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Item N8 N.8 County �� � .�� �y,4 ' �, "tr, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 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 May 19, 2021 Agenda Item Number: N.8 Agenda Item Summary #8210 BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: BOCC District 5 TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Lisa Tennyson (305)292-4444 10:30 AM AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a resolution expressing support for State and federal funding and completion of Everglades restoration projects and a letter urging U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to ensure sufficient water flow and supply to Monroe County and Florida Bay in their updated Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual. ITEM BACKGROUND: Resolution: The resolution supports State and federal funding to enable completion of Everglades restoration projects that will greatly benefit the Everglades National Park and the Florida Bay by restoring natural freshwater flow. Florida Bay's water quality and ecological health is dependent upon freshwater that flows through the Everglades,particularly in times of little rainfall. Additionally, the construction of new storage will not only help reduce discharges to the estuaries on the east and west coast, it will ensure that there is water available to send to the southern end of the system,particularly in the dry season. LOSOM letter: In addition to restoration projects, the management of water levels in Lake Okeechobee also determines how much water is flowing through the system. The US Army Corp of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District are currently in the process of updating the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM). It is a schedule that must account for a complex and often competing set of needs: ecological protection, aquifers regeneration and flood control. Our letter asks that as they consider the spectrum of needs, they select a schedule that ensures sufficient water flows for Florida Bay and water supply for Monroe County. PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: December 2015: Resolution 405-2015 supporting Restoration Needs of Everglades National Park and Florida Bay January 2016: Resolution 003-2016 supporting Amendment 1 funding for Everglades Restoration November 2016: Resolution 135-2016 urging completion of Everglades restoration projects, particularly those critical to the health of Florida Bay. Packet Pg. 2011 N.8 Additionally, Monroe County's annual State and Federal legislative agendas include Everglades funding and completion of restoration projects as priority issues. CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval DOCUMENTATION: Everglades Resolution 2021 Monroe County LOSOM letter final Resolution 135-2016 Resolution 003-2016 Resolution 405-2015 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: N/A REVIEWED BY: Corie Abel Completed 05/03/2021 2:45 PM Bob Shillinger Completed 05/03/2021 4:00 PM Liz Yongue Completed 05/03/2021 5:00 PM Board of County Commissioners Pending 05/19/2021 9:00 AM Packet Pg. 2012 N.8.a RESOLUTION NO. -2021 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA IN SUPPORT OF FULL FUNDING AND COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION OF EVERGLADES RESTORATION PORJECTS; URGING ROBUST FUNDING FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION IN THE 2022 FEDERAL BUDGET; c COMMENDING THE GOVERNOR'S AND LEGISLATURE'S FULL FUNDING FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION; AND URGING THE y UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO CONSIDER IN m THEIR UPDATES TO THE LAKE OKECHOBEE SYATEM OPERATION MANUAL, THE WATER SUPPLY NEEDS AND FRESHWATER FLOWS TO SOUTHERN END OF THE EVERGLADES SYSTEM CRITICAL FOR MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF FLORIDA BAY. WHEREAS, Monroe County is part of the vast Everglades ecosystem that covers much of South Florida; and c WHEREAS, Monroe County's coast line encompasses Florida Bay, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary("FKNMS") and Everglades National Park; and WHEREAS,Florida Bay comprises a large portion of Everglades National Park, and is a vitally important ecosystem that provides critical habitat for numerous plants and animals including federal protected and threatened species and state special concern species; and WHEREAS, Florida Bay's marine environment supports a multi-billion dollar fishing and ecotourism 0 industry of South Florida, including commercial and recreational fishing, snorkeling, diving, boat and equipment rentals,hospitality and other related businesses; and 0 WHEREAS, the natural resources and marine environment of the Florida Keys including Florida Bay attracts over 4 million visitors and over$4.5 billion in economic activity annually, generating $220 million in sales tax revenue for the State of Florida each year; and N CD WHEREAS,the health of the Florida Bay's ecosystem is highly dependent on clean and adequate freshwater flows into the southern end of the Everglades system; and 0 WHEREAS, and over the past several decades, the lack of sufficient freshwater flow thru the Everglades National Park and into the southern end of the system has contributed to hypersalinity events and algae y blooms in Florida Bay damaging its valuable and fragile ecosystem; and WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners continues to urge the expedited completion of Everglades restoration projects that are necessary to increase flows through the Everglades, u> including the Everglades Agricultural Reservoir and the Central Everglades Planning Project; and m WHEREAS,the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners urges that new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM)that is currently being updated includes consideration of needs of the southern U end of the system,namely water supply and sufficient freshwater flows that Florida Bay; and WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners recognizes that Everglades restoration projects and water management tools that restore freshwater flows through the park and into Florida Bay are critical to the long-term sustainability of Monroe's environment, economy and quality of life; and Packet Pg. 2013 N.8.a THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners that: 1. Reaffirms its strong support for full funding and construction of Everglades restoration projects. 2. Urges S725M for Everglades restoration in the United States FY 2022 budget. 