Volume 20, Issue 7                                                             August 2018
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In This Issue
A Message From Your President
Judy Grim
Thank you for the honor of serving as your President this year! As we celebrated FSA's 25th Anniversary this past year, it was amazing to see how far the Association has come. FSA is truly the premier stormwater association, not only in the State of Florida, but in the country.

As your President, I have several goals I would like to see us accomplish this year: 
  • Continue the Leadership Committee with the purpose of identifying and engaging future leaders
  • Keep members engaged and informed
  • Improve/Grow conferences
  • Keep the Training Center materials current, specifically update the Level 1 manual
  • Increase membership with a specific focus on underrepresented geographic regions
  • Protect our interests in the Legislature and the Courts
In the upcoming issues of the newsletter, the Committee Chairs will discuss their committee's objectives and planned activities. This year, we have a very high number of committee members and I believe this is due to the formation of the Leadership Committee by your Past President, Tiffany Busby, and the efforts of the management staff encouraging members to serve on a committee. To all the committee members, we appreciate your involvement and know the Association will benefit from your increased participation.

I hope to see you at the Fall Seminar in Lake Buena Vista in September, the Winter Conference in Lake Buena Vista in December and the Annual Conference in Sanibel next June. Please consider having your staff attend Training Center Classes and consider hosting a class at your facility.

As stormwater management in Florida continues to be challenging, we are fortunate to have an association such as FSA with its top-notch membership to help us to meet these challenges. We will continue to host informative seminars and conferences and provide vendors who can showcase their emerging products and technologies. FSA has an outstanding team, with the Board providing direction and the management staff implementing the direction. We are all fortunate to be members of FSA!

Judy Grim, FSA President 
We Want to Hear From You
L ocation, location, location! FSA is seeking your input as we plan for future Annual Conferences. Let us know what's important to you when selecting a conference location and venue.  Please take a few minutes to answer a brief, 8-question survey by September 7, 2018.  Each person that completes the survey will be entered in a drawing for a free Annual Conference registration!
Renewals Have Started!
Keep your membership current and don't miss any of the great member services that are available to ALL of the employees in your organization! First renewal notices for FSA's 2018-19 fiscal year were sent in mid-August by mail and email to the primary membership contact for your organization, allowing local government members to pay next year's dues with remaining funds from the current fiscal year. Moving forward, keep an eye on your inbox for renewal emails from FSA! Questions?  Call us at (888) 221-3124.
Phase 2 MS4s - 2018 Renewals
Some of the Notices of Intent for Phase 2 permits for jurisdictions that discharge to an impaired waterbody where there is not an adopted BMAP contain Requests for Additional Information (RAI) asking that the MS4 prioritize and develop a schedule for implementing BMPs to address the pollutant of concern discharging to the waterbody. FSA counsel believes that FDEP is not authorized to make such requests without first going through a normal rule-making process. Discussions between FSA and FDEP on the issue are continuing. Please email FSA with any questions or to let us know if your jurisdiction was asked to provide information on your RAI.
Register Now for the Winter Conference
Registration is now open for the 2018 Winter Conference. We invite you to join us at the B Resort in Lake Buena Vista from December 5-7, 2018. The conference features a robust agenda with two days of preeminent stormwater education presented by accomplished stormwater professionals throughout Florida. This year we will also offer two Pre-Conference events - the biennial "DEP Day" co-sponsored by FDEP and the required "Laws, Rules and Ethics" for Professional Engineers.  Register now to take advantage of discounted, early bird pricing!
West Palm Beach SWU Fee Appeal
FSA, the League of Cities, and the cities of Tampa and Gainesville filed a brief in support of the City of West Palm Beach's appeal of the latest circuit court decision. The December 2017 decision found that the Palm Beach County School Board was not obligated to pay stormwater utility fees even though the School Board acknowledged that they received benefit from the City's stormwater management system. The court found that there has been no statutory waiver of sovereign immunity from the payment of stormwater fees and there is no contract between the School Board and the City for the provision of stormwater fees; therefore, the School Board enjoys sovereign immunity from the suit for non-payment of the City's stormwater fees. FSA and the City disagree with this finding. This case may be one of the last remaining disputes where there is a possibility of generating an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. A decision by the District Court of Appeals is expected by early 2019.
Fall Seminar - September 7, 2018
FSA's Fall Seminar will be held in Lake Buena Vista focusing on Improving Water Quality Through Stormwater LID and BMPs. This Seminar will present a comprehensive overview of the primary methods to maintain and improve surface water quality while meeting new water quality criteria and permit conditions in your jurisdiction. Case studies of stormwater Green Infrastructure/Low Impact Development techniques and Best Management Practices will be discussed.
Wetlands Delegation to FDEP
The comment period on FDEP's proposed rules amending Chapters 62-330 and 62-331 assuming the administration of the federal dredge and fill permitting program from EPA and the US Army Corps of Engineers ended on July 31, 2018. FSA submitted comments to EPA, the Corps and FDEP requesting that the program be reviewed every five years to determine (among other things) that projects permitted under the delegated program are consistent with the permit conditions and current water quality criteria. Legislation passed during the 2018 Session to specifically authorize FDEP to assume the federal dredge and fill permitting program from EPA and the Army Corps.
Fogarty Training Center
FSA's Fogarty Training Center holds up to 25 classes throughout Florida each year. A current list of classes may be found on the Training Center's webpage. Both Level 1 and Level 2 Certified Stormwater Operator classes meet the requirements of your MS4 permit for initial or "refresher" training of stormwater staff in: 
  • Erosion and Sedimentation Control
  • Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
  • Spill Prevention and Remediation
  • Good Housekeeping Practices 
  • High Risk Facilities

Need to recertify in 2018? The last online option for recertification will be held on November 6, 2018. Don't let your certification lapse! FSA certifications are valid for five years so check your status on the FSA website today.
 

Establishing Stormwater Utilities in Florida
FSA's manual Establishing a Stormwater Utility in Florida was prepared to assist communities that are considering the development, implementation or revision to their stormwater utility user fee for stormwater management program. It is written for citizens, elected officials, and city/county administrators and staff who want to understand the issues, benefits and community investment associated with stormwater utilities. First published in 2008, the Manual was revised in 2003 and in 2013. Order your copy today!
FSA Career Center
Did you know that FSA members can post position vacancies on the FSA Career Center at no cost (i.e. FREE!) for 30 days? Visit the Career Center to post a job announcement or to search for open positions.  
We appreciate your feedback! Please don't hesitate to contact us if have any questions about FSA. 
Sincerely,
Florida Stormwater Associati on
Website: www.florida-stormwater.org
Toll-Free Phone: 888-221-3124