PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – County Commissioner John Tobia is pushing to rescind a $10 million county tax allocation targeted for a new aquarium proposed by Brevard Zoo.
Plans call for the aquarium — formally known as the Indian River Lagoon Conservation Campus and Aquarium — to be built at Port Canaveral at a cost estimated at about $70 million, News 6 partner Florida Today reported.
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The County Commission in September approved using a total of $10 million, spread over eight years, from the county's 5 percent Tourist Development Tax on hotel rooms and other short-term rental for the aquarium.
But Tobia contends that the money could be better used for projects that would more directly benefit the Indian River Lagoon and improve its condition.
Brevard Zoo Executive Director Keith Winsten, however, responds that the aquarium is a good investment in the lagoon. He said it will educate those who visit the aquarium about the lagoon and what the public can do to improve its condition.
"I can't think of a better investment for the Indian River Lagoon," Winsten said. "We're very excited about it. Bottom line is, the aquarium is a great investment in saving the lagoon that turns Tourist Development Council funds into conservation action, and the zoo has one of the best track records in the county actually doing restoration work in the lagoon with shoreline restoration, oyster reefs and seagrass planting."
The funding was recommended in July by the advisory Brevard County Tourist Development Council and its Capital Facilities Committee.
In Tobia's resolution to rescind the funding agreement — which he will introduce at Tuesday evening's County Commission meeting — Tobia cited such things as:
• Severe fish kills in 2013 and 2016.
• Algal blooms in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018.
• Brown tide that is "negatively impacting fisheries, recreation, tourism and property values."
• Pollution of the Indian River Lagoon being a major contributor to the loss of more than 60 percent of seagrass beds.
"Events such as algae blooms and fish kills have a deleterious effect on local
quality of life and tourism," Tobia said in his resolution. "While the Indian River Lagoon Conservation Campus and Aquarium may provide residents and visitors with a source of entertainment, its contribution to lagoon restoration would be minimal, when compared to direct appropriations for that purpose."
Tobia added that, "should the aquarium be a viable project within the free market, it would remain a welcome addition to Brevard County attractions."
Tobia is referring to development of the zoo without using tax money.
County commissioners in September approved the $10 million allocation for the aquarium by a 3-1 vote. Voting in favor of the funding were Jim Barfield, Rita Pritchett and Curt Smith. Tobia voted against it, and Kristine Isnardi was absent that day. Barfield no longer is on the County Commission, as he was replaced in November by Bryan Lober.
The $10 million from the tourist tax would be part of a potential $20 million in public funding for the aquarium, with the other $10 million potentially coming from the state or other government grants. Another $20 million would come from private donations from corporations or individuals, with $30 million coming from debt financing by the zoo. Winsten said that debt would be repaid with revenue from aquarium operations.
The aquarium is targeted to open in 2022.
An economic analysis of the aquarium by Market & Feasibility Advisors LLC of Chicago estimates that the aquarium could attract an average of 575,000 people a year. Of those, 27 percent would be Brevard County residents, 37 percent would be from other Florida counties, 32 percent would be from other states and 4 percent would be from other countries.
Winsten said other studies estimate that the aquarium would draw 525,000 to 690,000 visitors a year.
In comparison, more than 468,000 people a year visited the Brevard Zoo in Viera in 2018.
The aquarium would be at least a 130,000-square-foot facility, with 60,000 square feet of it enclosed.
It would have an admission price — based on the value of 2018 dollars — of $24.95 for adults, $19.95 for children 3 to 11, and free for children under 3.
"In addition to the tremendous positive economic impact of $85.5 million annually and job growth of 937 jobs, the aquarium is designed to keep a spotlight shining on the lagoon," Winsten said. "It is the perfect use of Tourist Development Council funds that drives tourism while protecting our natural resources."
Winsten said the aquarium would educate people "on how to live with the lagoon and our other aquatic ecosystems."
Assuming annual attendance of 525,000, "if you take the county’s investment of $1.25 million per year for eight years, this will cost us $2.38 per person per year for the first eight years for this hands-on, engaging approach to changing behaviors," Winsten said. "After the first eight years, the aquarium will do this for free for perpetuity. This is the least expensive way to educate people about how to manage their landscapes, improve their septic systems, etc."
Winsten also noted that the aquarium complex would include a "conservation hub where researchers from Florida Tech, University of Central Florida and other universities will share collaborative work spaces, and join forces with students and citizens to tackle Indian River Lagoon problems."
The zoo also said it would commit at least $1 per paid admission to be put into Indian River Lagoon conservation programs.
"This adds a perpetual stream of funding for the lagoon," Winsten said.
Winsten said officials from the zoo and Port Canaveral have reached "an agreement on principle" for the zoo to lease the land from the port, but the deal has not yet been signed.
The proposed 14-acre site is undeveloped land south of State Road 528 on the south side of the port.
Under the proposed lease agreement between the port and the zoo:
• The term would be 30 years, with three five-year options.
• There would be rent charged, starting in year two, based on paid attendance, with increases proportionate to admission fee adjustments.
• The port also would receive an additional base rent of $250,000 a year, beginning in year five after opening, and no later than Oct. 1, 2027. The base rent would increase by 2.5 percent a year.
• The port would provide up to $3.5 million in infrastructure benefiting the parcel, including for George King Boulevard improvements, extension of water and sewer service, and stormwater connections.
Winsten said Tobia's resolution to rescind the county funding for the aquarium was a surprise to him. Winsten said he found out about it when he received an email Wednesday containing the County Commission agenda for next Tuesday's meeting.