3. Commends Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for fully funding Everglades restoration in the Florida FY 2022 budget. c 4. Urges the US Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District to consider the water supply needs of Monroe County and the need for adequate freshwater flows to the southern 0) end of the Everglades system. m 5. Directs the Clerk to transmit copies of this resolution to the U.S.President Biden,U.S. Senator Rubio, M CD U.S. Senator Scott,U.S.Representative Gimenez,Florida Governor DeSantis,Florida Senate President Simpson, Florida Speaker Sprowls, Florida Representative Mooney, Florida Senator Rodriguez, w USACE Commander Colonel Kelly and South Florida Water Management District Executive Director - Bartlett. C 6. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. 0 PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 19'day of May, 2021. � Mayor Michelle Coldiron =� Mayor Pro Tem David Rice Commissioner Craig Cates Commissioner Eddie Martinez Commissioner Mike Forster 0 (SEAL) BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA By: By Deputy Clerk Mayor Michelle Coldiron N c 0 Packet Pg. 2014 N.8.b BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IL'ounty of Monroef r`` r Mayor Michelle Coldiron,District 2 The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Fern David Rice,District 4 y4 .�y ,� Craig Cates,District 1 Eddie Martinez,District 3 Mike Forster,District 5 Monroe County Board of County Commissioners y The Historic Gato Cigar Factory 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 205 m Key West, FL 33040 (305) 292-4441 —Phone (305) 292-4544—Fax > w Colonel Andrew D. Kelly c Commander, Jacksonville District,USACE 701 San Marco Blvd Jacksonville,FL 32207 E 0 Drew Bartlett Executive Director South Florida Water Management District 3301 Gun Club Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406 0 May 19,2021 Dear Colonel Kelly and Executive Director Bartlett: c c On behalf of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, I wish to express our thanks for ensuring broad stakeholder engagement during the process to update the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual 0 (LOSOM). The new operations schedule,which will take into account the completion and operation of new infrastructure including: the Herbert Hoover Dike, CERP's C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir, C-44 �-- Reservoir and Storm Treatment Areas will need to provide balance between the needs of the environment and our growing communities. The County has a vested stake in the ultimate management of Lake Okeechobee because the southern end of m the Everglades ecosystem, including Florida Bay, is highly dependent on upstream conditions and flows. Fundamentally, a healthier Lake Okeechobee and Everglades ecosystem translates into a healthier Bay. Understanding that maximizing ecological conditions may be limited by other authorized project purposes a, like flood control and water supply, improving system-wide ecological conditions should still be maximized to the extent practicable in the new LOSOM. 2 As the South Florida Water Management District and the US Army Corp of Engineers finalize the tentatively r_ selected plan for LOSOM, Monroe County endorses an operational schedule that ensures protection of the c 2 ecological health of the Lake and increased dry season water flows to the southern end of the system and Florida Bay. Respectfully, Michelle Coldrion, Mayor Cc: Monroe County Commissioners Packet Pg. 2015 N.8.c RESOLUTION NO. 15 5-2016 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA IN SUPPORT OF EXPEDITING AUTHORIZATON, APPROPRIATION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND COMPLETION OF EVERGLADES RESTORATION PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ENHANCE WATER STORAGE AND CONVEYANCE TO RESTORE WATER FLOW TO THE FLORIDA BAY WHICH IS n NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE FLORIDA BAY, A CRITICAL PART OF THE EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM. WHEREAS, Monroe County is part of the vast Everglades ecosystem that covers much of South Florida; and WHEREAS, Monroe County's coastline encompasses Florida Bay, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary("FKNMS") and Everglades National Park; and 0 WHEREAS, the waters of the Florida Keys are dependent on the health of the Everglades ecosystem as the primary source of fresh water and foundation for the nearshore estuarine environment and Florida Bay that provides a unique and critical habitat for numerous plants and animals, including 15 federally protected, endangered and threatened species and state special concern species, such as the bottlenose dolphin, Florida manatee, smalltooth sawfish, green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, spoonbills, pelicans, egrets, piping plover, and the American crocodile; and y 0 WHEREAS, Florida Bay comprises a large portion of Everglades National Park, and is a main receiving water body of flows from the central and northern Greater Everglades Ecosystem, heavily influenced by changes in quality, quantity, timing and distribution of freshwater flows into the southern end of the Everglades system; and WHEREAS, the construction of water control structures and facilities within the N Everglades throughout the 20th century has altered the natural hydrologic patterns of water in the LO region. Over time, this has a resulted in a greater than 50% reduction in flows through the central Everglades and a dramatically altered distribution of flows into Taylor. The reduction - and redistribution of freshwater into Florida Bay has reduced the critically needed flow of freshwater into Taylor Slough, a natural feature of the Everglades that flows southwest into a numerous tributaries that eventually empty into Florida Bay, harmed the health of the Bay and other connected coastal regions; and WHEREAS, Florida Bay is within the vitally important ecosystem located between the mainland and the Florida Keys, with approximately 20% of Florida Bay within the boundaries of the FKNMS and approximately 80% of Florida Bay within the boundaries of Everglades National Park both dependent on clean and adequate water flows; and Page 1 of 5 Packet Pg. 2016 N.8.c WHEREAS, Florida Bay is vital to the multi-billion dollar fishing and ecotourism industry of South Florida, including commercial and recreational fishing, snorkeling, diving, boat and equipment rentals, hospitality and other related businesses. Florida Bay comprises a significant portion of the coastal Everglades recreational fishing industry