HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-20-33 Support AguaCulture, LLC Pilot ProgramRESOLUTION NO. R-20-33
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, INDIAN RIVER
COUNTY, FLORIDA; SUPPORTING AN INNOVATIVE PILOT PROJECT BY
AGUACULTURE, LLC TO REMOVE INVASIVE AQUATIC VEGETATION
AND UNCONSOLIDATED SLUDGE FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE WHICH
WILL REDUCE NUTRIENT POLLUTION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING
FOR SCRIVENER'S ERRORS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABIIITY; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the health of Lake Okeechobee is intricately connected to wellbeing of our state, its
residents, wildlife, and our economy; additionally, nutrient loads in Lake Okeechobee and the
downstream estuaries annually exceed allowable levels; and
WHEREAS, legacy nutrients, and unconsolidated sludge contribute to harmful algal blooms and
damaging release to the coastal estuaries; and
WHEREAS, unless a concerted effort is made to remove nutrients from Lake Okeechobee,
billions of dollars that have already been spent furthering efforts to restore the Florida Everglades and
protect our estuaries will never be realized; additionally, this a scalable, versatile, cost effective solution
that provides economic benefit with the potential to be utilized statewide; and
WHEREAS, Aguaculture LLC will remove unconsolidated sludge, blue green algae, and
invasive aquatic vegetation mechanically and create a soil amendment to grow crops which will then be
harvested, permanently removing a minimum of 2,000 pounds of phosphorus daily; and
WHEREAS, Aguaculture LLC has identified agriculture interest in the region to partner with,
has applied for a DEP Innovative Technology Grant with the Fish and Wildlife Commission as a sponsor
and is pursuing similar grants and funding opportunities; additionally, the Army Corps of Engineers,
FDACS and SFWMD have committed their resources to realizing this initiative and they are asking for
support from our City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA, as follows:
SECTION I.
1. City Council of the City of Sebastian, Florida, recognizes that Lake Okeechobee is
worth protecting for the benefit of all and nutrient reduction is a primary goal to protect our
waters.
2. Removing legacy nutrients will help combat algal blooms. Solutions must be
implemented that support the billions of dollars Floridians have invested in saving the Everglades
and our estuaries. This project also shows promise for future use for waterbodies in Indian River
County and specifically the City of Sebastian, Florida, due to its Flexible nature.
3. Aguaculture, LLC has a scientifically vetted, closed -loop process that permanently
removes or reduce nutrient pollution from our waters that contributes to harmful algal bloom. 4.
City Council determined it necessary to join our state and federal agencies in support
of this innovative pilot project by Aguaculture, LLC to remove invasive aquatic vegetation and
unconsolidated sludge from Lake Okeechobee.
SECTION 2. RATIFICATION OF RECITALS. The foregoing recitals are hereby ratified
and confirmed as true and correct and are hereby made a part of this resolution.
SECTION 3. CONFLICT. All resolution or parts or parts of resolutions in conflict herewith
are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. SCRIVENER'S ERROR. Sections of this resolution may be renumbered or re -
lettered and corrections of typographical errors which do not affect the intent may be authorized by the
City Manager, or the City Manager's designee, without need of further action of City Council by filing a
corrected copy of same with City Clerk.
SECTION S. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this resolution are intended to be severable.
If any part of this resolution is determined to be void or is declared illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional by
a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this resolution shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. The resolution shall become effective upon adoption by
City Council.
The foregoing resolution was moved for adoption by Council Member Hill . The motion
was seconded by Council Member MCPartlan and, upon being put to a vote, the vote was as
follows:
Mayor Ed Dodd aye
Vice Mayor Jim Hill aye
Council Member Fred Jones aye
Council Member Chris Nunn aye
Council Member Bob McPartlan aye
The Mayor there upon declared this resolution duly passed and adopted this 91° day of December, 2020.
CITY OF SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA
By: = -
Mayo
ATTEST: _
--
ette Williams, MMC, City Clerk
Approved as to form and legality for reliance-
bytheC" of Seba ' no -- -----
tyfanny n, r., t Attorney