Resolution 035-2021 MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 035 -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
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
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
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
_ _ _ 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 (SETS) 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
Page I 1
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:
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
Resolution to the Mayor and Commissioners of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners.
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.
c M
G
Mayor Michelle Coldiron Yes
Mayor Pro Tem David Rice Yes
-- o- Commissioner Craig Cates Yes
t > — Commissioner Eddie Martinez Yes
U.. t
alCommissioner Mike Forster Yes
0
-- BOARD OF COUNTY • LA C, . TONERS
+" ^t ' . OF MONR�jE nighTY FLO��/fR,;'
BY MVP
r1� Mayor Michelle Coldiron
s � t
r
Ate,, ;. ': KEV MADOK, CLERK
Approved for form and legal sufficiency by
Monroe County Attorney Robert B. Shillinger
AS DEPUTY CLERK for reliance by the Monroe County BOCC only.
Robert B. Digitally
Ro;.n'by n'`g:eonM°o roe
County BOCC,ou=Monroe County
Shillinger Dte2021.a;°os;1rs; ga,,�=
Page 12
wY,111
,a ^", ; ,�
t . '• Kevin Madok, CPA
0 Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller—Monroe County, Florida
February 5, 2021
Honorable Mayor Daniella Levine Cava
1 l l NW I' Street, 29th Floor
Miami FL 33128
Honorable Mayor Cava,
Enclosed is a certified copy of Resolution No. 035-2021 supporting development of
general aviation operations at die Homestead Air Reserve Base that is consistent with the second
supplemental record of decision prohibiting commercial aviation and providing an effective date.
This Resolution was adopted by die Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session,on January 20, 2021. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok,CPA, Clerk of
the Circuit Court& Comptroller&
ex-officio to the Monroe County
Board of County Commissioners
by: Pamela G. Hancock, D.C.
cc: Chairman Jose Dias
Vice Chairman Oliver Gilbert, III
Commissioner Jean Monestime
Commissioner Keon Haredemon
Commissioner Sally Heyman
Commissioner Eileen Higgins
Commissioner Rebeca Sosa
Commissioner Raquel Regalada
Commissioner Cohen Higgins
Commissioner Kionne McGhee
Commissioner Javier Souto
Commissioner Joe Martinez
Commissioner Rene Garcia
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY PK/ROTH BUILDING
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88820 Overseas Highway 50 High Point Road
Key West,Florida 33040 Marathon,Florida 33050 Plantation Key,Ronda 33070 Plantation Key,Florida 33070
305-294-4641 305-289-6027 305-852-7145 305-852-7145