Item Q4 Q.4
G BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
County of MonroeMayor 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
November 20, 2019
Agenda Item Number: Q.4
Agenda Item Summary #6230
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: County Administrator
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Lisa Tennyson (305) 292-4444
n/a
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a resolution in support of S. 2429 and H.R. 4160, The
Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019, federal legislation re-authorizing the Coral Reef
Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2000.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The Florida Reef Tract that spans the Southeast Florida coast plays a significant economic and
ecological role in the State of Florida, and in Florida Keys, and is currently facing an unprecedented
disease outbreak. At the federal level, there have been limited resources to address this disease
outbreak and the overall health of coral reefs. Congress passed the Coral Reef Conservation Act in
2000, which authorized appropriations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) for coral reef protection and management activities through 2004 and, among other
activities, authorized the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CROP) to provide matching grants to
states, territories, educational and non-governmental institutions, and fishery management councils
for coral reef conservation projects.
While the authorization for the overall program expired in 2004, Congress has continued to fund the
CRCP through the annual appropriations process. However, without authorization, annual funding
for coral reel programs is uncertain, and leave the federal agencies that oversee coral reef protection
without the authorization or resources to help address coral reef emergencies, such as the coral
bleaching disease outbreak in Florida.
The new legislation would authorize $150M for the next five years, strengthen the federal response
to coral reef emergencies and significantly help the State of Florida restore, protect, and conserve the
Florida Reef Tract.
Specifically, the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019 includes the following:
• Reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to improve the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) coral reef program.
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• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would be required to create a
national coral reef resilience strategy and to work with other federal agencies having
jurisdiction over coral reef ecosystems, such as the National Park Service, to develop
coral reef action plans;
• The Secretary of Commerce would be authorized to conduct various activities to
conserve and restore coral ecosystems, including among other things, restoring degraded
coral reef ecosystems, promoting ecologically sound navigation and anchorages, and
responding to disease outbreaks;
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would be charged with
implementing and coordinating an extensive program governing coral reef management,
coral reef restoration, and emergency relief for coral reefs; state with jurisdiction over
coral reef ecosystems, including Florida, could voluntarily participate in this program
and in turn receive federal funding and other assistance;
• Coral reef ecosystems would be authorized to receive public assistance under the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which is administered by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA);
• Over $150M would be authorized to be appropriated over the next five years in
furtherance of the new legislation; and
• United States Coral Reef Task Force would be established "to lead, coordinate, and
strengthen Federal Government action to better preserve, conserve, and restore coral reef
ecosystem"; the task force would be composed of various federal officials but also
various other members, including two members appointed by the Governor of Florida.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
DOCUMENTATION:
Reso Supporting Coral Reef Senate Bill 2429 2019
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:
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Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts:
Revenue Producing: If yes, amount:
Grant:
County Match:
Insurance Required: N/A
Additional Details:
REVIEWED BY:
Bob Shillinger Completed 11/03/2019 2:26 PM
Budget and Finance Completed 11/04/2019 11:35 AM
Maria Slavik Completed 11/04/2019 11:51 AM
Kathy Peters Completed 11/04/2019 2:04 PM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 11/20/2019 9:00 AM
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Q.4.a
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. -2019
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS URGING CONGRESS TO REAUTHORIZE THE CORAL
REEF CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000; SUPPORTING SENATE BILL 2429
AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BILL 4160, THE RESTORING
RESILIENT REEFS ACT OF 2019; DIRECTING THE CLERK TRANSMIT
THE RESOLUTION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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WHEREAS, from tourism to marine recreation and sport fishing, coral reefs are an important part
of the State of Florida's ocean economy, and play a central role in the economies of Southeast Florida's 4-
communities, including the Florida Keys. NOAA suggests that coral reefs in southeast Florida have an
asset value of$8.5 billion, generating $4.4 billion in local sales, $2 billion in local income, and 70,400 full
and part-time jobs; and 0
WHEREAS, coral reefs are a significant habit for fisheries. In the United States, about half of all
federally managed fisheries depend on coral reefs. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service estimates N
the annual commercial value of U.S. fisheries from coral reefs to be over $100 million. Reef-based N
recreational fisheries generate over$100 million annually in the United States; and N
WHEREAS,the Florida Reef Tract,nearly 360-miles long and 4-miles wide and stretching from the
Dry Tortugas in Monroe County to Martin County is the world's third-largest barrier reef, and the only
living coral reef in the continental United States; and
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WHEREAS, coral reefs are vulnerable to harmful environmental changes, particularly those
resulting from human activities. Coral cover has declined up to 80 percent over the past three decades.
Southeast Florida's reefs are being monitored for diseases, bleaching, and other problems associated with c
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human activities. Monitoring data from the Florida Keys revealed a 44 percent decline in coral cover from
1996-2005; and
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WHEREAS,massive,region-wide bleaching events have become more common on the Florida Reef CL
Tract. Since 1987,six extensive coral bleaching events have affected the entire tract. Substantial mass coral
mortality occurred during the global bleaching events; and U)
WHEREAS,while Florida Reef Tract disease outbreaks are not unprecedented, the current disease
event is unique due to its scale, high infection rate, and rapid spread; the number of coral species affected E
across such a large portion of the Florida Reef Tract, estimated to have resulted in the mortality of millions
of corals; and
WHEREAS,the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA)reports that diseases
and diminishing health condition among corals throughout the Florida Reef Tract have dramatically
increased; and
WHEREAS,at the federal level there have been limited resources to address this disease outbreak
and the overall health of coral reefs. Congress passed the Coral Reef Conservation Act in 2000, which
authorized appropriations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) for coral reef
protection and management activities through 2004. Authorization for the overall program expired in 2004
but Congress has continued to fund the CRCP through the annual appropriations process; and
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Q.4.a
WHEREAS, Senator Marco Rubio introduced S.2429, entitled the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act
of 2019, for consideration during the 116' Congress and whereas Congressman Darren Soto introduced
H.R. 4160, similar to S. 2449; and
WHEREAS,the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019 provided a five-year authorization with an
explicit focus on restoration activities where natural disasters and human activities have degraded reef
ecosystems, and directs federal funding and technical assistance so states and impacted communities can
drive priorities and management of coral reef ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2019 strengthens the federal response to coral
reef emergencies including disease,bleaching,natural disasters,vessel grounds, and hazardous spills; and
WHEREAS, support for S. 2429 and H.R. 4160 is consistent with Monroe County's long history
of championing protections for the Florida Reef Tract; and
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY U)
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA: ,-
Section 1. Monroe County urges Congress to pass S. 2429 and H.R. 4160, the Restoring Resilient
Reef Act of 2019, and reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000.
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Section 2. Direct the Clerk to transmit copies of this resolution to Senator Roger Wicker, Chair of the
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation;to Representative Raul Grijalva, Chair
of the House Committee on Natural Resources; and to the members of the Monroe County federal N
delegation: Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Rick Scott, and Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. N
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Section 3. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
as
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida,
at a regular meeting held on the 20th day of November, 2019.
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Mayor
Mayor Pro Tem
Commissioner c
Commissioner
Commissioner
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA 0
as
BY
Mayor
(SEAL)
ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK
DEPUTY CLERK
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