Item T11 4� I�`�
° r BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
County of Monroe �� Mayor Michelle Coldiron,District 2
J y
` Ma or Pro Tem David Rice,District 4
Tine Florida Keys ) �
Craig Cates,District I
�i Eddie Martinez,District 3
Mike Forster,District 5
County Commission Meeting
February 17, 2021
Agenda Item Number: T.11
Agenda Item Summary #7881
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: Sustainability
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Rhonda Haag (305) 453-8774
N/A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a Resolution in support of Governor Desantis'
Resilient Florida budget initiative; and providing for an effective date.
ITEM BACKGROUND: Sea level rise is one of the most evident impacts in Monroe County given
the County's low-lying elevation and porous geology. As the oceans and atmosphere continue to
warm, sea level along the Florida coast is likely to rise one to four feet in the next century, causing
rising sea levels to submerge wetlands and dry land, erodes beaches, and exacerbates coastal
flooding.
The municipalities, roads, critical infrastructure, and water supplies in Florida, and particularly in
and for Monroe County, are highly vulnerable to the impacts of storms and sea level rise. Florida's
coral reefs are susceptible to warming waters and ocean acidification. Changing climate combined
with sea level rise is also likely to impact business and tourism if measures are not undertaken to
combat the effects.
To assist with these efforts, Governor Ron DeSantis recommended the formation of a "Resilient
Florida" initiative in his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2021-2022, to tackle the challenges posed
by sea level rise, intensifying storm events, and flooding. If adopted, "Resilient Florida" would use
revenues from the state's documentary stamp tax to pay for the debt service on $1 billion in bonds
for projects carried out by local governments that address the impacts of climate change, potentially
providing funding for projects ranging from preserving land to elevating roads to addressing the
impact of sea level rise on government structures or services. Substantial resources are needed in
Monroe County to address and implement steps to fight the impact of sea level rise.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
None
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval
DOCUMENTATION:
Sustainability - Resolution to support Gov Desantis Resilient Florida Initiative - Feb. 2021
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date: February 17, 2023 Expiration Date: N/A
Total Dollar Value of Contract: N/A Total Cost to County: N/A
Current Year Portion: N/A Budgeted: N/A
Source of Funds: N/A CPI: N/A
Indirect Costs: N/A Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts: N/A
Revenue Producing: N/A If yes, amount: N/A
Grant: N/A County Match: N/A
Insurance Required: No Additional Details: None
REVIEWED BY:
Rhonda Haag Completed 02/11/2021 11:52 AM
Pedro Mercado Completed 02/11/2021 2:35 PM
Purchasing Completed 02/11/2021 2:46 PM
Budget and Finance Completed 02/11/2021 2:54 PM
Maria Slavik Completed 02/11/2021 3:11 PM
Liz Yongue Completed 02/12/2021 11:39 AM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 02/17/2021 9:00 AM
RESOLUTION NO. -2021
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS URGING THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT GOVERNOR
RON DESANTIS'S STATE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022
BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TO CREATE THE
"RESILIENT FLORIDA" PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, the climate is changing, manifesting in significant impacts to Florida,
including increasing average temperatures, more intense storm events, and rising sea levels;
and
WHEREAS, sea level rise, caused by the thermal expansion of warming ocean water
and melting land ice as the earth warms, is one of the most evident impacts in Monroe County
given the County's low-lying elevation and porous geology; and
WHEREAS, in the coming decades, rising temperatures are likely to increase damages
from storms, harm coral reefs, and increase the frequency of unpleasantly hot days; and
WHEREAS, if the oceans and atmosphere continue to warm, sea level along the
Florida coast is likely to rise one to four feet in the next century; and
WHEREAS, rising sea levels submerge wetlands and dry land, erodes beaches, and
exacerbates coastal flooding; and
WHEREAS, tropical storms and hurricanes have become more intense over the past
20 years; and
WHEREAS, cities, roads, critical infrastructure, and water supplies in Florida, and
particularly in Monroe County, are highly vulnerable to the impacts of storms and sea level
rise; and
WHEREAS, even if storm intensity does not increase, coastal homes and
infrastructure will flood more often because storm surges will become higher as sea levels rise;
and
WHEREAS, Florida's coral reefs are susceptible to warming waters and ocean
acidification, as rising water temperatures can harm the algae inside corals and provide food
for them; and
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WHEREAS, changing climate combined with sea level rise is likely to impact tourism
if measures are not undertaken to combat the effects; and
WHEREAS, Governor Ron DeSantis recommended the formation of "Resilient
Florida" in his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 to tackle the challenges posed by
sea level rise, intensifying storm events, and flooding; and
WHEREAS, if adopted, "Resilient Florida" would use revenues from the state's
documentary stamp tax to pay for the debt service on $1 billion in bonds for projects carried
out by local governments that address the impacts of climate change; and
WHEREAS, "Resilient Florida" could provide funding for projects ranging from
preserving land to elevating roads to addressing the impact of sea level rise on government
structures or services; and
WHEREAS, "Resilient Florida" would also provide grants to coastal counties, coastal
municipalities, and inland counties that have not completed vulnerability assessments related
to the threat of sea level rise; and
WHEREAS, substantial resources are needed to address and implement steps to fight
the impact of sea level rise on Florida in general, and South Florida in particular.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,that the Board:
Section 1. Approves the foregoing recitals, which are incorporated herein by
reference.
Section 2. Urges the Florida Legislature to adopt Governor Ron DeSantis's state fiscal
year 2021-2022 budget recommendation to create the"Resilient Florida" program.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution
to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, the Chair and Members of the
Monroe County State Legislative Delegation, and the Secretary of the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection.
Section 4. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the legislative action
set forth in section 2 above and authorizes and directs the Director of Intergovernmental
Affairs to amend the 2021 State Legislative Package to include this item.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
this 17th day of February 2021.
Mayor Michelle Coldiron
Mayor Pro Tem David Rice
Commissioner Craig Cates
Commissioner Eddie Martinez
Commissioner Mike Forster
(SEAL) BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY BY
Deputy Clerk Mayor Michelle Coldiron
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