Resolution 474-2021 MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 474 -2021
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION AND
PROTECTION OF BISCAYNE AND EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARKS,
AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE UPPER
KEYS, AND OPPOSING ANY CIVILIAN AVIATION OPERATIONS AT THE
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE (HARE) AND URGING THE UNITED
STATES AIR FORCE TO AFFIRM ITS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL RECORD
OF DECISION ISSUED IN 2001 PROHIBITING NON-MILITARY AVIATION
ACTIVITY AT HARB, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners has an interest in
protecting the environmentally and economically important environmental resources of the
Everglades National Park, the Biscayne National Park and the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary, and the protection of residents of the Upper Keys from the air and noise pollution and
other adverse effects of civilian aircraft takeoffs and landings and other impacts; and
WHEREAS, the Everglades is a national and statewide environmental treasure and
includes uniquely important and diverse natural resources; and
WHEREAS, the Everglades National Park, the Biscayne National Park and the Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary are all part of a South Florida ecosystem that is critical to the
regional economy; and
WHEREAS, the conservation, use and protection of wetlands, unique vegetative
communities, listed species and species of special status on mainland, water quality, marine
benthic communities, and fisheries in Florida Bay is critical to South Florida; and
WHEREAS,the continued environmental and economic viability of Florida Keys depends
on the preservation of those environmental resources and on the continued protection of the
quality, tranquility and peace of our surrounding waters and airspace over those waters; and
WHEREAS, the Federal and state governments have authorized and appropriated
significant public investment in the restoration and preservation of the Everglades and South
Florida ecosystem and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; and
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WHEREAS, Monroe County continues to invest in and to work in partnership with state
and federal agencies to protect its existing public and private investments from sea level rise and
to restore and protect the health and economic value of its marine environment; and
WHEREAS, the environment, economy, public safety, and community character of the
Florida Keys can be substantially affected by land use decisions in southern Miami-Dade County;
and
WHEREAS, the Homestead Air Reserve Base is located in this highly sensitive
environmental area with Biscayne National Park 1.5 miles to the east, the Everglades National
Park 8 miles to the west, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 10 miles to the south;
and
WHEREAS, in early 1990's, the Homestead Air Reserve Base was subject to a Base
Realignment and Closure Commission recommendation to surplus 1,632 acres, which
subsequently precipitated plans to redevelop that surplus land for commercial aviation purposes;
and
WHEREAS, in 2000, Congress singled out the Homestead Air Reserve Base and its
sensitive surroundings when it approved its 2000 Water Resources Development Act(WRD)bill,
warning that redevelopment of the site for commercial aviation"could potentially cause significant
air, water and noise pollutions and result in the degradation of adjacent national parks and other
protected Federal resources," and urged federal agencies "to carefully consider and weigh all
available information concerning potential environmental impacts on various reuse options" in a
manner"consistent with the goals of the Everglades restoration plan;" and
WHEREAS, on January 15, 2001, the Air Force signed the Second Supplemental Record
of Decision(ROD) for Portions of the Former Homestead AFB and the ROD was developed based
on consideration of the December 2000 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
(SEIS), correspondence received by the Air Force, and other relevant factors; and
WHEREAS,the Air Force decided in the ROD to offer approximately 747 acres of surplus
property to Miami-Dade County for mixed-use development, but will not allow non-military
aviation use at the site. The Air Force will retain the runway and airfield areas at the former base
for its own use and those areas will continue to be maintained by the Air Force and used by the
Air Force Reserve, the Florida Air National Guard, Customs Service, and other federal agencies;
and
WHEREAS, in 2001, the United States Air Force issued a Second Supplemental ROD
finding that potential redevelopment of HARB involves special circumstances due to its proximity
to and location between two national parks which are under assault from urbanization and other
pressures, and because of the huge national and state investment being made in protecting and
restoring the south Florida ecosystem; and
WHEREAS,the 2001,United States Air Force Second Supplemental ROD concluded that
the Air Force will not allow the environmental impacts of a commercial airport in this unique
