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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA BOARD MEMORANDUM TO: Board of County Commissioners THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator Kylie Yanchula, Natural Resources Director THROUGH: Eric Charest, Assistant Director, Natural Resources Department SUBJECT: Indian River County Climate Vulnerability Assessment Final Report DATE: March 10, 2025 DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS On March 11, 2025, Indian River County Staff brought before the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) the Draft Indian River County Climate Vulnerability Assessment (VA) study prepared by Tetra Tech, Inc., for review and comment as part of the Public Meeting requirement under the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Reimbursement Grant. The Draft VA, prepared in accordance with Florida Statute 380.093, identifies critical assets at risk of flooding associated with increases in the frequency and duration of rainfall events, storm surge from severe weather events, and projected sea level rise. Critical assets include transportation and evacuation routes, critical infrastructure, community and emergency facilities, as well as natural, cultural and historic resources. Once complete and approved by the BCC, the VA is intended to be utilized for future adaptation planning efforts to identify resiliency and mitigation projects for potential grant funding which dovetails off the FDEP's Comprehensive Statewide Flood and Sea Level Rise Assessment that was recently completed. Comments from the March 11, 2025 BCC meeting, as well as comments received from a public hybrid meeting held on February 26, 2025 at the County's Intergenerational Center and on Zoom, have since been incorporated into the final Climate Vulnerability Assessment Study that is being submitted to the BCC for approval. Once approved by the BCC, the final plan and supporting maps will be submitted to the FDEP in accordance with Grant reporting requirements. The County will then submit a request to the FDEP under Resiliency Grant Agreement 23PLN15 for complete reimbursement on expenses incurred to produce the report ($248,675). FUNDING There is no additional funding required for this item. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the BCC approve the final Climate Vulnerability Assessment and authorize Staff to submit the final VA to the FDEP in accordance with grant reporting requirements. ATTACHMENTS 1. IRC Resilient Florida VA Final (Print copy available in Commission Office for viewing) 222