09/17/1997
Policy and Procedures for Expenditure of Boating Improvement Funds
Policy:
It is the policy of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners that Boating
Improvement Funds be used for the sole purposes of providing recreational channel
marking and public launching facilities and other boating-related activities, for removal
of vessels and floating structures deemed a hazard to public safety and health for
failure to comply with F.S. 327.53, and for manatee and marine mammal protection and
recovery. Up to 30% of each year's allocation may be used to fund a temp'Qrary st~ff _ _ ,
position dedicated solely to planning and/or implementing boating improve~nl n
projects.
Background:
Florida Statute 327.25 provides that a portion of the funds received from :"J
noncommercial boat license fees be returned to County govet:Qments to furld boatin9"1
improvement projects. In the past, these fees went to the Florida Boating IrTll)f()ven1~nt
Program within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Counties
would then apply to DEP for funds in the form of grants to fund individual projects.
During the 1996 session, the Florida Legislature enacted Chapter 96-321, Laws of
Florida, which changed the manner in which DEP administers the funds. The intent of
the change is to allow counties direct access and administration of the funds. DEP will
now distribute the funds directly to each county on or about the end of each State fiscal
year.
Therefore, Monroe County will now receive these Boating Improvement Funds (BIF) on
or about June 30 of each year. The funds are a portion of the fees collected from
noncommercial boats which registered in Monroe County during the previous State
fiscal year.
Procedure&:
· Proposed projects to be funded by Boating Improvement Funds will be reviewed by
staff and by the Marine and Port Advisory Committee (MPAC) for eligibility and merit.
· Proposed projects approved by MPAC will be forwarded for approval to the Board of
County Commissioners. This will be in the form of a resolution to identify and
reserve funding for the project.
· Staff may choose to bring a proposed project directly to the Board of County
Commissioners without MPAC review if the project is time d~pendent and would be
greatly delayed by waiting for r~view at one of the quarterly meetings of the MPAC.
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BIF Policy and Procedures
· A separate account will be set up for each project approved by BOCC with funds
transferred from the main Boating Improvement Fund account.
· Staff will determine whether it is necessary to use a portion of the yearly allocation to
fund a temporary staff position to assist in carrying out approved projects. If so, they
will make such a recommendation to the MPAC and then to the BOCC. Up to 30%
of each year's allocation may be used for this purpose.
· The site of a proposed land-based development project shall be dedicated for public
recreational use. If owned by the County, the project site must be dedicated in
perpetuity. There shall be a dedication which shall extend for a minimum period of
twenty-five years after project completion if control of the site is by lease, permit,
management agreement or other similar instrument. The qedication shall be
recorded in the public property records. ~
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on 17th day ofAeptembeA.D., 1997.
MAYOR Keith Douglass
COMMISSIONER Shirley Freeman
COMMISSIONER Jack London
COMMISSIONER Mary Kay Reich
COMMISSIONER Wilhelmina Harvey
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