worth $880 million annually and commercial shrimp and stone crab fisheries worth more than $80 million annually; and WHEREAS, the ecosystem of the Florida Keys including Florida Bay attracts over 4 2 million visitors and over $4.5 billion in economic activity annually, generating $200 million in sales tax revenue for the State of Florida each year; and WHEREAS, current ecological conditions in Florida Bay are approaching the conditions of 1987-1990, when Florida Bay experienced an ecological collapse from hypersaline conditions that led to massive sea grass die off and devastating algal blooms that clouded the crystal waters of the Florida Bay. Due to lack of freshwater flow and drought conditions in 2015 Florida Bay is once again experiencing high salinity contributing to significant seagrass die-off zones currently c estimated at 50,000 acres, approaching the levels of 1987-1990 when approximately 67,000 acres of Florida Bay experienced some degree of seagrass die off die off; and 0 WHEREAS, while recent rainfall has helped the hypersaline conditions, it does not ameliorate the recent seagrass die-off that has occurred or the harmful algal blooms that are likely to result from that die off this upcoming summer and fall ,further damaging the environment and economy requiring multi-year recovery. As an early indicator, nesting for Spoonbills and other species of birds has been poor this season due to adverse conditions in Florida Bay; and WHEREAS, this dire situation in Florida Bay is a symptom of a larger need to restore v the Everglades ecosystem by constructing projects for conveyance, water quality treatment and c 0 storage of water as outlined in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan(CERP); and 0 WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners urges all of the responsible entities -- the Federal government, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the W State of Florida (State), and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) -- to expedite the completion of CERP, including the authorization of and appropriations for all CERP projects, LO as well as the completion of foundational projects authorized prior to CERP ("pre-CERP"); and WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners urges the expedited authorization, appropriation, and completion of the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), y a subset of CERP projects that includes both water quality treatment and conveyance projects that will significantly improve restoration of the Everglades by providing and conveying freshwater flows from Lake Okeechobee to the central Everglades estimated at 210,000 acre-feet per year and restoring sheet flow to the Florida Bay; and WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners requests that the Federal government, the Corps, the State, and SFWMD to prioritize and expedite the completion of CERP and pre-CERP projects in the southern end of the system that are already planned and authorized but have not yet been completed including Modified Water Deliveries, the C-111 Page 2 of 5 Packet Pg. 2017 N.8.c WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners supports expediting the CERP planning project for additional EAA storage ("EAA Storage & ASR/Decomp Phase 2") and combining this planning effort with the planning for the Lake Okeechobee Watershed project; and WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners requests that the Federal government, the State of Florida and SFWMD expedite the acquisition of all lands in the cu EAA south of Lake Okeechobee, the Kissimmee, Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie River basins, and system-wide, which are determined to be necessary for the implementation of CERP projects; and y WHEREAS, to address the likelihood of additional water storage being necessary after the completion CEPP, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners asks that the State consider the options recommended by the University of Florida Water Institute providing land area for additional opportunities to store, convey and treat water south of Lake Okeechobee including "1) purchase of private land in the Everglades Agricultural Area (including the current U.S. Sugar land purchase option on land from other willing sellers) to use or trade for deep and/or shallow storage and treatment opportunities, 2) develop a cost sharing program for on- farm or sub-regional multi-farm shallow storage and treatment opportunities, and 3) use existing state owned wildlife management areas" (compatible with the restoration goals of those areas); and WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners urges that the Corps and SFWMD aggressively study, identify and implement operational measures that will enhance water flows into Florida Bay, such as the emergency operations in 2015-2016, and supports the SFWMD's current South Dade Investigation that is exploring the full range water management options south of Tamiami Trail. Monroe County strongly urges that options be evaluated to optimize restoration opportunities for Florida Bay and specifically to identify short-term operational measures and conveyance to specifically deliver freshwater to the Florida Bay; and 0 WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners strongly requests that SFWMD expedite the development and implementation of a recovery strategy to address the exceedances and violation of the Minimum Flow and Level (MFL) Rule for Florida Bay, outline and report to Monroe County its measures to prevent future exceedances and violations, LO and given the likelihood of another large algal bloom, outline contingency plans to protect Florida Bay from a complete collapse of the system or threat to human health, and that the SFWMD make compliance with the MFL Rule for Florida Bay a top priority; and 0 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners that: 1. The above recitals are hereby incorporated into this resolution as restated herein constitute the legislative findings and intent of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida. Page 3 of 5 Packet Pg. 2018 N.8.c 2. Monroe County strongly requests that South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers look for all opportunities to improve the quantity, quality, timing and distribution of water flows into Florida Bay and immediately implement an MFL recovery strategy; and 3. The South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expedite the on-going Everglades restoration projects such as: Modified Water Deliveries, the C-111 South Dade Project, C-111 