A. Commissioners' Item
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: Wed.. August 08. 2007
Division: BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes
No XX
Department: Mavor Di Gennaro. District 4
Staff Contact Person: Tamara Lundstrom
(305 289-6000)
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Discussion and acceptance of Rep. Mayfield's Interim
Wastewater Project plan addressing wastewater needs of the Florida Keys. The Monroe County
Board of Commissioners is requested to act as the local coordinating entity for wastewater
concerns in the Florida Keys.
ITEM BACKGROUND: In his capacity as Chair of the House Environment & Natural Resources
Council, Rep. Stan Mayfield requested and received approval from House Speaker Marco Rubio to
have the council staff pursue an interim project addressing the wastewater needs of the Florida Keys.
The stated purpose of the project is to develop a plan to address the wastewater needs of the Florida
Keys in the most cost effective and efficient manner. The goal of the project is to work with the
Department of Environmental Protection to facilitate the establishment, through interlocal agreements
or other means, of a single local government entity responsible for coordinating with the state
throughout the life of the project.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
BUDGETED: Yes
No
COST TO COUNTY:
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No
AMOUNT PER MONTH_ Year
APPROVED BY: County Ally _ OMB/Purchasing _ Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION:
Included XX
Not Required_
AGENDA ITEM # fl.
DISPOSITION:
Revised 2/05
The Florida House of Representatives
Environment & Natural Resources Council
Marco Rubio
Speaker
Stau Mayfield
Chair
July 25, 2007
The Honorable Marw Di Gennaro, Mayor
Momoe County Board of County Commissioners
Florida Keys Marathon Airport
9400 Overseas Hwy, Ste. 210
Marathon. Florida 33050
Dear Mayor Di Gennaro:
In my capacity as Chair of the House Environment & NlltlIral Resources Council, 1 requested and
received approval from House Speaker Marw Rubio to have the council staff pursue an interim
project addressing the wastewater needs of the Florida Keys. The stated purpose of the project is
to develop a plan to address the wastewater needs of the Florida Keys in the most cost effective
and efficient manner. The goal of the project is to work with the Department of Environmental
Protection to facilitate the establishment, through interlOClll agreements or other means, of a
single local government entity responsible for coordinating with the state throughout the life of
the project.
I am writing to inquire if the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners is prepared to
serve as this coordinating local government entity. The local government entity will be expected
to provide lhe following items:
. A single comprehensive plan identifying existing and proposed projects, including a
priority of sequencing projects, needed in meet the comprehensive wastewater needs in
the Keys;
. The status of existing and proposed projects and whether they are expected to meet the
20 10 deadline;
. A listing of the projected and actual project costs associated with completed and
proposed projects;
. A listing of existing and proposed sources and amount of funds needed to complete the
necessary projects.
July 25, 2007
Page 2
As part of the interim project, policy options to fimd tbecomprebensive wastewater project using
federal, state, and local funds will be developed and lIllAIyzed contingent upon receipt of the
infonnation listed above. As you are aWllre, the State of Florida is facing some difficult budget
constraints. . Although it is impossible to Icnow DOW what our budget outlook. will be during the
2008 Legislative Session, I believe it is impemtive that we proceed to develop a comprehensive
plan to meet the wastewater requirements established for the FloridllKeys in ch. 99-395, L.O.F
I recognize that some wastewllter projects are proceeding, and ( encoumge you to continue
working with the Oepatlment of Environmental Protection to move these projects forward. The
purpose of the interim project is not to stop or replace this process, but rather is to assist in
possibly expediting and assisting in the process in the future.
If the Board of County Commissioners is prepared to work. with the Legislature and the
Department of Environmental Protection as outlined above, please ask. County Administrator
Tom Willi to contact my Council Director, Tom Hamby, so thai they can begin the necessary
staff work.
If there are any questions, please contact me or Tom Hamby. Thank. you for your consideration
of this request.
