Item O5 �s 0.5
r`,
County of Monroe
�y,4 ' �, "tr, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
County �a� Mayor Michelle Coldiron,District 2
�1 `ll Mayor Pro Tem David Rice,District 4
-Ile Florida.Keys ��� � � Craig Cates,District 1
Eddie Martinez,District 3
w Mike Forster,District 5
County Commission Meeting
January 20, 2021
Agenda Item Number: 0.5
Agenda Item Summary #7734
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: County Administrator
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Lisa Tennyson (305)292-4444
n/a
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a resolution supporting the development of civilian
aviation operations at the Homestead Air Force Base that is consistent with the Air Force's Second
Supplemental Record of Decision.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Homestead Air Force Base is located between the Everglades National Park, the Biscayne National
Park and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Part of the base's property was surplused in
the 1990's.
In 2001 the Air Force conducted an environmental impact statement and issued a Second
Supplemental Record of Decision (ROD) that prohibited commercial aviation use on the site due to
environmental sensitivity of the surrounding resources.
Miami Dade purchased the surplused land and intends to use the property for general civilian
aviation, a use that is consistent with the ROD, and has further indicated that it does not intend
commercial or cargo operations on the site.
Monroe supports use of the site that is consistent with the Second Supplemental ROD restricting
operations on the site to general aviation.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
DOCUMENTATION:
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0.5
Resolution re Homestead Air Base 2021
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: If yes, amount:
Grant:
County Match:
Insurance Required:
Additional Details:
REVIEWED BY:
Bob Shillinger Completed 01/05/2021 2:31 PM
Liz Yongue Completed 01/05/2021 3:44 PM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 01/20/2021 9:00 AM
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MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. -2021
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT OF GENERAL AVIATION
OPERATIONS AT THE HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE THAT IS CONSISTENT
WITH THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL RECORD OF DECISION PROHIBITING
COMMERCIAL AVIATION,AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS the Everglades is a national and statewide environmental treasure and includes
uniquely important and diverse natural resources; and
WHEREAS the Everglades National Park, the Biscayne National Park and the Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary are all part of a South Florida ecosystem that is critical to the regional
economy; and
�C
WHEREAS the Federal and state governments have authorized and appropriated significant
public investment in the restoration and preservation of the Everglades and South Florida
ecosystem; and s
WHEREAS the Homestead Air Reserve Base is located in this highly sensitive environmental
area with Biscayne National Park 1.5 miles to the east,the Everglades National Park 8 miles to the
west, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 10 miles to the south; and
WHEREAS in early 1990's the Homestead Air Reserve Base was subject to a Base
Realignment and Closure Commission recommendation to surplus 1,632 acres, which
subsequently precipitated plans to redevelop that surplus land for commercial aviation purposes;
and E
0
WHEREAS in 2000 Congress singled out the Homestead Air Reserve Base and its sensitive '
surroundings when it approved its 2000 Water Resources Development Act(WRD)bill, warning
that redevelopment of the site for commercial aviation "could potentially cause significant air,
water and noise pollutions and result in the degradation of adjacent national parks and other
protected Federal resources" and urged federal agencies "to carefully consider and weigh all
available information concerning potential environmental impacts on various reuse options" in a
manner"consistent with the goals of the Everglades restoration plan;" and E
WHEREAS in 2001 the United States Air Force issued a Second Supplemental Record of
Decision prohibiting commercial aviation on the Homestead Air Force Base after performing an
exhaustive supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) acknowledging the national
interest in protecting the Everglades and Biscayne Bay National Parks; and
WHEREAS in 2004 Miami-Dade County acquired a portion of the surplus land, and since
has pursued a Joint-Use Agreement with the Homestead Air Reserve Base to use the property for
general aviation use per the restrictions prescribed by the Second Supplemental Record of
Decision; and
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WHEREAS, at its October 8, 2020 meeting, the Miami-Dade County Commission agreed to
limit continued joint use agreement negotiations to general aviation uses only and Miami-Dade
County's Aviation Director stated his opposition to commercial and cargo operations and
reiterated that Miami-Dade County intends for the site to be used only for limited general aviation
for small aircraft; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners in the interests of
protecting the environmentally and economically important environmental resources of the
Everglades National Park, the Biscayne National Park and the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary, supports development of the airbase for limited general aviation use consistent with the
stated intentions of Miami-Dade County's Aviation Director, and with restrictions in the Second
Supplemental Record of Decision; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA: y
Section 1. The Monroe Board of County Commissioners expresses its concerns for
commercial and cargo operations at Homestead Air Base, and its support for general aviation use
that is consistent with the Second Supplemental Record of Decision.
Section 2. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to transmit certified copies of the E
Resolution to the Mayor and Commissioners of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. s
Section 3. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida,
at a regular meeting held on the 20th day of January, 2021. .�
Mayor Michelle Coldiron
Mayor Pro Tem David Rice o
Commissioner Craig Cates
Commissioner Michael Forster
Commissioner Eddie Martinez
0
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
E
BY
Mayor Michelle Coldiron
(SEAL)
ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK
Approved for form and legal sufficiency by
Monroe County Attorney Robert B. Shillinger
DEPUTY CLERK for reliance by the Monroe County BOCC only.
Robert B. Digitally signed by Robert B.Shillinger
DN:cn=Robert B.Shillinger,r,o=Monroe
County BOCC,ou—Monroe County
Shillinger bob@monAl co 1ty-fl.9 v,c 00S
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