Resolution 120-2019 Commissioner Rice
RESOLUTION NO. 120 -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
MANGROVES AND NEARSHORE WATERS OF DEBRIS
FROM HURRICANE IRMA.
WHEREAS, Hurricane 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,
etc. and left the debris caught in the mangroves and near shore waters of the Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, the Conch Republic Marine Army, Inc. (hereinafter CRMA), formed in
December 2017, is a grassroots all-volunteer organization, combining community and private
resources to aggressively attack the catastrophic damage caused by the debris to our nearshore
marine habitats in the Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, the CRMA is a registered Florida not-for-profit corporation and has been
recognized as a tax exempt charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and
WHEREAS,the CRMA combine use of their website, www.conchrepublicmarinearmy.com,
social media, newspaper, radio, and television to publicize what are called "Event Battles" held
about 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
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
Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Mote Marine, Reef Relief and the Nature Conservancy, among
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;
establishing an operations center for the processing of trash 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 millions 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
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 acknowledges
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,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 17th day of April, 2019.
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x.x.(0114!kir � Mayor Sylvia J. Murphy Yes ��. � � ^�
► Mayor Pro Tem Danny L. Kolhage Yes m ��
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CCommissioner Michelle Coldiron Yes ,
F Commissioner Heather Carruthers Yes }c : CO X
Commissioner David Rice Yes - r-r
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ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK, Clerk BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONR 1 ' CO , FLORIDA
By: By:
Deputy Clerk /ayor Sylvia J. Murphy
MONROE� _,.;:
APPROVt.
ROB .:; ', yr' 1 JR.R
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