Sincerely,
Stan Mayfield
Chair
SMfbjr
cc: The Honorable Marco Rubio, Speaker
The, Honorable m AI_der, Chair, Senate General Government Appropriations
The Honorable Ray Sansom, Chair, House Policy & Budget Council
The Honorable Ron Saunders, Representative, District 120
The Honorable Dixie Spehar, Mayor Pro Tem
The Honorable George Neugent, Commissioner, District 2
The Honorable Charles McCoy, Commi.ssioner, District 3
The Honorable Sylvia Murphy, Commissioner, District 5
Secretary Michael W. Sole, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Thomas J. Willi, County Administrator, Monroe County
Tom Hamby, Council Director, Environment & Natural Resources Council
222 The CapitoL 402 Soulb Monroe Streec, Tallahwec. Florido 32399-1300
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Mayot. ~IlIG1nnaro. 0I$trICt ~
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Ge!l!lIIl~1lIIbItl2
Cl1lIiIIis"'SllMf" l4clCDv,_d J
S>,twIa J. MurllhY. _ S
OiSrml4 Office:
9400 0\IliP,l0I$ HIQllway
-~ -AIIpQrt
SUllo 210
H.""""", I'\. 33050
Ph; JOS 28HOOO
Fx: 305 21U3b6
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.
Ju:ly 3D, 2007
MA VOR'S REPORT &. COMMENTS
RE: CHAIRMAN MAYI'IBLD'S JUL V 25, 2llO7 WASTEWATER LEITER
On Tuesda)',luly 24, J meI willi FIarida.O\I!pIl1meni of Community AffIlirs Secretary Tom
Pclhan:l. Th.. following day myoffieerelcUCda l'e)lolI!oOVClY-- in lito Keys concerning this
mCbling. In my W~IIC$CIayI'epClrtIIilalkl~\oYI1!11e~ofourCOllCOn"*di$CllUions aboUI
wastew,ter issuea,lIIICllllY -pllnslQ~wlibJlk\rKII~ 1Il_ ofBDviro\unellllllProlection
Sccretuy Mieh6C1 W. SolU$ S()(l!l..pcJIi$i~~nj"!llb<*-Is$1Ies. At~ in IllY released
report, much ofol1l'~y.-ms_wilI19l1l'20J~W~leI'dti8d'_' I eXl'lained to th..
Secretary tbe dlff~uliies ullOOOfdl~~.~"I,~ ptelCnI for region'l sewering
done mosl efl'cetivcly, efficiently lIIIClquidlly, JlladpolJlied.Qtltat our1'uesday mee';ng th,t the e~idcnee
is in lbal untreated. wasteW8ler is now entering IntodleoClll'8ll1lefsySlem.
On the _ day that I iHUedmY~lrepoI1, I "*iv~1ll inquilyfrolll the Honorable State
Represenouiv" from Vero Beacll,SWt~CIIlIjJ' of lite Hourc Environment &. Namal Resources
Council, an irtlJ)OltlllllandC(l~ HOI!Selelderwilh~1Ioln llladpmlously rtIc1. Chairmi/l Mayfield
has now asked me iflbe MoDroe CoImlYBOen!q,fcow.lYCollllXllssiOUlS is~ 10 serve as the
cool"dinOli"g local govelllllll!lllllllllty to work Wilblbe~illlnlofEnvironllUlllll!l PMtection to
f&<:ilitate the establisltmont~interlq,cal~(lI'l\Ibet~ of &sinal. local entity
responsible for coonIinatil1lwitlJtIte.woin~il!l~~needs ofllle Florida Keys-
lhrougholIlllle Gfe ofdleocreation and oponliollof.fdMKtys..willl>_ systelll.
We lIlust remembct ~~lalive Maylield iI......,atorfroaJ 1I10lher region of our great
state. Still, RepreNllIIdve~f.leIcI~~.s"*"'l4ollllerelt in preseNinl ,nd enhancing th.
quality of bolh our _ and offsllllioWllerS. MlIYfieldNl'Ol1S having requested and h,v;"g
received Hourc SpoaJccr MatW RIlblO" ~..~pume III io1erim proj~ of, quite
simply, _!JIg if our local KOyaacw-menta' . 'lieuaII promptly and now put aside
parcelli,l klcal political illl~so~we hn . andllte"te as whole mishl achieve a
regiona1Jy f., jpUter loWl0<lti,Cl/llIlroDmcnlJWj1oWCOiIIto IOC~ as whole. Tbis
woo Id _10 me 10 rtIe8IllhtI." sevenq,r more lq,cal WIISIe1Nliler.lI~l.wi\lhave to pi tbeir aclS
togetber and coon agree to. commoaplall fon singloe.llI!ina or new single purpose w_ Mtity.
