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Resolution 029-2019 , RESOLUTION NO. 029 -2019 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA RECOMMENDING AND ENDORSING FORMER COUNTY COMMISSISONER GEORGE NEUGENT FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. WHEREAS, the South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern half of the state, covering 16 counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys and serving a population of 8.1 million residents; and WHEREAS, Monroe ounty is one of the sixteen (16) counties within the jurisdiction of the South Florida Water M agement District along with Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade,Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties, as well as portions of Charlotte, Highlands, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola and Polk counties; and WHEREAS, appointments to the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District are made by the Governor of the State of Florida, and subject to !confirmation by the State Senate; and - WHEREAS, per Florida Statutes, the Governor shall appoint persons to Governing Boards that meeting residency requirements and "...represent an equitable cross-section of regional interests and technical expertise... "; and WHEREAS, per Florida Statutes, residency requirements for the South Florida Water Management District specifies that two members, appointed at large, shall reside in an area consisting of St.Lucie,Martin,Palm Beach,Broward,Miami-Dade,and Monroe Counties; and WHEREAS, per Florida Statutes, membership on governing boards shall be selected from candidates who have significant experience in one or more of the following areas, including, but not limited to: agriculture, the development industry, local government, government-owned or privately owned water utilities, law, civil engineering, environmental science, hydrology, accounting, or financial businesses; and WHEREAS, former Monroe County Commissioner George Neugent, resides in Marathon, Florida, within Monroe County; and WHEREAS, former County Commissioner George Neugent has extensive public sector policy experience,environmental/water quality expertise,and proven record of accomplishment in public service, collaboration, partnership and consensus building, serving in roles as both an elected official and appointee on local,regional, and state-wide boards and councils that include the following: • County Commissioner, Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, twenty (20) years, elected to and served five (5) terms, including four (4) terms as Mayor. Page 1of3 • Major accomplishment: Completion of a complex,multi jurisdictional, federally mandated, advanced wastewater treatment infrastructure project spanning the entire island chain of the Florida Keys, costing$1B. • Advocated for Congressional and State water quality restoration funding;testified numerous times on water quality legislation and policy before committee hearings in State Legislature and Congress. • Director/Executive Committee Member, State of Florida Gulf Consortium, seven (7) years, including five (5) years as a member of the Executive Committee. • Major accomplishment: Completion and publication of the Florida State Expenditure Plan, a statewide plan that determines water quality projects and the distribution of the State of Florida's $300M in RESTORE Act funds. • Chair/Member,Sanctuary Advisory Council of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary for sixteen (16) years, with seven (7) of those years as Chair. The Florida Keys National Sanctuary is administered by NOAA and jointly managed with the State of Florida. • Major Accomplishment: Implementation and monitoring of the Water Quality Protection Program,the guiding force for water quality improvements and protection of the unique and complex marine ecosystem surrounding the Florida Keys. • Member/Co-Chair, Steering Committee for the Florida Keys Water Quality Protection Program, fourteen (14) years; a program administered by US EPA and FDEP to monitor, improve and maintain water quality in order to protect the coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and marine and benthic habitats of the National Marine Sanctuary. • Major accomplishments: Wastewater Master Plan, Storm water Master Plan, Carrying Capacity Study, Vessel Wastewater/No Discharge Zones, and the Monroe County Canal Restoration Master Plan to restore hundreds of poor water quality canals in the Florida Keys. • Commission Representative, Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, eight (8) years. • Major accomplishment: One of the County's four (4) original signers of the Compact in October 2009. The Compact is recognized as one of the nation's leading examples of regional-scale climate action. • Member of the South Florida Regional Planning Commission for thirteen (13) years, with six (6) of those years on the Executive Committee. • Community service including: former President and Board of Directors member, Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce; former President of the Marathon Economic Development Council;member of the Ocean Reef Foundation; member of the Florida Keys Hurricane Recovery Foundation. Page 2 of 3 WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida enthusiastically recommends and endorses the appointment of George Neugent to the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District, and strongly encourages Governor DeSantis to consider Mr. Neugent for membership on the Governing Board; and NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA: 1. The Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida hereby offers its recommendation and endorsement of former County Commissioner George Neugent to be a member of the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District, and wishes to forward this ecommendation to the Governor for his consideration. 2. The Clerk is hereby directed to send a copy of this resolution to: • Governor Ron Desantis • State Senator Anitere Flores, District 39 • State Representative, Holly Rachein, District 120 PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 23rd day of January, 2019. Mayor Sylvia J. Murphy Yes " —`� Mayor Pro Tern Danny L. Kolhage Yes 4,, -(2.;) <;r Commissioner Michelle Coldiron Yes r;�'' ��` 4:�y Commissioner Heather Carruthers Yes 6 >'a��,\ 1, n Commissioner David Rice Yes %r,, f%(SEAL).J ; "..A -`KEVIN MADOK, Clerk BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MON ' 41 C Y, FLORIDA By: G7 By: Deputy Clerk ayor Sylvia J. Murphy r� R c: MONROE CO FO c�. c' pppRO ec Q =a . :(...),7,D .S,H6k.C11N(3E'R,�R• O N j:u COV't' „�C — 5�— C . = w© DM CZ, Page 3 of 3