Resolution 111-2003
Commissioner Neugent
RESOLUTION NO. III 2003
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN
SUPPORT OF ISLANDS OF THE LOWER KEYS HABITAT PROTECTION
PROJECT WITHIN THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION BILL.
WHEREAS, habitat acquisition is a cornerstone of the recovery efforts for federally
endangered and threatened species in the Lower Florida Keys.
WHEREAS, Key Deer and Lower Keys marsh rabbit recovery efforts, as outlined in the
-South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan" (developed by the USFWS in 1999), serve as a
protective umbrella for numerous other rare and imperiled plants and animals and the natural
communities that support them, and
WHEREAS, this umbrella-effect also features prominently in the draft Habitat
Conservation Plan for Big Pine and No Name Keys, and Monroe County, Florida Department of
Community Affairs, and Florida Department of Transportation are now developing this plan with
an eye toward sustainable development with minimal impacts to endangered species in this
heartland of the Key Deer.
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Transportation has invested in underpasses for
the Key Deer on US Highway 1 on Big Pine Key,
WHEREAS, federal, state, and county land programs have acquired land to protect
habitat to meet the needs of the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan, and
WHEREAS, the needs of the Recovery Plan are beyond the capacity of the federal,
state, and county land programs, and
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Transportation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service,
the Florida Department of Community Affairs, The Nature Conservancy, and Monroe County
have collaborated on developing a proposal, Islands of the Lower Keys Habitat Protection
Project, to protect habitat to meet the needs of the Recovery Plan.
WHEREAS, this proposal is compatible with the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan,
Livable CommuniKeys, the National Key Deer Management Plan, the Coupon Bight/Key Deer CARL
Project, the Florida Keys Carrying Capacity Study, and the South Florida Multi-Species
Recovery Plan.
WHEREAS, the federal transportation authorization bill (-TEA3") provides funding for
high priority projects such as implementing ESA recovery plans, acquisition of development
rights, preservation of scenic vistas, restoration of wildlife functions, and paying for public
habitat conservation plans; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA
Section 1. Hereby declares its support and urges Governor Jeb Bush, Congresswoman
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Senator Bill Nelson and Senator Bob Graham to work for the authorization
of Islands of the Lower Keys Habitat Protection Project within the federal transportation bill.
Section 2. Hereby requests the Clerk to send certified copies of this Resolution to
the above-named dignitaries.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, at a
regular meeting of said Board held on the 19th day of March, 2003.
, ~ayor Spehar
~yor Pro Tem Nelson
I ;f()t.r'~S$iOner McCoy
! ~~R!mr~ioner Neugent
i, ~ommisS'toner Rice
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Attesf:t>;ANNY L.KOLHAGE, Clerk
By Jholul G. Lnu)6aM.:-tiJ
Deputy Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By ,i)J~ >n ~
Mayor/Chairperson
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