Item L1 L.1
G BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
County of Monroe Mayor Sylvia Murphy,District 5
The Florida Keys l'U � � Mayor Pro Tern Danny Kolhage,District 1
�pw° Michelle Coldiron,District 2
Heather Carruthers,District 3
David Rice,District 4
County Commission Meeting
April 17, 2019
Agenda Item Number: L.1
Agenda Item Summary #5374
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: BOCC District 4
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Tamara Lamarche(305) 289-6000
11:00 A.M.
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of Resolution of Support for the efforts of the Conch
Republic Marine Army (CRMA) in clearing Florida Keys mangroves and nearshore waters of debris
from Hurricane Irma.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The Conch Republic Marine Army was formed in December 2017 as a
grassroots all-volunteer organization combining community and private resources to aggressively
attack the catastrophic damage caused by the debris from Hurricane Irma, (September 2017), to our
nearshore marine habitats in the Florida Keys.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
NA
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
DOCUMENTATION:
STAMPED Reso Support CRMA Apr 2019
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date:
Expiration Date:
Total Dollar Value of Contract:
Total Cost to County:
Current Year Portion:
Budgeted:
Source of Funds:
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CPI:
Indirect Costs:
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts:
Revenue Producing: If yes, amount:
Grant:
County Match:
Insurance Required:
Additional Details:
None
REVIEWED BY:
David Rice Skipped 03/21/2019 3:49 PM
Bob Shillinger Completed 04/01/2019 3:31 PM
Kathy Peters Completed 04/01/2019 4:57 PM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 04/17/2019 9:00 AM
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Commissioner Rice
RESOLUTION NO. -2019
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THE CONCH REPUBLIC
MARINE ARMY IN CLEARING FLORIDA KEYS 31
MANGROVES AND NEARSHORE WATERS OF DEBRIS E_
FROM HURRICANE IRMA.
a
WHEREAS, Ilurricane Irma, a category 4 hurricane, hit the Florida Keys on September
10, 2017; the storm surge and winds carried away parts of homes, sheds, belongings, boats, cars, a
etc. and left the debris caught in the mangroves and near shore waters orthe Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, the Conch Republic Marine Army, Inc. (hereinafter CRMA), Farmed in
December 2017, is a grassroots all-volunteer organization, combining community and private a
resources to aggressively attack the catastrophic damage caused by the debris to our nearshore 0
marine habitats in the Florida Keys; and
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WHEREAS, the CRMA is a registered Florida not-for-profit corporation and has been
CL
recognized as a tax exempt charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
WHEREAS, the CRMA combine use o f their we bsite,www.conchrepublicmarinearrny-c❑m, U)
social media, newspaper, radio, and television to publicize what are called "Event Battles" held
ahnut_every 6 weeks, all over the Keys; and
WHEREAS, to date, he CRMA has held over 20 public "battles", during which 2,300
volunteers have joined them from all over the Keys, South Florida and the rest of the State of
Florida; with over 10,000 volunteer hours logged. The volunteers have pulled 127.47 tons of
garbage from the water and out of the mangroves by hand; and
WHEREAS, CRMA founder Brian Vest, has been asked by NOAA to speak at the o
upcoming Florida and Caribbean Marine Debris Symposium in Miami, and CRMA has close
relationships with NOAA as well as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the National
0
Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Mote Marine, Reef Relief and the Nature Conservancy, among U)
others; and
WHEREAS, CRMA goals for the Future include creation of other"CRMA's"throughout
Florida, having started the Cape Coral Marine Army as an example; to achieve emergency and
disaster preparedness and response to environmental and marine issues to expedite and minimize
long-term issues; and
WHEREAS,CRMA is pursing grants for funding battle events and full-time staff support;
esrablishing an operations center for the processing ortrash gathered For repurpose and recycling
to fund the purchase of equipment and vessels, barges, etc. useful to the mission; as well as
beginning a"Million Mangrove" replanting effort throughout the Keys and working with NOAA
to Find a meaningful way to assist with the removal of derelict traps, gear, and line; and
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WHEREAS, the CRMA calculates, via inspection tours, that there are mullions of pounds
of debris remaining out in the Lower Keys"Backcountry"to be gathered,for an estimated 10 more
years work to clear; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners would like to
acknowledge and express their appreciation to the Conch Republic Marine Army, and their
volunteers, for their hard work and incredible results to date, and their ongoing efforts to remove
all storm debris from the mangroves and nearshore waters of the Florida Keys; and
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NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY e
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA:
1. The Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,Florida hereby acknowledges e
and expresses their appreciation to the Conch Republic Marine Army, and their
volunteers, for their hard work and incredible results to date and hereby offers its
continued support for their ongoing efforts to remove all storm debris from the
mangroves and nearshore waters of the Florida Keys resulting from Hurricane Irma.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
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Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 17a'day of April, 2019, U)
Mayor Sylvia J.Murphy
Mayor Pro Tem Danny L. Kolhage
Commissioner Michelle Coldiron
Commissioner Heather Carruthers
Commissioner David Rice
(SEAL)
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ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK,Clerk BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA
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By: By:
Deputy Clerk Mayor Sylvia J.Murphy
a.
14JJFL
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