Item K3BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: July 15, 2009
Bulk Item: Yes X No
Division: Growth Management
Department:
Staff Contact Person/Phone #: Andrew Trivette
Ext. #2517
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a letter by the Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners to be sent to Michael W. Sole Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FEDP) requesting they reconsider its current criteria for the Small Community Wastewater
Construction Grants Program (SCWCGP), specifically the criteria for "disadvantaged communities" to
enable Monroe County to apply.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The requirements to comply with the Advanced Wastewater Treatment
Standards under the Clear Water Act are four times stricter and 70% more expensive than other areas
in the State due to its fragile ecosystem. Without the ability to apply for SCWCGP funds the cost per
homeowner will run between 12% and 45% of the median household income and exceed by 10 times
the standard of financial hardship established by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Additionally, the designation of Monroe County and the Florida Keys as an Area of Critical State
Concern by Chapter 380-0552 of the Florida Statutes serves as a justifiable basis for inclusion as a
"disadvantaged community" for disbursing state revolving fund monies and this designation should be
added as a criterion for additional funding. The Federal Government allocated $68,000,000 to the
SCWCGP as a part of Florida's stimulus monies. Monroe County is currently ineligible for this
funding source.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: n/a
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval
TOTAL COST: 0 INDIRECT COST: BUDGETED: Yes No
COST TO COUNTY: 0 SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty _ OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #
County of Monroe
Growth Management Division
Office of the Director
2798 Overseas Highway
Suite #400
Marathon, FL 33050
Voice: (305) 289-2517
FAX: (305) 289-2854
We strive to be caring, professional and fair
June 4, 2009
Secretary Michael W. Sole
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
M.S. 49
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Dear Secretary Sole:
Board of County Commissioners
Mayor George Neugent, Dist. 2
Mayor Pro Tem Sylvia J. Murphy, Dist. 5
Kim Wigington, Dist. 1
Heather Carruthers, Dist. 3
Mario Di Gennaro, Dist. 4
We are writing to call your attention to a matter of great importance to Monroe County. As you know,
the County is facing a July 1, 2010 deadline to comply with the Advanced Wastewater Treatment
Standards under the Clean Water Act. The requirements in the Keys are four times stricter and 70
percent more expensive than other areas in the State due to its fragile ecosystem.
Without assistance, these costs will be borne at the local level creating an unjust financial hardship to
most of our residents. The cost per homeowner will run between 12 percent and 45 percent of the
median household income. These costs exceed by 10 times the standards of financial hardship
established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency whose regulations state that when a
community's wastewater charges exceed 2 percent of the median family income, they impose a financial
hardship.
We ask that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection reconsider its current criteria for the
Small Community Wastewater Construction Grants Program specifically, the criteria for "disadvantaged
communities" to enable Monroe County to apply. The County's true socio-economic profile includes an
average working wage that is far less than the median income with 40 percent of families earning less
than $40,000 per year.
Further, we feel that the designation of Monroe County and the Florida Keys as an Area of Critical State
Concern by Chapter 380.0552 of the Florida Statutes serves as a justifiable basis for inclusion as a
"disadvantaged community" for the purpose of disbursing state revolving fund monies. It is our proposal
that designation as an Area of Critical State Concern be added as a criterion for additional funding
through the State Revolving Fund Program to Keys wastewater projects, lessening the individual burden
placed on our residents.
Thank you for your consideration of this timely matter. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
George Neugent
Monroe County Mayor
cc: The Honorable Bill Nelson
cc: The Honorable Mel Martinez
cc: The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
cc: George Ames, Chief of State Revolving Fund Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency