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Item J2 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: January 19. 2005 Division: Growth Management Bulk Item: Yes No~ Department: Marine Resources AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval to use South Florida Regional Planning Council as a sole source provider, and for staff to negotiate a contract with South Florida Regional Planning Council to develop a Marine Management PIan. ITEM BACKGROUND: The Growth Management Division has prepared a Preliminary Work Scope (included) for the development of a Marine Management PIan in coordination with the South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC) and Florida Atlantic University Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions (F AU). Due to their experience, unique services and provision as state agencies, the team of SFRPC and F AU is best suited to meet the needs of this comprehensive waterfront planning project. As a member of the South Florida Regional Planning Council, Monroe County may take advantage of the vast resources and technologies offered by SFRPC. This route will forego the three to four extra months required to follow standard RFQ procedures, and provide an immediate response to the urgent redevelopment situation. The SFRPC, as the principal planning consultant, is currently prepared to present a draft proposal to the Board and staff. The Growth Management Division has $75,000 budgeted to be used towards the project. In addition, the Marine Resources Department has received a Florida Boating Improvement Program (FBIP) grant in the amount of $37,500 to be used towards the project. Growth Management staff is prepared to bring a contract to the February Board meeting for approval. A start date of March 1 is anticipated. PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: At its 18 August 2004 Board meeting the BOCC directed staff to have a public water access and marine facilities plan prepared for Monroe County. CONTRACT~GREEMENTCHANGES: N/A STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval TOTAL COST: $1 00.000 (estimated) BUDGETED: Yes ~ No COST TO COUNTY: $62.500 (estimated) REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No X SOURCE OF FUNDS: Fund 148 (MSTU) and FBIP grant AMOUNTPERMONTH_ Year APPROVED BY: County Atty N/A DOCUMENTATION: Included X DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL: To Follow_ Not Required_ DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM ~ Revised 2/27/01 O~~rY ~~~~E Department of Marine Resources 2798 Overseas Highway, Suite 420 Marathon, Florida 33050 Phone: (305) 289-2805 Voice: (305) 289-2536 J ones- Rich@Monroecounty-fl.gov ("''''-- Board of County Commissioners Mayor Dixie M. Spehar, Dist. I Mayor Pro Tern Sonny McCoy, Dist. 3 Cornrn. George Neugent, Dist. 2 Cornrn. David P. Rice, Dist. 4 Cornrn. Murray E. Nelson, Dist. 5 PRELIMINARY WORK SCOPE Introduction Monroe County is experiencing the loss of, and redevelopment of, marine facilities at an unprecedemed rate. Escalating property values and associated property taxes appear to be a driving force behind the sale and redevelopment of many important waterfront non-residential properties. Of concern is the loss of commercial marinas, and particularly the 'working waterfront' including: boat yards, wet and dry storage, fish houses, and commercial fishing vessel dockage. These facilities are not only important to the local economy, but have historical and cultural significance as well. There is great concern that if nothing is done to control this redevelopment that future losses of waterfront facilities will negatively affect the economy and bring an end to critical marine service industries (e.g. boat yards), commercial marinas which are available to the public, and traditional trades associated with the community character (e.g. commercial fishing). The current trend is a transition to non-water dependent uses (e.g. condos) and exclusive marinas (e.g. private mega-yacht marinas). Related to the redevelopment issue is concern for public water access and the loss of boat ramps and dockage currently provided at many of the boat yards and marinas. The effects of losing a single boatyard may be quite substantial, particularly in Stock Island where the only facility capable of servicing large vessels (including the commercial fishing fleet) is located. Many losses of facilities have already been observed in the upper and middle Keys. Without boat yards to service their vessels, many boat captains will have to look elsewhere for service (i.e. Havana, Miami, Tampa), or may leave the industry altogether. The Stock Island-Key Haven Livable CommuniKeys Master Plan, currently in development, has identified public concern for the loss of the 'working waterfront'. Both the Board of County Commissioners and the citizens they represent have indicated the highest priority for addressing the above described redevelopment situation. In addition, there is concern at the regional and state levels for the loss of marine facilities and public water access. Mandate On 18 August 2004 the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held