Resolution 066-2021 RESOLUTION NO. 066 -2021
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS URGING THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT GOVERNOR
RON DESANTIS' STATE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022
BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TO CREATE THE
"RESILIENT FLORIDA" PROGRAM.
WHEREAS. the climate is changing, manifesting in significant impacts to Florida,
including increasing average temperatures, more intense storm events, and rising sea levels;
and
WHEREAS, sea level rise. caused by the thermal expansion of warming ocean water
and melting land ice as the earth warms. is one of the most evident impacts in Monroe County
given the County's low-lying elevation and porous geology; and
WHEREAS, in the coming decades, rising temperatures are likely to increase damages
from storms, harm coral reefs, and increase the frequency of unpleasantly hot days; and
WHEREAS. if the oceans and atmosphere continue to warm. sea level along the
Florida coast is likely to rise one to four feet in the next century; and
WHEREAS, rising sea levels submerge wetlands and dry land, erodes beaches, and
exacerbates coastal flooding; and
WHEREAS, tropical storms and hurricanes have become more intense over the past
20 years; and
WHEREAS, cities, roads. critical infrastructure. and water supplies in Florida. and
particularly in Monroe County. are highly vulnerable to the impacts of storms and sea level
rise; and
WHEREAS, even if storm intensity does not increase, coastal homes and
infrastructure will flood more often because storm surges will become higher as sea levels rise:
and
WHEREAS, Florida's coral reefs are susceptible to warming waters and ocean
acidification, as rising water temperatures can harm the algae inside corals and provide food
fbr them; and
WHEREAS, changing climate combined with sea level rise is likely to impact tourism
if measures are not undertaken to combat the effects; and
WHEREAS, Governor Ron DeSantis recommended the formation of "Resilient
Florida" in his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 to tackle the challenges posed by
sea level rise, intensifying storm events, and flooding; and
WHEREAS, if adopted, "Resilient Florida" would use revenues from the slate's
documentary stamp tax to pay for the debt service on $I billion in bonds for projects carried
out by local governments that address the impacts of climate change; and
WHEREAS. "Resilient Florida" could provide funding for projects ranging from
preserving land to elevating roads to addressing the impact of sea level rise on government
structures or services; and
WHEREAS, "Resilient Florida" would also provide grants to coastal counties, coastal
municipalities, and inland counties that have not completed vulnerability assessments related
to the threat of sea level rise; and
WHEREAS, substantial resources are needed to address and implement steps to fight
the impact of sea level rise on Florida in general. and South Florida in particular.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the Board:
Section 1. Approves the foregoing recitals, which are incorporated herein by
reference.
Section 2. Urges the Florida Legislature to adopt Governor Ron DeSantis's state fiscal
year 2021-2022 budget recommendation to create the "Resilient Florida" program.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution
to the Governor, Senate President. House Speaker, the Chair and Members of the
Monroe County State Legislative Delegation, and the Secretary of the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection.
Section 4. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the legislative action
set forth in section 2 above and authorizes and directs the Director of Intergovernmental
Affairs to amend the 2021 Slate Legislative Package to include this item.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
this 17th day of February 2021.
Mayor Michelle Coldiron Yes
Mayor Pro lem David Rice Yes
Commissioner Craig Cates Yes
Commissioner Eddie Martinez Yes
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p_ ommissioner Mike Forster Yes
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Ey ,0 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
'h EVIN MADOK. CLERK OF MONROE COUNTY. FLORIDA
BY C BY
As Deputy Clerk Mayor Michelle Coldiron
//NROE ATTORNEY
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ASS! NTY ATTORNEY
Date 2/18/21
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Kevin Madok, CPA
' Clerk of the Circuit Court&Comptroller—Monroe County, Florida
March 2, 2021
Honorable Governor Ron DeSantis
State of Florida,The Capitol
400 S Monroe Street
Tallahassee FL 32399-0001
Honorable Governor DeSantis,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 066-2021 urging the Florida Legislature to
adopt Governor Ron DeSantis' Stale Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget recommendation to create the
"Resilient Florida" Program.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 17, 2021. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at (30.5) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of
the Circuit Court& Comptroller&
ex-officio to the Monroe County
Board of County Commissioners
by: Pamela G. Hancock, D.C.
cc: Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson
Florida House Speaker Chris Sprouts
Representative Jim Mooney, District 120
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, District 39
FDEP Secretary Noah Valenstein
Rhonda Haag, Chief Resilience Officer
File
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