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RESTORE scorecard goes to Commissioners

April 15, 2015
/ Carlton Proctor
/ community-dashboard

A scoring system to divvy up some $150 million in potential oil-spill related fine money goes to Escambia commissioners Thursday despite concerns by local environmental activists. The scoring criteria is the result of more than two years of public meetings by the all-volunteer, nine-member RESTORE Act Advisory Committee, established by commissioners in October 2012. [sidebar] WANT TO GO: The special meeting of the Escambia County Commission to accept the RESTORE Advisory Committee's recommendations is set for the Pensacola Bay Center at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 16. [/sidebar] In a meeting earlier this month the committee members agreed on a 98 out of 100 point scoring system that gives weight to projects in three major categories: — Environmental, 20 points — Economic, 20 points — Infrastructure, 20 points. — Baseline (regulatory), up to 15 points; — Up to 23 bonus points for neighborhood, cultural, education and other needs that don’t fit the other categories. All of the criteria are here. Despite the balance in points given the three major categories, local environmental activists made a strong push to persuade committee members to set aside a specific percentage of the total RESTORE funds for projects that focus on environmental needs. The committee declined that request, and agreed to recommend Escambia Commissioners use its point scoring system. “There was a core group of environmentally minded and community minded folks who have attended basically every meeting we’ve had who were disappointed in the outcome last week,” said Christian Wagley, a member of RESTORE advisory committee. Wagley said the group collectively felt that environmental project should have their own category, and based that feeling on the result of a recent online, county-sponsored survey that showed the public favored giving greater weight to environmental projects. “My view is that we've gone out and asked the public how they want the oil spill fine money spent, and the input was overwhelming they want to see it spent on environmental projects,” Wagley said. “I think it’s very dangerous to ask public what they think, then not show that you're honoring that input,” Wagley said. Susan Feathers, who recently retired from the University of West Florida, has attended nearly every RESTORE advisory committee meeting over the past two years. Feathers said she will attend the commissioners’ special meeting Thursday said she is taking a “wait-and-see” approach to the scoring system. “The scoring criteria they’ve put together allows any project to be scored across all the categories; environmental, infrastructure and economic impact,” she said. She isn’t buying into the controversy over creating a stand-alone environmental category. “I'm not concerned about environmental interests being pitted against business interests,” she said. “The scoring system is not drawing hard-and-fast lines in the sand. “I’m confident the proposed projects will make a broad impact on the community and reach out and have a positive effect on under-represented people and neighborhoods.” RESTORE committee member Alan McMillan said he stands by the group’s decision to recommend the scoring criteria to commissioners. “We were given a charge from the commission to develop criteria in three areas; environmental, infrastructure and economic development,” he said. “And it’s my responsibility to strictly adhere to that charge.” McMillan, former CEO of the National Safety Council, said the RESTORE advisory committee has received an “incredible amount of input” from the public during its meetings over the past two years. “And that input has been very strongly environmental,” he said. “That’s a good thing, but it’s my responsibility to look beyond that, and put that public input into perspective.” Jessica Koelsch of the National Wildlife Federation, also has attended most RESTORE meetings over the past two years, as well as attending similar RESTORE meetings in the other seven Florida counties expected to receive fine money. “My feeling is that this was environmental disaster, and it was the environment that was affected first,” Koelsch said. “I’ve heard others say the economy was hit much harder than environment. “But whatever damage was done it all ties back into the environment. When the environment is healthy, the economy is healthy.” However, Koelsch said she wants to see projects that have a direct impact on all three major categories, and the scoring system allows for that. “The commissioners chose those RESTORE Advisory Committee members because they trust them,” she said. “From what I’ve seen the community is super involved, the RESTORE committee is super attentive, and it’s very encouraging to see the county commissioners are paying attention to this important issue.”

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RESTORE scorecard goes to Commissioners

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