marine Science Symposium on October 25. TBEP Ecologist attended a webinar on effects of shoreline type at watershed land use on seagrasses in the Chesapeake Bay on November 2. TBEP Executive Director, Senior Scientist, and Technical Projects Coordinator attended and presented at the Association of NEPs Technical Transfer meeting in Boston on Nov 3-5. TBEP Executive Director and Senior Scientist attended and presented at the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation bi-annual meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, from Nov 5-9. The TBEP and TB NMC were honored at the conference and received the 2017 Coastal Stewardship Award on Nov. 5. TBEP Ecologist presented information on the Tampa Bay seagrass recovery as part of a panel discussion at the Fifth Annual Stetson Wetlands Workshop on November 9. 2

30 Quarterly Progress Report to the Boards (Jul Sep 2017) 32 Project # 308 (MC) Project Name % Billed Total Amount Funding Source Contractor(s) Bay Mini-Grants (2015/2016) 78 Ongoing Tarpon Tag Multiple Quarter Accomplishments - Issues/Challenges - 17 grants were awarded in 2015/2016. Grants are underway. 14 projects complete. 2 grants had to be cancelled; 1 grant still active. Project # 308 (MC) Project Name % Billed Total Amount Funding Source Contractor(s) Bay Mini-Grants (2016/2017) 59 Ongoing Tarpon Tag Multiple Quarter Accomplishments - Issues/Challenges - 21 grants were awarded in 2016/2017. Grants are underway. 3 grants complete. None Project # (HG/ES/NO/MC) Project Name % Billed Total Amount Funding Source Contractor(s) EPA FY Workplan Completed $1,271, Workplan Multiple Project # (HG/ES/NO/MC) Project Name % Billed Total Amount Funding Source Contractor(s) EPA FY Workplan Completed $1,194, Workplan Multiple Quarter Accomplishments - Benthic and Seagrass Monitoring : All sites have been sampled. EPCHC delivered updated database ( ) of results 12/2014. Technical Support and Data Mgmt: USF completed Tidal Creek Hyperbenthos project; Report finalized. Tidal Tributaries Implementation: Flow monitoring conducted in Sugarhouse Creek; project completed 9/30/2014. Habitat Restoration Partnership: Old Tampa Bay Data Collection: Public Outreach: Give-A-Day: Partnership involved in review of Critical Coastal Habitat Assessment. TAC and HRP met April 21st. Project completed. Sediment data used to calibrate OTB Integrated model; SMEs have provided comments to project. Be Floridian Year 4 campaign completed (digital media buys, community outreach events, retail store materials distributed, and website maintained) 6 workdays were completed. Locations included were Pinellas, Manatee and Hillsborough counties. Issues/Challenges - None Project # (HG/ES/NO/MC) Project Name % Billed Total Amount Funding Source Contractor(s) EPA FY Workplan 96 $1,024, Workplan Multiple Quarter Accomplishments - Benthic and Seagrass Monitoring: EPCHC collected benthic samples Fall Updated database in Dec Technical Support and Data Mgmt: TBEP issued a 2nd year extension to our contractor for tech support in the future. Seagrass transect database updated thru Stormwater Evaluation: Completed. Contractor finished data summary report; Submitted journal article, awaiting editor/reviewer comments.

31 Tidal Tributaries - Year 2: Anticipated to be included as a component of the HMPU RFP. Old Tampa Bay Subject Matter experts: Continuing support from SMEs is anticipated through About 10% complete. Give-A-Day: 7 workdays were completed. Locations included were Pinellas, Manatee and Hillsborough counties. Public Outreach: Be Floridian Year 4 Media Campaign Completed; maintenance, updating of TBEP, Be Floridian websites; Progress Report to the Public preparation; ongoing communication tools including e-blasts, e-newsletters, videos, press releases, presentations Issues/Challenges - None. 33 Project # (HG/ES/) Project Name % Billed Total Amount Funding Source Contractor(s) EPA FY Workplan 94 $1,076, Workplan Multiple Quarter Accomplishments - Benthic and Seagrass Monitoring: Sample collection in Fall Database updated in Dec Technical Support and Data Mgmt: HMPU agreement executed with Scheda/ESA; kickoff meeting held; TAC presentation made on 10/17. BASIS 6 and Proceedings: Proceedings finalized in December 2016 and are available here. Give-A-Day: 5 workdays were completed in Pinellas and Manatee counties. Click to view photos. Public Outreach Year 5 Be Floridian Media Campaign completed; evaluation survey completed Be Floridian web revamp completed; 300,000+ visitors to Art of Being Floridian exhibit TBEP Progress Report completed; web-based Bay Opinon Poll conducted; Summer Camp Module completed CCMP Update underway, with Fish & Wildlife, Invasive Species drafts approved Issues/Challenges - None Project # (HG/ES/MC/NO/GR) Project Name % Billed Total Amount Funding Source Contractor(s) EPA FY Workplan 82 $1,300, Workplan Multiple Quarter Accomplishments - Benthic and Seagrass Monitoring: Benthic sample collection completed in Fall Database and interpretaive report anticipated by June Partners provided 2015 seagrass data seagrass transect data collected and being processed. Technical Support and Data Mgmt: All funds available for technical support contract; Anticipated to include as part of HMPU RFP. Dredge Hole Assessment Fisheries and benthic sampling complete, laboratory and data analysis continues. Ocean Acidification/Blue Carbon Blue Carbon report finalized and released. Developed USF Water Atlas story map based on results here. Currently in process of establishing OA monitoring site in Tampa Bay. USGS/OA Staff technician being supported. CCMP Vulnerability Final report completed. Give-A-Day: 6 workdays were scheduled. 5 have been completed, 1 was cancelled. Click to view photos. Public Outreach CCMP Revision completed, and posted as e-zine on website; Compact Public Summary completed and printed; quarterly newsletters, e-blasts, web updates and social media platform updated on schedule Law enforcement wkshop on manatee protection in TB completed, with 50 attendees. #LoveTampaBay social sharing campaign launched wth new content routinely added. Marketing support (postcards, flyers, Facebook content and ads) provided for FL Birding & Nature Festival Issues/Challenges - None Project # (HG/ES/MC/NO/GR) Project Name % Billed Total Amount Funding Source Contractor(s) EPA FY Workplan 50 $1,400, Workplan Multiple Quarter Accomplishments - Benthic and Seagrass Monitoring: Benthic and seagrass monitoring anticipated in Fall 2017; annual transect training complete Coastal Upland Restoration Targets HMPU agreement executed with Scheda/ESA and kickoff meeting held