Spreader Canal Western project, Tamiami Trail Next Steps, Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), along with all operational actions that can be taken now to improve water flow to the Florida Bay; and 4. The South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expedite water storage planning south of Lake Okeechobee, such as the EAA Storage & ASR/Decomp Phase 2 (Component G, GG of the Integrated Delivery Schedule for CERP) in an effort to look for new water to add to the freshwater flow to Florida Bay; c and °- 5. The County's federal and state lobbying teams advocate for acquisition of all lands in c the EAA south of Lake Okeechobee, the Kissimmee, Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie River basins, and system-wide, which are determined to be necessary for the implementation of CERP and CEPP projects; and 6. The Clerk for this Board shall furnish copies of this resolution to: • U.S. Senator Bill Nelson • U.S. Senator Marco Rubio • U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo, District 26 • Florida Governor Rick Scott c • Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner • Florida Senate President-elect Joe Negron • Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli • Florida House Speaker-elect Richard Corcoran • State Senator Dwight Bullard, District 39 • State Senator Anitere Flores, District 37 LO • State Representative Holly Raschein, District 120 • U.S. Army Assistant Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District Commander Col. Jason Kirk • U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell • Chair, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board, Daniel O'Keefe • Executive Director, South Florida Water Management District Peter Antonacci • Secretary, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Jon Steverson 7. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. Page 4 of 5 Packet Pg. 2019 N.8.c PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 20th day of July, 2016. Mayor Heather Carruthers yC5 Mayor pro tem George Neugent tS Commissioner Danny L. Kolhage iS Commissioner David Rice CS Commissioner Sylvia Murphy t5 - � o T HEAVILIN, CLERK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONR E COU TY, FLORIDA 0 117') By: > Clerk ayor eat er Carruthers I.Z 2 0 0 0 0 MwRwa 1W r V� 1�1 LO BERT •SH11.1.IN Page 5 of 5 Packet Pg. 2020 N.8.d 1 2 3 4 m 5 6 O DIN NCE__NO.003 -2016 7 v, 8 9 AN ORDINANCE BY THE ONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY 10 COMMISSIONERS AMENDING THE MONROE COUNTY FUTURE I I LAND USE MAP FROM INDUSTRIAL (1) TO COMMERCIAL (COMM) 12 FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATE MILE MARKER 9, > 13 DESCRIBED AS FOUR PARCELS OF LAND IN SECTION 21, 14 TOWNSHIP 67 SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST, ROCKLAND KEY, MONROE 15 COUNTY, FLORIDA, HAVING REAL ESTATE NUMBERS 16 122080.0000 , 1220 1.0 0200,00122010.0 AND 00121990.000000; 17 AND FROM XED USE/COMMERCIAL FISHING ( CF) AND c 18 INDUSTRIAL (I) TO MIXED USE/COMMERCIAL (MC); CREATING 19 POLICY 107.1.6 BIG COPPITT MIXED USE AREA 1, TO PROVIDE 20 LIMITATIONS ON DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIFIC RESTRICTIONS; 21 FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATE MILE MARKER 9, 22 DESCRIBED AS A PARCEL OF LAND IN SECTION 21, TOWNSHIP 67 23 SOUTH, RANGE 26 EAST, BIG COPPITT KEY, MONROE COUNTY, 0 24 FLORIDA, HAVING REAL ESTATE NUMBER 120940.000100, AS 25 PROPOSED BY ROCKLAND OPERATIONS, LLC AND ROCKLANDy 26 COMMERCIAL CENTER, INC.; PROVIDING FOR SEVE ILITY; 27 PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING PROVISIONS; 28 PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL TO THE STATE LAND PLANNING 29 AGENCY AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE; PROVIDING FOR y 30 AMENDMENT TO THE FUTURE LAND USE P; PROVIDING FOR 31 INCLUSION IN THE MONROE COUNTY YEAR 2010 32 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. cv 33 34 35 WHEREAS, Rockland Operations, LLC and Rockland Commercial Center, Inc. 36 submitted an application for a Future Land Use Map amendment From Industrial (1) to 37 Commercial (COMM) and from Mixed Use/Commercial Fishing (MCF) and Industrial (1) to y 38 Mixed Use/Commercial (MC); and 39 40 WHEREAS, the Monroe County Development Review Committee considered the 41 proposed amendment at a regularly scheduled meeting held on the 29th day of April, 2014; and 42 43 WHEREAS, the Monroe County Planning Commission held a public hearing on the 271s 44 day of August, 2014, for review and recommendation on the proposed Future Land Use Map 45 amendment; and 46 1 Packet Pg. 2021 N.8.d I WHEREAS, the Monroe County Planning Commission made the following findings of 2 fact and conclusions of law: 3 1. The proposed FLUM is not anticipated to adversely impact the community character of 4 the surrounding area; and 5 6 2. The proposed FLUM is not anticipated to adversely impact the Comprehensive Plan 7 adopted Level of Service; and 8 9 3. The proposed amendment is consistent with the Goals, Objectives and Policies of the 10 Monroe County Year 2010 Comprehensive Plan; and 11 � 12 4. The proposed amendment is consistent with the Principles for Guiding Development for > LU 13 the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern, Section 380.0552(7), Florida Statute; 14 and 15 16 5. The proposed amendment is consistent with Part 11 of Chapter 163, Florida Statute; and 17 c 1.8 WHEREAS, the Monroe County Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. P39-14 19 recommending transmittal of the proposed amendment; and 20 21 WHEREAS, at a regular meeting held on the 10`h day of December, 2014, the Monroe 22 County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing to consider the transmittal of the 23 proposed amendment, considered the staff report and provided for public comment and public 24 participation in accordance with the requirements of state law and the procedures adopted for 25 public participation in the planning process; and y 26 27 WHEREAS, at the December 10, 2014, public hearing, the BOCC adopted Resolution 28 375-2014, transmitting the amendment to the State Land Planning Agency; and 29 y 30 WHEREAS, the State Land Planning Agency reviewed the amendment and issued an 31 Objections,, Recommendations and Comments (ORC) report, received by the County on March 32 23, 2015; and 33 cv r9 34 WHEREAS, the ORC report identified objections regarding increased potential 35 residential development on the Big Coppitt portion of the property, and pointed out that although 36 the applicant claims the proposed FLUM amendment