location because the development of a commercial airport in such close proximity to Biscayne
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and Everglades National Parks poses unacceptable risks to these natural resources and is contrary
to the purposes of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan; and
WHEREAS, in 2004. Miami-Dade County acquired approximately 600 acres of the
surplus land, and is currently pursuing a Joint-Use Agreement with the United States Air Force
that would allow the County to make use of portions of the HARB facility that remains under the
ownership and control of the Air Force; and
WHEREAS,the past history of efforts, and current stated intentions of some Miami-Dade
County officials, to put the airport facilities at HARB to substantial economic development uses
create a likelihood that allowing the general aviation uses for which Miami-Dade County is
currently seeking approval will result in the subsequent expansion of aviation activities to include
more intensive commercial uses, such as cargo transport; and
WHEREAS, public statements made by a number of Miami — Dade County officials
during the October 8, 2020 meeting at which the Miami-Dade County Commission adopted a
Resolution directing continued negotiation of a continued joint use agreement with the US Air
Force declared an expectation and intention that a general aviation use would allow cargo shipping
operations; and
WHEREAS,the legal and practical limitations may preclude subsequent ability of a local
government to limit civilian operations at a facility authorized by the Federal Aviation Authority
for such purposes; and
WHEREAS,adverse impacts to natural resources and the peaceable enjoyment by citizens
and residents of their homes, communities and environs that may be necessary in the interests of
national defense are unacceptable when proposed for general economic purposes;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are hereby incorporated as if fully
stated herein.
Section 2. The Monroe Board of County Commissioners expresses its opposition to any
non-military aviation operations at Homestead Air Base, and its support for strict
enforcement and adherence to the 2001 US Air Force's Second Supplemental Record of
Decision (ROD),for Disposal of Portions of the Former Homestead Air Force Base (AFB),
Florida, and the long term stewardship of all lands controlled by the federal government
within the South Florida Ecosystem to restore and protect these unique natural resources.
Section 3. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to transmit certified copies of the
Resolution to the Mayor and Commissioners of the Miami-Dade Board of County
Commissioners.
Section 4. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida,
at a regular meeting held on the 8th day of December,2021.
Mayor David Rice Yes
Mayor Pro Tern Craig Cates Yes
Commissioner Michelle Coldiron Yes
Commissioner'District 3 _ Vacant
Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein Yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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A VIN MADOK, CLERK
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Approved as to form and legal sufficiency by c i ``
Robert B. Shillinger,Monroe County Attorneyann ;L
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Robert B Digitally signed by Robert B.Shillinger
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County BOCC,ou=Monroe County r ...r1
Attorney,email=shillinger- 'n C
Shillinger Date:2021.121010:46:11 05'005
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G� `..?`"ac 11
4.' '°4Al°,, Kevin Madok, CPA
h bo .... '.; Clerk of the Circuit Court&Comptroller—Monroe County, Florida
December 15, 2021
Honorable Chairman Jose"Pepe"Diaz
Commission District 12
8345 NW 12th Street
Miami FL 33126
Honorable Chairman Diaz,
Enclosed is a certified copy of Resolution No. 474-2021 supporting the preservation and
protection of Biscayne and Everglades National Parks, and the natural resources and communities
of the Upper Keys and opposing any civilian aviation operations at the Homestead Air Reserve
Base (HARB) and urging the United States Air Force to affirm its second supplemental record of
decision (2001) prohibiting commercial aviation activity at HARB.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on December 8, 2021. Should you have any questions
please feel free to contact me at(305) 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: Vice Chairman Oliver Gilbert, III Commissioner Cohen Higgins
Commissioner Jean Monestime Commissioner Kionne McGhee
Commissioner Keon Haredemon Commissioner Javier Souto
Commissioner Sally Heyman Commissioner Joe Martinez
Commissioner Eileen Higgins Commissioner Rene Garcia
Commissioner Rebeca Sosa Planning&Environmental
Commissioner Raquel Regalada File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY PK/ROTH BUILDING
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88820 Overseas Highway 50 High Point Road
Key West,Florida 33040 Marathon,Florida 33050 Plantation Key,Florida 33070 Plantation Key,Florida 33070
305-294-4641 305-289-6027 305-852-7145 305-852-7145