Item Q08BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
County of Monroe A
Mayor Heather Carruthers, District 3
( T$ne Florida Keys (, Mayor Pro Tem George Neugent, District 2
t� ) ��` ��
�' Danny L. Kolhage, District 1
David Rice, District 4
Sylvia J. Murphy, District 5
County Commission Meeting
October 19, 2016
Agenda Item Number: Q.8
Agenda Item Summary #2156
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: County Attorney's Office
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Bob Shillinger (305) 292-3470
n/a
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Discussion and direction regarding request from the U.S. Board of
Geographic Names for input regarding the request of the owner of an island in the City of Marathon
to change the name to Bella Mare Key.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The U.S. Board of Geographic Names has requested input from the
County Commission regarding a request by the owner of an island in the City of Marathon to change
the name to Bella Mare Key. Attorney Patrick Stevens filed the request with the Board of
Geographic Names on behalf of the owner. The Property Appraiser identifies the island as one of
the Fanny Keys. According to the PAO's website, the subject island is east of the other Fanny Key.
The City of Marathon has also been asked to provide input.
The recommendation form from the Board of Geographical Names lists the following options:
a) Approve the Proposed Name
b) Reject the Proposed Name
c) Take Action as Specified below (with space for comment)
d) Render a Decision without a Recommendation
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: None.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: None.
DOCUMENTATION:
Bella Mare Key Monroe County Commissioners recommendation form
Bella Mare proposal
Review List 425 Bella Mare Key
Email to Mayor Carruthers from Board of Geographic Names
PAO Map of proposed Bella Mare Key
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date:
Expiration Date:
Total Dollar Value of Contract:
Total Cost to County:
Current Year Portion:
Budgeted:
Source of Funds:
CPI:
Indirect Costs:
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts:
Revenue Producing:
Grant:
County Match:
Insurance Required:
Additional Details:
none
If yes, amount:
REVIEWED BY:
Bob Shillinger
Completed
09/29/2016 4:01 PM
Bob Shillinger
Completed
09/29/2016 4:01 PM
Budget and Finance
Skipped
09/28/2016 5:47 PM
Maria Slavik
Skipped
09/28/2016 5:47 PM
Kathy Peters
Completed
09/29/2016 4:35 PM
Board of County Commissioners
Pending
10/19/2016 9:00 AM
M-07 USGS
sciewe tor a changingr
U.S. BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES
GEOGRAPHIC NAME PROPOSAL RECOMMENDATION
Proposed Geographic Name Bella Mare Key
This is to notify the U.S. Board on Geographic Names that the:
Monroe County Commissioners
(Name of government entity, organization, or individual)
recommend that the U. S. Board on Geographic Names:
Approve the Proposed Name
Reject the Proposed Name
Take Action as Specified Below
Render a Decision Without Our Recommendation
Comments (the following factors contributed to this recommendation; attach supporting
documentation if appropriate):
(Name)
(Address)
(City, State, ZIP Code)
(Signature)
Return to: U.S. Board on Geographic Names
U.S. Geological Survey
523 National Center
Reston VA 20192-0523
Telephone: (703) 648-4552
Fax: (703) 648-4549
E-mail: BGNEXEC@usgs.gov
(Title)
(Telephone)
(E-mail)
(Date)
DOMESTIC GEOGRAPHIC NAME PROPOSAL SUMMARY
REGION - Propose New or Change Name
Name Proposal ID:
9031
Date Created:
31-AUG-16
Date Submitted:
31-AUG-16
Proposed Name:
Bella Mare
Action Requested:
Name an unnamed feature
Existing Name:
Unnamed Evidence:
An email from Jennifer Runyon dated May 3, 2016 proposal #8909
Locally Used:
No
Locally Used Years:
Local Conflict:
No
Local Conflict Detail:
Additional Details:
REGION - Feature Information
GNIS Feature ID:
Feature class:
ISLAND
Descriptive information:
This is a small island just off the shore of Vaca Key in Marathon Florida.
Meaning or significance:
The name translated in Italian is "Nice Sea" with the water of the Florida Keys and all is beauty and gentleness this name seem very fitting.
Commemorative:
No
Biographical information:
Supporting materials:
No
REGION -Supporting Materials
No information entered.
REGION - States and Counties
State Name County Name
Florida Monroe
REGION -Geographic Coordinates
Obtained From Describe Other Lat Deg
Min Sec Long Deg Min Sec Decimal Lat
Decimal Long Details
Map
24.712712
-81.109469
REGION -Administrative Areas
Administrative Area Type
Administrative Area Name
Details
W
City This island is located within the City of Marathon County of Monroe State of Florida
City of Marathon
onU)
REGION - Maps and Documents with Name
No information entered.
REGION - Other (Variant) Names and Their Source
No information entered.