will provide some relief to the affordable 37 housing shortage currently faced by the County, there is no guarantee the site will be used for y 38 affordable housing; and 39 40 WHEREAS, the ORC report specifically states: The applicant stakes the argument that � 41 housing in Monroe County is in short supply, the cost of that housing is too high and therefore, � 42 this amendment adds to the available affordable housing by re-designating 14.83 acres to mixed 43 use which can accommodate a multi family affordable housing development project of 44 sign{fleant site. However, there is nothing in the amendment which provides assurance that any 45 future residential development on this property will be for affordable housing; and 46 2 Packet Pg. 2022 N.8.d 1WHEREAS, the ORC report recommended that the BOCC either not adapt the 2 amendment, or revise the amendment to allow uses other than residential uses; and 3 4 WHEREAS, normally, the County has 180 days from the date of receipt of the ORC to 5 adopt the FLUM amendment, adopt the FLUM amendment with changes or not adopt the FLUM 6 amendment, which would have given the BOCC a deadline of September 19, 2015; and 7 c 8 WHEREAS, the County requested and was granted an extension to the deadline from 9 I` EO, which gives the BOCC a new deadline of March 15, 2016 to adopt the FLUM amendment, � 10 adopt the FLUM amendment with changes or not adopt the FLUM amendment; and 11 12 WHEREAS, in response to the ORC, the applicant prepared a revised proposal for the > 13 FLUM amendment based on the ORC report, additional data and analysis, and the requirements 14 of Florida law. The revised proposal requested the saute PLUM amendment from MCF and M to 15 MC and COMM, but also included a Comprehensive Plan text amendment, to be adopted 16 simultaneously to respond to the ORC objections, establishing a subarea policy for the Big 0. 17 Coppitt portion of the property restricting any residential use on the subject property to only 0 18 affordable housing; and 19 20 WHEREAS, staff had also recommended including the following restrictions to the 21 proposed subarea policy: restricting any residential use on the subject property to affordable 22 housing only (with a minimum mix of at least 30% median, at least 30% low, and at least 30% 23 very low income categories); eliminating all potential for market rate permanent residential 24 and/or transient uses on the site; prohibiting new marinas; prohibiting dredging; prohibiting light 25 industrial uses; prohibiting residential buildings in the 70-74 DNL (Day-Night Average Sound y 26 Level) noise contour; and requiring sound attenuation for any habitable buildings located within 27 the 70-74 and 6 -69 DNL(Day-Night Average Sound bevel) noise contours; and c 28 29 WHEREAS, at a regularly scheduled meeting on 17`h day of November, 2015, the y 30 BOCC continued the public hearing to consider adoption of the proposed PLUM amendment and 31 subarea policy because the applicant did not agree with staff recommendation on the mix of 32 affordable housing income categories (mix of at least 30% median, at least 30% low, and at least 33 30% very low income categories); and 34 35 WHEREAS, on January 11, 2016, the applicant provided a revised subarea proposal 36 indicating an alternative for the mix of affordable housing income categories and included other 37 amendments in an effort to address concerns from the surrounding community members; and y 38 39 WHEREAS, based upon the applicant's concern of obtaining financing to develop an 40 affordable housing project with a majority of the units as the lower income categories and the 41 surrounding community members expressed concern with having a large composition of the 42 lower income categories adjacent to their neighborhood, staff recommends in effort to provide 43 for the existing workforce, an increase of the proposed median income category (highest income 44 group of the lower income groups) to provide for a little more mix in affordable housing income 5 categories. The suggestion would result in a mix of 10% median, 20% low and very low 46 combined and 70% moderate income categories; and 3 Packet Pg. 2023 N.8.d l WHEREAS, at a regularly scheduled meeting held on the 10`h day of February, the 2 Monroe County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing, considered the staff 3 report, and provided for public comment and public participation in accordance with the 4 requirements of state law and the procedures adapted for public participation in the planning 5 process, and recommended approval for the FLUM amendment and subarea policy, with 6 revisions, to the State Land planning Agency and Reviewing Agencies as defined in Section 7 163.3184(1)(c), Florida Statutes for review and comment; and 8 9 WHEREAS, the BOCC found there was clearly a demonstrated community need for 10 affordable housing, particularly in the Lower Keys; and 11 �. 12 WHEREAS, the BOCC found there are limited locations in the Lower Keys for potential > 13 larger scale affordable housing developments and no other location in the vicinity that could be 14 developed with 200+ units of affordable housing; and 15 16 WHEREAS, the BOCC provided for public comment, public participation and 17 considered all the comments provided during the public hearing; and c 1 19 WHEREAS, the BOCC considered three options for proposed subarea policy 107.1.6 to 20 evaluate the mix of affordable housing income categories and other conditions; and 21 22 WHEREAS, based upon public comment on potential traffic congestion concerns with 23 the development of a larger scale affordable housing development on the Fig Coppitt parcel, the 24 BOCC recommended option three of the subarea policy with an additional requirement of a 25 development agreement. y 26 c 27 NOW, THEREFORE, E IT ORDAINED Y THE BOARD OF COUNTY 28 COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA: 29 y 30 Section I. The Future Land Use Map (FLUM) for the Year 2010 Comprehensive plan is 31 hereby amended as follows::. 32 33 The property described as four parcels of land on Rockland Ivey, having Real 34 Estate Numbers 00122080-000000, 00122081-000200, 00122010-000000, and 35 00121990-000000 is changed from Industrial (1) to Commercial (COMM), and a 36 parcel of land on Big Coppitt Key, having real estate number 00120940-000000 is 37 changed from Mixed Use/Commercial Fishing (MCF) and Industrial (1) to Mixed c 38 Use/Commercial (MC), as shown on Exhibit 1, attached hereto and incorporated 39 herein. 