Mayor's Report. Mlyfield W..-erldter
July 30, 2001
Page 2
A single aulhDrily would move lbo ppweralld dldyfor makillgdlfficllll wastewlter de<: isions
away fro", aUf well-ihlRllecl~~~ibUt$l)Vtlml1lO'1181 bodies 8hd meil officials and give
them to . body llIal I <VOIIld IilcelAlbelieYll~bll~icIlllylllOnl ~at 8hd distinclly focused upon
p\ll"$uing aUf __ 8O*ls: compIe1ely _vedftmii lbo perilout \IIciaillldes local po Ii lies often
present This ....ould comporI"ilhth6iJl8led puIJlOSO&et out J!I~veMaytield's letter, which"
to develop a plan to ad4resslbo~Ilt!IllSQr*1llt1eFlclrida~ "111 '._1 CMf effeclive and
efficlem I7IQ7IIIn" len\'phuislnorisil1tll,AI!y"plllQl~OU lllia wou;ld need to be well before tile
regvll\I 2008 leglslative S-iOll.
I thlnk we sbouIclbll.l!ld an: ~to 8CCI!PIlbo role IS ltIe loc.Il jIovemment body to lJy to
bring the local public s\lIIceIlOIdentoptber. ,. SIAlIt.ooltJer bodies should_brace this written offer
by Il1e House leatJershipll> ....pfotbeplllellllthotlUllJlep uide-ibrany ohs ulced to do so, including
Monroe Cowrty-iJl ortJertolllll$lngle.~IlPO~~ver~ llpDeY 1\10 0111
wastewater ope1'8lioM. 1~Ihllt'1I ~"~t8ll41:ost ofl'eetl:wl" willroe8h to the state. The
total costa visited upoo USUlcoheIliYCI!'II!lPfor IP/llP!I!I' COlI oftiI=ient-u.g of the entire FIo~
Keys would Ilmosl c:cl'l8inly.bllllluch loWCtthart die p6IllIltiIl>eoSts we wJII III collectively beat if We foil
10 get thejob done. WllllhouldllOtpunuo.~i2lcd8ll4 inefficient ll8'Ii. This 1_ possibility and
opening comes fronl.-eoflbolllO$tpowetfulol~ oQ"lCpinllliu-. 8lI4 We are very fOl'tWllte
Ihllt it dons. The bealth of our coni JllIl~01II'~8lI4 outCIIIIls are atstako. We simply caN10t let
this opportunity for llIe ~ as wholulipawe)', I willulttlteCommi~on 10 aceept lbo Chairman'.
invitatioo for the CoUDty's;role, I~m)'f<<lllOWcommi8fli!ltmswill SlIppoItrnll in this,j\lSl uthey did
last ~ber when lbo Bo8rd. appoil!1e4111tt1o _<<luilS liaison 10 Stale aa-:i.. on housing and land
use mattm. I will do llV.inJI_~inthll.cIJIIlll!Y8lI48S M!Iyt>r 10 forp a lIIlified coalition. I
hope my fellow commiaiollera will all_ all die indlvidpl political influonce ea'*' of them has
lUlywhlll'll in the Keys 10 wille us wiIh Tallah,vllll_and for all 011 wasteWater plllIls.