REGION -Authorities
Last Name First Name Phone
Email Address Physical Address City
State Zip
Occupation Years
Senmartin Mark 3057430033
9805 Overseas
senmartinm@ci.marathon.fl.us Marathon
Florida 33050
City Counsel (Current
3
Hwy
Mayor)
Lindsey Chuck 3052894130
lindseyc@ci.marathon.fl.us H8V05 Overseas Marathon
Florida 33050
City Manager 1
overseas
CEO of the Marathon
Samess Kyle 3053044459
Marathon
ceo@floridakeysmarathon.com h�y1
Florida 33050
Chamber of 9
Commerce
0
REGION -Submitters and/or Preparers
CL
L
Role Last Name First Name
Phone Email Address Physical Address
City State Zip Company Title
CL
Law
SUBMITTER Stevens Patrick
Overseas
3057435281 pstevens@flkeysaflorney.com
Marathon
Offices Of
33050 Attorney
Hwy. Ste. 1
Hwy.
Patrick M.
Patrick
Stevens
DGNP Guest
Quarterly Review List 425
(56 names)
Released September 23, 2016
UNITED STATES BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES
WASHINGTON, D.C.
This Quarterly Review List presents names proposed for geographic features in the United States.
The names are offered to (1) identify previously unnamed features, (2) provide official recognition
to names in current local usage, (3) resolve conflicts in name spellings, applications, and local
usage, or (4) change existing names. Any organization, agency, or person may indicate to the U.S.
Board on Geographic Names (BGN) their support or opposition to any name proposed herein by
submitting written evidence documenting their position.
The names herein are official for use in Federal publications and on maps upon approval by the
BGN. Only one name is official per geographic feature; however, a shortened version of an official
name may be authorized, and these are identified by underlining. The use or omission of non -
underlined words is optional.
Variant names and spellings discovered in researching a name are listed following the word "Not."
These may include names and spellings that formerly were official, historical names known to have
been previously associated with the feature, names that conflict with current policies of the BGN,
misspellings, and names misapplied to the subject of the proposal.
If a populated place is incorporated under the laws of its State, it is specified as such in parentheses
after the feature designation. Populated places without such designations are not incorporated.
The information following each name indicates the submitting agency or person, the most recent
base series map* for locating the feature, the reason for the proposal, and other pertinent
background facts needed to assist the BGN in its decision process. Each paragraph also includes a
link to available maps services showing the location of the feature. A copy of this Review List has
also been posted to the BGN's website at htlp:Hgeonames.usgs.gov/domestic/quarterly list.htm.
Effective immediately, the horizontal datum used for geographic coordinates in all Domestic
Geographic Names publications is the North American Datum of 1983. The datum of some
geographic coordinates from historical maps may still be the NAD27.
Comments on the name proposals may be sent to: Mr. Lou Yost, Executive Secretary, U.S. Board
on Geographic Names/Domestic Names Committee, 523 National Center, Reston, VA 20192-
0523; telephone (703) 648-4552; fax (703) 648-4549; e-mail BGNEXECkusgs.Rov. .
THE NAMES IN THIS REVIEW LIST MAY BE USED ONLY AFTER APPROVAL BY THE
BGN
*Standard map series published by the U.S. Geological Survey, USDA Forest Service, or Office of
Coast Survey.
FLORIDA
Bella Mare Key: island; 1.6 acres; the eastern island in Fanny Keys, 1.2 mi. W of Marathon, just W of
Palm Island; the name is Italian for "Nice Sea" which reflects the beautiful, gentle water surrounding the
island; Sec. 9, T66S, R32E, Tallahassee Meridian; Monroe County, Florida; 24°42'46"N, 81°06'34"W;
USGS map - Marathon 1:24,000; Not: Aloe Key, East Fanny Key, Fanny Key, Fanny Key Island
htip://geonames.uses.gov/pls/gazpublic/getesricoor?p lat=24.712712&p longi=-81.109469
Proposal: new name for unnamed feature
Map: USGS Marathon 1:24,000
Proponent: Patrick M. Stevens; Marathon, FL
Administrative area: None
Previous BGN Action: None
Names associated with feature:
GNIS: No record
Local Usage: None found
Published: Aloe Kay (Key Names: A Gazetteer of the Islands of the Florida Keys, 2002
[online version]); Fanny Key (Chicago Tribune 2003; Florida Keys News 2009; Private
Islands Online website 2016; Facebook page for Islands International Realty website
2016; Trusted Vacation Rentals website 2016); Fanny Key Island (Monroe County GIS
2016)
Case Summary: The new name Bella Mare Key is proposed for a currently unnamed 1.6-acre island that
lies just north of the western end of Marathon on Vaca Key. The island is the eastern of the two islands in
the Fanny Keys, but it is not officially named.