40 41 Section 2. The text of the Monroe County Year 2010 Comprehensive Plan is hereby 42 amended as follows: 43 44 45 4 Packet Pg. 2024 N.8.d 1 Policy 107.1.6 Big Coppitt Mixed Use Area 1 -To Provide Limitations on Deveionrne t 2 and Specific Restrictions 3 4 Development in the Big Coppitt Mixed Use Area 1 shall be subject to regulations a livable 5 to the Mixed Use/Commercial (MC) Future Land Use Designation as well as an additional 6 restriction set out below: 7 a 8 1. Residential units developed on the Bid* Coppitt Mixed Use Area 1 shall be restricted � 9 to affordable housing only (with a minimum mix of at least 10% median and at least a 10 20% combination of low and very low income categories) and subject to affordable � l l housing regulations pursuant to Section 130-161 of the Monroe County Code of > LU 12 Ordinances.. 13 2. There shall be no nonresidential uses. Accessory uses to the residential development, 14 such as a club house or recreational facilities are permitted. 15 3. There shall be no market rate or transient residential units. 0 16 4. There shall be no dredging. 17 5. All habitable buildings located within the 65-69 DNL (Day-Night Average Sound 18 Level) noise contour, pursuant to the 2013 Navy Environmental Impact Statement 19 shall be sound attenuated to achieve an indoor Noise Level Reduction of at least 25 20 decibels. 21 6. No residential buildings shall be located within the 70-74 DNL. 22 7. Any development located within the Big Coppitt Mixed Use Area 1 shall not utilize y 23 Puerta Drive for ingress and egress. 24 8. All habitable buildings located within the 70-74 DNL noise contour pursuant to the 25 2013 Navy Environmental Impact,Statement shall be sound attenuated to achieve an 26 indoor Noise Level Reduction of at least 30 decibels. 27 9. A development agreement shall be required for any proposed develo ment of an 28 affordable housin ro°ect within the Big C.o ppitt.Mixed Use Area 1 and to evaluate 29 the ingress and e ress of the develo went proposal. c� 30 31 The Big Coppitt Mixed Use.Area 1, with Real Estate No. 00120940-000100 is approximately 32 14.8 acres of vacant land and is legally described as: 33 34 PARCEL "A 35 A parcel of land as described in Official Records Book 1994 Page 1226 of the Public Records of 36 Monroe County, Florida being apart of Government Lot 1 Section 21 Township 67 South 37 Ran e 26 East on Big Coppitt Key, Monroe Coupty, Florida described as follows: 38 39 BEGIN at the southwest corner of Block 9 of"GULFREST PARK. PLAT NO. 2" according to 40 the plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 4 at Page 157 of the Public Records of Monroe Count 41 Florida and run thence South a distance of 390 feet-. thence run West for a distance of 300 feet; 5 Packet Pg. 2025 N.8.d I thence run North for a distance of 1004.13 feet, thence run East for a distance of 300 feet to a 2 point; thence run South for a distance of 614.13 feet back to the POINT OF BEGINNING. 3 TOGETHER WITH: 5 6 PARCEL "B" 7 A parcel of land as described in Official Records Book 1884, Page 1226 of the Public Records of 8 Monroe County Florida being Dart of Government Lot 1, Section 21, Township 67 South, 9 Range 26 East on Big Coppitt Kev, Monroe County,.Florida described as follows: 10 BEGIN at the southwest corner of Block 9 of"GULFREST PARK.PLAT NO. 2" according to 11 the plat...thereof as recorded in Plat Book 4 at Page 157 of the Public Records of Monroe Count 12 Florida and run thence East a distance of 185 feet to a oint� thence South 45 de reel 00 e 13 minutes 00 seconds West a distance of 70.71 feet to apoint; thence West a distance of 135 feet 14 to a point; thence at right angles North 50.0 feet to the said southwest corner of said Block 9 and. 15 the POINT OF BEGINNING. c lb 17 TOGETHER WITH: 18 19 PARCEL "C" 20 A parcel of land as described in Official Records Book 2237, Page 2259 of the Public Records of 0 21 Monroe County, Florida being a part of Government Lot 1, Section 21, Township 67 South, 2:2 Ran e 26 East on Big Coppitt Key, Monroe County, Florida described as follows; y 23 COMMENCE at the southwest corner of Block 9 of"GULFEST PARK Plat No. 2" accordin� 24 to the plat thereof as recorded in Plat Boob 4 at Page 157 of the Public Records of Monroe c 25 County, Florida and run thence North for a distance of 614.13 feet to the POINT OF 26 BEGINNING of the parcel of land herein being described; thence run West for a distance of 300 27 feet to a point thence run North for a distance of 1063 feet, more or less to a point on the north 28 boundary line of T.I.I.F. Deed#24002, thence run East along the said north boundary line of said 29 T.I.I.F. Deed#24002 for a distance of 100 feet to the north boundary line of said Government 30 Lot 1; thence run Southeasterly along the north boundary line of said Government Lot 1 for a 31 distance of 233 feet more or less to the northwest corner of the said Block 9• thence run South c 32 along the west boundary line of the said Block 9 for a distance of 942.79 feet back to the POINT 33 OF BEGINNING. a 34 35 TOGETHER WITH: 36 37 PARCEL "D" 38 A Marcel of land lying adjacent to the lands described in T.I.I.F. Deed#24002 on the Gulf of 39 Mexico in.Government Lot 1, Section 21, Township 67 South, Range 26 East, on Big Coitt 6 Packet Pg. 2026 N.8.d I Kev.Monroe Countv.Florida said parcel being more particularly described by metes and 2 bounds as follows: COMMENCE at the southwest earner of Block 9 of"GULFREST PARK PLAT NO. 2" 4 according to the plat thereof as recorded in fiat Book 4 at Page 157 of the Public record: of Mome Conry;Florida and ran throve Nth and along the migrl ndw lint of the va d 6 Block 9 for a distance of 614.13 feet: thence run West for a distance of 300.00 feet. thence run 7 North for a distance of 1062.78 feet to a voint on the north boundary line of T.I.I.F. Deed#24002 8 as described in Official records Book 346 at Page 580,of the said Public Records, said Point 9 beigZ the POHIqT OF BEG INNTG: thence run West and along the north line of said T.I.I.F. 10 Deed#24002 for a distance of 1331.95 feet; thence run North for a distance of 186 feet more or 11 less. to a,Mint on the waterward boundM line as of JuIv 1 1975;thence meander said 12 waterward boundary the following twenty-four 24 courses: N 88°53'56" E for a distance of 13 39.47 feet-,N 65036'56" E a distance of 71.66 feet-,S 88°16'57"E,for a distance of 75.93 feet,• N 14 77038'10" E a distance of 44.29 feet, S 76°11'41" E. for a distance of 76.54 feet:N 88°33'56"E 15 a distance of 82.11 feet: N 85°40'47" E for a distance of 103.42 feet; S 75°35'07"E.,a distance c 16 of 4 .33 feet;N 77°23'10" E for a distance of 41.16 feet:S 84°42'40"E a distance of 110.45 