My read of me lillie's oll'c:risthlt ltisnot an iDvitation tapla)' "let's Make a Deal: but rather s
one last cblUlce 10 opt in 011 ''Hero's lbo 0181." W<<lllhoul!l opt in, There will be little lalerance for IIIld no
time wasted by the illite ouany ~ffIlIS. T InIaJ(/ 1()I11'IIlother lcoal olec:ted offic ials IIIld agency
board memi>ers 10 support Chairman 8lI4~Rlll:lio'sinili8tlve and I *1so uIt each of tIIose 10CJl1
leaders to bite lbe poliricalllaJklt 8lI4_ all ofl!loit colleQtive IlIdint/ividll8.l politieaJ iu.fhJonce to gain
further public suppol'! for iL My pt lidls me this Is alaat clwlcll in IIIIlIY respects. I ask Illat the local
media use its influence U I earriflr l>f~ ta 1Il8ke5lUetha public IalOwa about this offer, what losing
this opportunity migbl_fOl' our commu.oity,lIIld wbo ends up~ in reacbing I Key"-wide
solution, and wbo does DOt, an!lwhy not. J hlveulteddleCOUllty statflo malee a copy of Chairman
Mayfield's July 25 laner _iIa/lleOll dleCOWIty's WIlblilll, Ilongwith I copy my rernatlcs here and a
copy of my written respoose 10 Chairman Mayflold.
I personllly do not care who the tlnalllllhority will be.. J am not an enginur or land use expert.
However. my OWl! bllsiDClubatlkl!'lllllldtollsmethllWll ntlOdlO QIl:d this particular inveslOr partner's
stated assistance criteria. l'hMO criteria~il'e>1hllt woi>e asollieienund cost effective as possible/or
the Keys Q.f Q whole. I suspect thII die... may bll muCh less lnelined 10 provide funds 10 any Key'
wastewater llolity jf wo eIecllO COIItlnuolO pul'IUtI~ly indllpendent smaller and I..s ellieienl
individll8.l profJl'lIIIls. SuCh prognmalpore basic pritlClple$ ofllCOllOllric& of seale. Multiple smaller
systems will in fact I~, b\)Ihinitiallylllld IntolbefiJlute. COIIlIlOnllo create and operate tIwln would
I single COIIlpfllheIlsive oonrdinaledcol1Cctillll aIld~1 systClIn. A continued ~ and
tlIlS)'IlCllronized Keys-as-usua11lal1el c>r.ea/1et!more~JIIIy~J8P clince here may llldmalely cost us
dearly and everybody needs to IalOwthat. Svety omeial/lereilllbo Keys should, in this Ilea, II this
jl.lllCtWe, think not only oflllo iIlleN$lS of~it!llreet"conslitutlll"'. but of llVOty other penon living on
those islands other tban those where C8CIt olliela! lIIldherc>r Ilis.direet eonstiluency live. To do so now
would truly serve hoW' bigber civic duties 10 die Keys, i1s resi&nls, 0l1I' onvlrOllDlool and our fuwre.
Mayor's Report. Mayfield W.....1er LelIa'
July 30.2007
Page ),
JUpTese~tative Mayfield, al..waklr~V'ero...l\h, poUIdy but clearly ltIIlinded me in bis
letter that "the Slale of Florida ilflIcI!ltallldil1iilu1t~COIIS1JllinI$. Although il is impossible to
know now what Our budget OlItloK wiD~dIUillltlle2008Legislatlve Session, I ~lj$Ve it is imperative
Illal we proceed to ~Iop a comprebllllSive plall to _ tile w_ requirements established for lI1e
Florida Keys" under present _Jaw.