The proponent initially submitted the name Marabella Key for this island, a descriptive name meaning
"Beautiful Sea" because it is "surrounded by the Caribbean waters of the Florida Keys." However, the
Florida State Names Authority learned that Monroe County property records showed that the owners of
the island had the last name Marabella and that they ran a California -based real estate business with the
same name. Because the name could be construed to honor living individuals, the proponent was
informed that the BGN could not accept the proposal.
According to the proponent, the newly proposed name Bella Mare Key means "Nice Sea" in Italian,
which he believes is fitting because of the "beauty and gentleness" of the "water of the Florida Keys."
(The proposal did not originally include a generic term but the staff suggested, and the proponent agreed,
that "Key" was appropriate.)
The island is a vacation property listed on many websites and also in newspaper articles under the name
Fanny Key, and the address of the property is often listed on Fanny Key Road. Although Monroe County
GIS data show the name Fanny Keys for both islands, their property records also list the property as being
on Fanny Key Island.
Jim Clupper's Florida Key Gazetteer indicates that the island is labeled as Aloe Kav on an 1846 chart of
the Florida Keys, although it also states that the same chart uses the name Aloe Kay for the nearby Pretty
Joe Rock.
According to GNIS, there are a few features in Florida that contain "Bella" and "Mare" in their names;
none are nearby. The populated place Bella Mar is located over 200 miles to the north-northeast.
Bro4oksJsIanA--island; 4-5-mi-lan�barri-er-island-located.-along the A-t ntic-Coa l-S-from
From: O'Donnell, Matthew [mailto:miodonnell@usgs.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2016 1:53 PM
To: BOCCDIS3
Cc: BOCCDIS2; County —Commissioners —and —Aides —Outside —Contact; Schreck-Carol; Hodge, Stephen;
Louis Driber
Subject: request for Monroe County's opinion about a proposed island name
September 28, 2016
The Honorable Heather Carruthers, Mayor
Monroe County Commissioners
1100 Simonton St.
Key West, Florida 33040
boccdis3 cmonroecounty-fl.gov
Issue: Proposal to name an island in the City of Marathon
Dear Mayor Carruthers:
As you may know, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is responsible by law for standardizing geographic names
for use by the departments and agencies of the Federal government. The BGN has received a proposal from a local
resident to apply the new name Bella Mare Key to an unnamed island west of Palm Island in the City of Marathon.
Because local opinion is important to the BGN, we would like the official opinion of the Monroe County
Commissioners concerning this name issue. We also ask that you share this request with any offices or others who might
have an interest in this proposal.
This proposal is listed on the BGN's Review List #425, posted at: httL)://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/quarterly list.htm,
the relevant pages of which are attached for your review and convenience.
The proponent, a lawyer in Marathon, initially submitted the name Marabella Key for this island, a descriptive name
meaning `Beautiful Sea" because it is "surrounded by the Caribbean waters of the Florida Keys." However, the Florida
State Names Authority (copied here) learned that Monroe County property records showed that the owners of the island
had the last name Marabella and that they ran a California -based real estate business with the same name. Because the
name could be construed to honor living individuals, the proponent was informed that the BGN could not accept the
proposal (please see the attached Commemorative Names Policy). According to the proponent, the newly proposed name
Bella Mare Key means "Nice Sea" in Italian, which he believes is fitting because of the "beauty and gentleness" of the
"water of the Florida Keys." Although the island is one of the Fanny Keys, it has no official name of its own.
In addition to the review list section, also attached are a map of the island, the original proposal, and a Geographic Name
Proposal Recommendation form to facilitate a response from your office. Once we receive your response, we will ask the
Florida State Names Authority (copied on this email) for their recommendation.
Thank you for your consideration of this request and we look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to share this
request with others who may have an interest in the matter. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to
contact us. We may be contacted by mail at the address below; by telephone at (703) 648-4552; by fax at (703) 648-4549;
or by e-mail at BGNEXEC a usgs.gov.
Sincerely,
Matt O'Donnell, research staff
For Lou Yost, Executive Secretary
U.S. Board on Geographic Names
U.S. Geological Survey
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
MS 523
Reston VA 20192-0523
cc:
George Neugent, Mayor Pro Tem, boccdis2 a.monroecounty-fl.gov
county commissioners a.monroecounty-fl.gov
Carol Schreck Executive Assistant to Heather Carruthers, Schreck-Carol cmonroecounty-fl.gov
Stephen Hodge, FL State Names Authority, SHodge a.admin.fsu.edu
Louis Driber, FL USGS Liaison, ldriber ra.usgs.gov
Matt O'Donnell I ATA Services, Inc.
Contractor in support of U.S. Board on Geographic Names I Domestic Names Committee
Phone/fax: 703.648.4553 / 703.648.4549
Email: miodonnell c/usgs.gov
Room 1C112 (in library offices)
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