Resolution 061-2021 RESOLUTION NO. 061 -2021
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS IN SUPPORT OF SB 1086/HB 639 AND ADDITIONAL
AMENDMENT LANGUAGE ADDRESSING LONG-TERM ANCHORING,
REFLECTING THE CONTINUING EFFORTS OF FLORIDA FISH AND
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO IMPROVE BOATER
SAFETY, REDUCE VESSEL DERELICTION, AND IMPROVE MARINE
SANITATION TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL MARINE RESOURCES,
AND IN SUPPORT OF ADDITIONAL FWC STAFF AND FINANCIAL
RESOURCES TO ADEQUATELY IMPLEMENT EXISTING AND NEW
ENFORCMENT MEASURES,AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS the State of Florida is the boating capital of the world with the highest number of
registered recreational vessel in the nation; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida recognizes the challenges associated with attraction of so
many vessels, including the frequency of boating accidents,a high number of derelict vessels,and
concerns related to the illegal waste discharge of vessels into State waters; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has proposed
legislation and subsequent amendment language for consideration in the 2021 session that includes
important new provisions addressing boater safety, vessel anchorage time limits, derelict vessel
prevention, enforcement, and removal, and marine sanitation; and
WHEREAS the pristine waters of the Florida Keys attracts high numbers of boaters from all
over the State and faces the same challenges of vessel safety, dereliction and sanitation; and
WHEREAS FWC has regulatory authority over the waters of the State, including the regulation
of stored, derelict and abandoned vessels, the establishment of permitted moorings and mooring
fields and marine sanitation; and
WHEREAS, consistent with Statewide goals, Monroe County has for many years worked with
FWC to strengthen statutory provisions to prevent and reduce the number of derelict vessels, by
increasing enforcement mechanisms and addressing long-term anchoring of vessels that often
leads to degeneration and ultimately to derelict condition; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County has implemented within the limits of its local government
authority a number of programs and regulations to address vessel safety, derelict vessels and
marine sanitation; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County operates a derelict vessel program that removes approximately
60 vessels annually at an average annual cost of$240,000; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County has established a "proof of pumpout" requirement and vessel
pumpout program to discourage illegal waste discharges in our surrounding State waters, which
have been designated a no-discharge zone: and
Page I 1
WHEREAS, Monroe County worked with FWC to amend Florida Statutes to regulate illegal and
unpermitted moorings to address public safety, environmental degradation, and their direct
contribution to the proliferation of abandoned and derelict vessels; and
WHEREAS,Monroe County worked with FWC by participating in an Anchoring and Mooring
Pilot Program, to explore options for regulating the anchoring or mooring of vessels outside the
marked areas of public mooring fields, to encourage the establishment of additional public
mooring fields,to encourage responsible anchoring and to protect the marine environment: and
WHEREAS, Monroe County recognizes this proposed legislation as an important continuation
of both State and local efforts to improve vessel safety,reduce vessel dereliction and illegal marine
waste discharges, and protect our citizens and our environment; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County recognizes that the adequate implementation of current and
proposed new enforcement measures necessitates increased enforcement staff and financial
resources and strongly supports the appropriation of the necessary State resources to FWC; 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 support for SB 1068/HB 639,
the addition of anchorage limits for Monroe County, the necessary agency resources to implement
enforcement provisions.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the
—_Governor,Senate President,House Speaker,Representative Jim Mooney,Senator Ana Marie Rodriguez,
FWC Executive Director Sutton and members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission,and the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Section 3. Directs the County's State lobbyists to advocate for the legislative action set forth above,
and authorizes and directs the Director of Legislative Affairs to amend the 2021 State Legislative
Package to include this item.
Section 4. 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 17th day of February, 2021.
Mayor Michelle Coldiron Yes
Mayor Pro Tem David Rice Yes
Commissioner Craig Cates Yes
Commissioner Michael Forster Yes
Commissioner Eddie Martinez Yes
Page 12
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
,1/.. OF MONROE CO Y. FLGRiDA—
rAqUi
BY
r Mayor Michelle Coldiron
r g. : EVIN MADOK, CLERK
AS DEPUTY CLERK
Approved for form and legal sufficiency by:
Robert B. Shillinger, County Attorney
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Page 13
a .'"; Kevin Madok, CPA
e'"" Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller—Monroe County, Florida
February 24, 2021
Honorable Governor Ron DeSantis
State of Florida,The Capitol
400 S Monroe Street
Tallahassee FL 32399-0001
Honorable Governor DeSantis,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 061-2021 in support of SB1086/ HB639
and additional :mrendment language addressing long-term anchoring, reflecting the continuing
efforts of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to improve boater safety,reduce
vessel dereliction, and improve marine sanitation to protect our natural marine resources, and in
support of additional FWC staff and financial resources to adequately implement existing and new
enforcement measures, and providing an effective date.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 17, 2021. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at (30.5) 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: Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton
Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowis PAW Commissioners
Represe tative Jim Mooney, District 120 legislative Affairs, Lisa Tennyson
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, District 39 File
MEP Secretary Noah Valenstein
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,Florida 33070 Plantation Key,Florida 33070
305-294-4641 305-289-6027 305-852-7145 305-852-7145