Item M4BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: Wed. August 17, 2011 Division: BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes ____ No XX Department: Comm. David Rice
Staff Contact /Phone #: Tamara Lamarche, X6000
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Update on the status of the proposal for the Customs Entry Service
facility at the Marathon Airport Terminal.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Personal aircraft and boating cruisers arriving in the Middle Keys from foreign
locations have to clear Customs within 24 hrs. of their arrival in the U.S. To do so, they have had to go to
Miami or Key West, resulting in extra expenses for fuel or by other means of travel. The City of Marathon
approached the County in mid-2009 to launch a proposal to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for a user-
fee Customs Entry Service Facility at the Marathon Airport Terminal. The proposal has the support of the
Governor, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, local municipalities outside of Marathon, and the local Chamber of
Commerce, as well as area business interests.
The User Fee designation requires the local government entity to provide the appropriate facility per
Customs requirements and provide funding for the salaries of the Customs officers to staff the facility which is
currently approx. $250,000 per year. Customs staff has made inspections of the airport terminal and will begin
working with the County to design draft renovation plans for the building to create the Customs facility area and
an estimate of construction costs will be calculated. The County will engage in discussions with the City of
Marathon for avenues to cost share expenses of construction and the on-going costs of the Customs personnel
salaries.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
The Board approved on June 16, 2010 to begin the process
of making a formal request to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for a user-fee Customs Service Facility at the
Marathon Airport. Marathon Airport Manager, Reggie Paros, presented a detailed briefing to the Board on the
issue December 16, 2009.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
__________________________________________________________________________________
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST: INDIRECT COST: ______________BUDGETED:
YesNo _____
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE: _______________________________________
COST TO COUNTY:SOURCE OF FUNDS:
___________________
REVENUE PRODUCING:AMOUNT PER MONTHYear ____
Yes No
APPROVED BY:
County Atty OMB/Purchasing Risk Management ____
DOCUMENTATION:
Included Not Required____
DISPOSITION:AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 7/09