17 f t° S 87°26®54" E for a distance of 85.16 feet: S 7 °07'09"E for a distance of 28.70 feet- N 18 79°46'31" E, for a distance of 73.24 feet S 77°57'45" E for a distance of 41.56 feet:N 77°1356" 19 E fora distance of 53.90 feet: S 84°23'12" E for a distance of 121.58 feet; N 800 '47" E for a 20 distance of 54.28 feet- S 80 ' ' E for a distance of 63.88 feet S 79°34'01" E for a distance 0 21 of 42.16 feet N 86°10'05" E for a distance of 98.91 feet; N 88'4 '12" E for a distance of 49.04 2 feet S 82'47'37" E for a distance of 59.12 feet S 8411 16'22" E for a distance of 85.04 feet- S v 23 47°39'01"E for a distance of 15.58 feet to a point, said dint being the Point of Terniinus of the 24 Waterward boundary line as of Jul 1 1975° thence S 29103' " E and leaving the said 25 Waterward boundary line as of July 1 1975 for a distance of 197.97 feet to a point, said point 26 being.200.00 feet East of the POINT OF BEGINNING of the.said T.LI.F. Deed 24 2: thence a 27 run West and along the North line of said T.I.I.F. Deed#24002 and Easterl extension thereof 28 for a distance of 300.00 feet back to the POINT OF BEGINNING. 2 30 ALSO DESCRIBED AS: 31 (Description to inco orate current Mean High Water Line as located on MAY 16 2013 2 A Darcel of land being a part of Government Lot 1 Section 21 Township 67 south Range 26 33 East on Big Cgppitt Key, Monroe County,Florida described as follows: a BEGINNING at the southwest corner of Block 9 of"GULFREST PARK PLAT NO, ." 5 according to the plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 4 at Page 157 of the Public records of 6 Monroe County, Florida-, thence S 89°46'50" W along the south line of said Black 9 and its 37 easterly extension being the south right-of-wav line of Puerta Drive said bearinLy referenced to 38 the North American Datum of 198 NAIL 83 f the Florida State Plane Coordinate S stern 39 East Zone with all subsequent bearings referenced thereto a distance of 185.00 f t: thence S 40 450 13'01" W 70.71 feet-, thence N 89°46'50" W 13 .00 feet-, thence S 00°13'10"W 340.00 feet° 7 Packet Pg. 2027 N.8.d I thence N 89°46'50" W. 300.00 feet, thence N 00°13'l 0"„E, 2067.13 feet to the north line of the 2 Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (T.I,I.T.F.) Deed Number 24002, thence N 3 8 °46'50" W along said north line 1331.95 feet° thence N 00°13'10" E 199.38 feet to the Mean 4 High Water Line of the Gulf of Mexico, being coincident with the boundary of the State of 5 Florida sovereign lands as located on May 16, 201.3,having an elevation of(-) 0.1 feet of the 6 North American Vertical Darunm of 1988 (NAVD 88); thence meanderingalong said Mean High o 7 Water Line for the following forty--three courses and distances: S 75"10'03" E, 17.09 feet, thence 8 N 78"39'05" E 68.25 feet-, thence N 89"30'17" E 15.01 feet-, thence N 75"15'14" E, 51.14 feet; 9 thence S 86°12'34" E 48.68 feet, thence N 86"18'20" E 42.61 feet; thence S 78"03'36" E 20.90 10 feet thence N 82°55'14" E 20.68 feet thence S 79"58'18" E 26.68 feet; thence N 82"01'16" E 11 34.71 feet; thence S 88°07'27" E 19.05 feet-, thence S 81°24'47" E 18.37 feet; thence N 12 83"19'58" E 37.65 feet thence N 88°17'12` E 46.14 feet; thence N 37°19'14" E 3.92 feet; 13 thence S 82°12'13" E 41.59 feet thence N 81°17'41" E 29.36 feet thence S 72"56'29" E 14.22 - 14 feet; thence N 85"48'46" E 48.07 feet thence S 89"00'58" E 37.88 feet thence S 74"00'33" E 15 20.67 feet,• thence S 88°24'32" E 37.19 feet-, thence S 84°06'55" E 54.34 feet; thence N 0 16 48"34'35" E_8.07 feet thence S 63"55'33" E 23.21 feet; thence N 85°06'05°" E 80.97 feet; 17 thence S 874246" E 28.25 feet', thence S 87"37`50" E 46.30 feet-, thence N 62°58'49" E 26.73 18 feet; thence S 84°54'29" E 51.82 feet thence S 74°52'34" E 59.48 feet thence N 58©22'57" E 19 39.76 feet-, thence S 70°02'44" E 30.75 feet thence S 89°09'25" E 36.47 feet thence S 20 81°04'00" E 76.75 feet thence S 55°35'02" E 9.83 feet thence,N,87"43'55" E 100.88 feet 21 thence N 79"34'18" E 60.39 feet- thence S 30°05'11" E 16.62 feet thence N 88°49'49" E 23.02 22 feet; thence S 86°06'33" E 23.0 1 feet thence N 84°46'41" E 25.37 feet thence S 72°52'03" E v 23 47.43 feet; thence S 2.8°54'25" E departing said Mean Hi h Water Line 214.32 feet thence N 24 89"46'50" W alon the easterly extension of said T.I.I.T.F. Deed Number 24002 a distance of 25 200.00 feet to the Point of Be innin of said Deed said point also bein on the north line of 26 Government Lot l thence S 58°46'14" E alon said north line 233.35 feet to the northwest 27 corner of said Flock 9 thence S 00°13'10" W along the west line of said Block 9 a distanceof 28 1556.91 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING. cv 29 Said lands lying and bein_g,in Government Lot 1 Section 21 Township 67 South Range 26 East r� 30 on Big Coppitt Key, Monroe County, Florida containing 952,363,square feet 21.86 acres more 31 or less. c 32 33 Section 3. y_S_everabilily. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, item, change, or � 34 provision of this ordinance is held invalid, the remainder of this ordinance shall 35 not be affected by such validity. 36 37 Section 4.. Rel2eal of Inconsistent Provisions. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in 38 conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of said conflict. 39 40 Section 5. Transmittal. This ordinance shall be transmitted by the Director of Planning to 41 the State Land Planning Agency pursuant to Chapter 163 and 380, Florida 42 Statutes. 8 Packet Pg. 2028 N.8.d 1 2 Section 6. Filing and Effective Date. This ordinance shall be filed in the Office of the 3 Secretary of the State of Florida but shall not become effective until a notice is 4 issued by the State Land Planning Agency or Administration Commission finding 5 the amendment in compliance with Chapter 163, Florida Statutes and after any 6 applicable challenges have been resolved. 7 c 8 Section 7. Inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan, The Future Land Use flap amendment 9 shall be incorporated in the Future Land Use Map of the Monroe County Year � 10 2010 Comprehensive Plan and the text amendment shall be incorporated in the I I Monroe County Year 2010 Comprehensive Plan. The numbering of the foregoing 12 amendment may be renumbered to conform to the numbering in the Monroe > Lu 13 County Year 2010 Comprehensive Plan, 14 15 PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, 16 Florida, at a regular meeting held on the Wh day of February, 2016. 