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Informational Item <br />Office of the <br />INDIAN RIVER COUNTY <br />ADMINISTRATOR <br />Jason E. Brown, County Administrator <br />Michael C. Zito, Assistant County Administrator <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Members of the Board of County Commissioners <br />FROM: Jason E. Brown <br />County Administrator <br />DATE: March 15, 2019 <br />SUBJECT: Non -Binding Memorandum of Understanding for Research, Education and <br />Training, Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees <br />Last year the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) Foundation provided a grant to <br />establish the Florida Center for Coastal and Human Health for the purpose of addressing the <br />Health of Florida Coastal Ecosystems and Communities. Dr. James M. Sullivan, Executive <br />Director, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) — HBOI, was in touch with Indian River County <br />(IRC) Staff last fall as we dealt with the red tide issue. During our communications, Dr. Sullivan <br />offered Indian River County the opportunity to become a stakeholder in the FAU-HBOI Harmful <br />Algal Bloom (HAB) Center. <br />It is the intent of FAU-HBOI to actively work toward education and engagement of the public on <br />research results and work being undertaken to fill a critical need for understanding the significant <br />health threats associated with environmental changes on the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem. <br />Toward that end, I have executed a Non -Binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for <br />Research, Education,• and Training with the FAU Board of Trustees. No funding is required to <br />participate, but IRC is committing staff collaboration in research, educational, and training <br />projects. Should any future joint projects be proposed which would require funding participation, <br />a separate contract would be necessary and would be brought to the Board for consideration and <br />authorization. <br />For your information, please find attached the Executive Summary of the FAU-HBOI Florida <br />Center for Coastal and Human Health. Also attached is the MOU which specifies the Objectives <br />and Activities in which IRC will participate. <br />Attachments: Executive Summary <br />Non -Binding Memorandum of Understanding <br />5 <br />'7 A <br />