.As the Mayor of our Cowlly,I want us to psp lbis~. Of c:ourse I am oDly one vote of
Ii ve 00 the COlXlJJ\ission 011 whil\h J Silo W~ have 10 aclfaslto beconle prepared to respond to
Represeolalive Mayf1ll1d'a oxtoIIIivl>informa#PR rcqpe$/$ Ibo," <lUl'wholo ~ _waler program if
we are to ~blo lOfIOlhor a plalloflllll~iIllhDoto~ actcdllJlOllilllbe next ngulu Session,
The ChaJnnan'. olfer to wOIIt OIllllllllllllill'l$~Iy<1Ollli.nl IIJIOII ourgOllingtoaether rigM now
&!Id to sWi puUing 'IOImer the IooaI projed ud needsinfonnalion tile Chairman has requested,
The Chairman allo does not want us totalee his IeIter as any reason to sit back or in any way
disconlioue workiAg with tile \)eparlment ofBov~ Proloclion to move cumont projects forward,
The o1fer ill Chaimwl Wayfield'.1ellor i. tobavetlie ~nder awed condlIions, assist us in possibly
expe4iting md assiSllng iJllbe procelIS ofl:OWCl'ingthewboloKeys, We shouIdJ!Olstop work we are
already doing, nOT shoIald wo Ci)QCWdeOl' aBSIIIlIOthaltlleChalnnall'$lel111r ilsolfreplll/lC$ our oeed ro
keep moving forward wbonwer we can. 1 ~y~ theCounlyCommiaaionls prepared to acupl
Chairman Mayfield's proposed roIoIQTtlleCountyastlle imIIIlCCllll'diDlliJlIooal body for this initiative,
IDdaod, I hope and tUtlyexpe>ctil Iolllllllitn/lualy and Cftiphatic.l1y - that ili. allUlXt month's regular
meetina in Key Larao. Chairman ~ roqUllatodthatlask our CountY Administrator 10 follow up
with _ sIaff lfwo _ iIIdoed iIleliDed 10 accept hi. invitatiOll. I have directed OIIr Administrator to
ageoda this ma~r for <iiIII' next ~Iar 1d00000glllldl htve inllttUctcd him 10 odviso stale stttf thaI this h..
been done,
r bave alreody spobn andlorJllOtwithR.epretentllliva Saunc!ets, Florida Keys Aqueduct
Authority Execulive mrector Jim lloylIold$, Mayors IiNll and McPherson, &!Id Key Largo W..lewater
District Boatd MlllDber Alldy Tobin !lODCCl'Ililiathlalmportant opponunlty,
~-:fa/L-
Mario DI Gennaro
Monroe Collll1Y Mayor
MDGlU
"": The HoDQTtbJo MMco Rubio, Spotker
Tho Hol1OTtblc JD AI8xMder, Chair. Salala 0-1 (joyommant Appropriations
Tho Honorahls RJIy s--. Chair. IfooH Policy & Budget Couneil
Tho HOllOl8ble Ron Swnd8rs, ~ tllstrlcl120
The Honorable Larcenia BuIIIrcl,. Florida SeIIale, District }9
SecretaI)l Michld W. Sole, Florida DspartnIetlI of Environmental Protection
Secretary Thomat G. PoIhanl, Plorida Dspartmsm of COllIlduuity Affairs
O-se Le Mloull, Chief ofStafl'. Govemor's Olta
TOtIl Hamby, CoulICiI DiRctor,l!nvi_t .:w.l!1nl Resources Council
Rodney Barreto, ChaIr, Florida Fith & Wlldllf~ COllImlaaion
Mayor's Rcpcrt. Mayfield Wastew81er Lellbr
July 30, 2007
Page 4
Ce's: Conrinued
The HonorabJ..Morfiad McPbinon. Mayor, Cily oiKey West
The Honorable Chtls Bill!. Mayor. City of Manlboo
Th.. Honorable David 1iIoenIeJ, ~or, \l11l1'~ of ldamorlda
Tbe Honorable Clyde llunlOI. Mayor, City of Key Qlloay Be8eb
Th.. Honorab!. NOI'IIWI AndlinIoo. Cily oiLayloD
Gary Bauman. Chair. KqLlqo W Trea.lm8l\t DlIIIict Boolrd
Ill:n Reyokfs, IllleCUllv. tlinIIIlor,
I. Robert Dean, Cllair, FIU.A lklilrd
The HoflOllble Dlx.Ie SI''''''', Mayor Pro Tem
Tho Honorable Ooolplitllpm, CommlaaiQner, DIsIriel2
The Honorable CIIuIeI McCoy. QI~. Dlslrict 3
The Hononblo SylYia Murphy. Cemm'-iOl\Ol, DlIIIict S
Thomas J. Willi, County Admiai_, Mooroe County