17 c 18 Mayor Heather Carruther Yes 19 Mayor Pro Teen s George Neugent Yes 20 Commissioner Danny L. Kolhage vP 21 Commissioner David Rice Yes 22 Commissioner Sylvia Murphy Yes 23 24 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 25 OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA y 26 27 BY 28 Mayor He er®rr thers 29 (SEAL) y 3 MY HEAVILIN, CLERK 23 cv oMONR E COUNTY ATTOR NEY 4 ay4. ER,K AP S TO !4: ASSISTANT u rY AI I ORNEY Date 2 � 9 Packet Pg. 2029 ns EExhibit 1 to Ordinance# CX)3 -2= 016 r, y 001 E 100 & & Ito M UJI � . h.i -- 00122080-000000 Ito COMM - { F 1 , ` �-J' I., 00122001-000200 Ito 010MM �5 t to Comm N i The r , T ns Monroe County Future Land Use Map is amended as indicated above. Proposal:.Future Land Use change of five parcels of land on Big Coppitt Key having Real Estate Numbers: 00120940-000100,0012208 -000000,00122081-000200,00122010-0000 and 001 1990 0 from Industrial(1) toCommenc i(COMM)and Mixed Us:elCommercial(MC), Packet Pg. 2030 • 'N.8.e Mayor Pro Tem Neugent RESOLUTION NO. 405 -2015 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA REGARDING THE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND RESTORATION NEEDS OF EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK AND FLORIDA BAY; URGING THE SOUTH FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION TASK FORCE 2 AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO EXPEDITE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANNED RESTORATION PROJECTS; REQUESTING RE- INITIATION OF THE BI-ANNUAL FLORIDA BAY SCIENCE CONFERENCE; AND INVITING THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO BRIEF THE COMMISSION ON ISSUES RELATED TO THE IMPACTS OF THE CURRENT CRISIS IN FLORIDA BAY AND TO OUTLINE A PLAN MOVING FORWARD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF CRITICAL 0 RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP TO PREVENT SIMILAR CATASTROPHES FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE. WHEREAS,the waters of the Florida Keys are connected to and dependent on the Everglades landscape as the primary source of fresh water that serves as the foundation of the nearshore estuarine environment; and y WHEREAS, Monroe County's coast line encompasses Florida Bay, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Everglades National Park; and 0 WHEREAS,Florida Bay is within the vitally important ecosystem located between the mainland and the Florida Keys, with approximately 20% of Florida Bay within the boundaries of the FKNMS and approximately 80% of Florida Bay within the boundaries of Everglades National Park; and LO WHEREAS,the ecological health of the coastal and marine resources of Monroe County is inextricably linked to that of Florida Bay and Everglades National Park; and 0 WHEREAS,Florida Bay comprises a significant portion of the coastal Everglades recreational fishing industry worth$880 million annually and commercial shrimp and stone crab fisheries worth more than$80 million annually; and WHEREAS,the ecosystem of the Florida Keys including Florida Bay attracts over 4 million visitors and over$4.5 billion in economic activity annually, generating$192 million in sales tax revenue for the State of Florida each year; and Page 1 of 3 Packet Pg. 2031 Mayor Pro Tern Neugent WHEREAS,the health of Florida Bay is vital to the multi-billion dollar fishing and ecotourism industry of South Florida, including commercial and recreational fishing, snorkeling, diving,boat and equipment rentals, and other related businesses; and WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County recognizes that the restoration of America's Everglades is critical to the long-term sustainability of South Florida's economy, quality of life, and environment; and e WHEREAS, these restoration projects are funded by the federal and state government with goals of restoring wetlands, ecosystems, national parks and wildlife refuges and protecting threatened and endangered species; and WHEREAS, lack of freshwater flow, coupled with unseasonably low rainfall over.the > past year, have led to high salinity in Florida Bay which has contributed to resultant mass seagrass die-offs that may continue to worsen; and WHEREAS, scientists caution that a harmful algal bloom in Florida Bay is possible as a result of the widespread sea grass decomposition that could lead to further habitat loss for a 0 number of species, a disaster from which it would take many years to recover; and WHEREAS,the dire situation in Florida Bay is a symptom of a larger water crisis plaguing Florida whereby northern coastal estuaries are being inundated by Lake Okeechobee discharges while the Everglades National Park and Florida Bay are starved for freshwater due to lack of infrastructure for treatment and storage of water and restoration of flow; and WHEREAS, in years past the agencies involved in management of Florida Bay and Everglades restoration projects held a bi-annual Florida Bay Science Conference, which was a productive gathering of scientists and managers that synthesized current conditions, science and management of Florida Bay; y NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County that: 40 N 40 1. The state and federal agency partners that implement South Florida restoration projects (the South Florida Water Management District, Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) are urged to 0 expedite full implementation of planned restoration projects, and operate them in a manner designed to maximize restoration goals and ecological benefits to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay without delay or minimization. 2. The bi-annual Florida Bay Science Conference be reinitiated to promote a deeper understanding of the current conditions, science, and management of Florida Bay. Page 2 of 3 Packet Pg. 2032 O Mayor Pro Tem Neugent { 3. We invite the South Florida Water Management District to attend a Commission meeting to discuss issues related to the impacts of the current crisis in Florida Bay and to outline a plan moving forward for the construction and operation of critical restoration projects that will help to prevent similar catastrophes from occurring in the _ future. a a PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 9th day of December, 2015. Mayor Heather Carruthers Yes Mayor pro tem George Neugent Yes Commissioner Danny L. Kolhage Yes Commissioner David Rice Yes o Commissioner Sylvia Murphy Yes a 4- (SEAL) 0 i MY HEAVILIN, CLERK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSERS;OF MONROE COU O DA i 83 0 _ By: 7-- Clerlk Ma or He ther Carruthers EQ y tl" 6 I � yr LO T- o 04 M P COU ATTO ,NEY tL P. VED S" 0 v o Vs CO OSTANT Cf UNTY TT Rf�EY © o -' l2 (S .J Date _ E ta. o U Page 3 of 3 Packet Pg.2033