their regular meeting and discussed the issue of the loss of 'working waterfronts'. The Board listened to several speakers (both government staff and private citizens) provide information indicating the current trend for waterfront property owners to redevelop existing marine and fishing related facilities to non-water dependant uses, gated private marinas and other uses that will both directly and indirectly affect the I relatively diversified economy and traditional activities and livelihoods of the Keys. The BOCC directed staffto have a public water access and marine facilities plan prepared for Monroe County. Objectives · Acquire socio-economic data on existing waterfront marine facilities, analyze the data, and evaluate the importance of the 'working waterfront' both economically and culturally · Determine the potential effects of recent and current proposed redevelopment of commercial waterfront facilities · Work and cooperate with other entities studying the issues (i.e. the Marine Industries Association of South Florida; the Florida Senate Committee on Comprehensive Planning) · Research and provide a wide option of recommendations and management strategies for implementation, including creative solutions, to preserve the 'working waterfront' · Focus measures/recommendations not only at the County level, but also the State level to provide for the highest level of legislative representation and assistance Methodology & Data Collection · Examine the culture and context of working waterfronts by region (lower, middle and upper keys) · Inventory pertinent waterfront facility locations and identify specific waterfront uses · Identify undeveloped/potential working waterfront sites · Acquire socio-economic data utilizing existing or current project data as available to allow for budgetary constraints. Existing and current project data may be used in addition to collecting new survey and/or interview format data, providing a mixed approach so as to allow a time and cost effective comprehensive data acquisition program. Socio-economic data surveys should include, but not be limited to: marinas, boat yards, fish houses, commercial fishing dockage, other commercial dockage, wet/dry storage facilities, and boat ramps. Available data sources may include, but not be limited to: existing reports, studies, plans, interviews with key stake holders, GIS data, tax roll information, zoning information, existing CommuniKeys reports, fisheries catch information, etc. · Analyze current working waterfront economic contribution/distribution in both local and regional contexts · Describe and illustrate future scenarios given certain trends or directions and market forces (ex: if primary economic driver is a downturn in fishing industry or upswing in tourism and residential units/residents not needing 'white-collar' employment opportunities, etc.) · Examine 'dockage to dinner plate' relationship to local & regional economies including tourism and associated impacts · Conduct cursory examination of communities with similar characteristics facing similar challenges Data collected should be provided in a format usable in ArcMap GIS, as applicable. Also, marina inventory and other demographic data should be collected and provided in a context which allows the data to be utilized towards meeting the Comprehensive Plan Objective 212.4 (Marina Siting Study). Produ ctsIDeliverab les Provide a comprehensive 'Marine Management Plan' (Report) to include, but not limited to: . . A brief overview of the history and importance of commercial waterfront facilities in the Keys, including a definition/description ofthe term 'working waterfront' as it applies to Monroe County. . A complete description of the objectives . A complete description of the methodology . A complete description of any analyses . A complete description of the results . A comprehensive discussion section providing an overview of the issues, trends, data, and results. The section should paint an overview of the recent past, present and future in regards to the 'working waterfront' and how it affects the economy and community character of the Keys. . A comprehensive list of management strategies and recommendations, including but not limited to: public/private partnerships, tax incentives, tax abatements, development right purchasing, Land Development Regulation changes and/or Comprehensive Plan amendments, etc. This comprehensive list may be organized or categorized according to types or modes of direction for the County to choose from, etc. . Appendices including all acquired data, references, literature research, and ,any other pertinent information The final Report should also detail and describe any cooperative and/or collaborative efforts at the regional and state levels. Timeline The Board of County Commissioners and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary have recognized the urgency of the situation with the loss of 'working waterfronts'. The Department has been directed to address this situation immediately. The Department would like - the study and accompanying recommendations completed within nine months.