Item R19
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA [1'EM SUMMARY
Meeting Date 4/20/05
Division: Coun1)'_c\nQ.r.n~Y _
Bulk Item: Yes X No
Department: County Attorney
Staff Contact Person: John R Collins
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Approval of a Resolution supporting the authorization of the National Park Service's boundary adjustment for
the Tarpon Basin property adjacent to Everglades National Park
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy are working together to request congressional
authorization to allow for the National Park Service to adjust its boundary to include Tarpon Basin property
currently owned by The Nature Conservancy
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
N/A
CONTRACT/AGREEME~T CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approval.
TOTAL COST:
N/A
BUDGETED: Yes _N/A
No
COST TO COUNTY:
N//\
SOURCE OF FlINDS: N/A
REVENUE PRODUCING: '{es
No xx
AMOlJNT PER MONTH
Year
APPROVED BY: County Alt~
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
__n_ Risk Management ____
DOClJMENTATION:
Included
Not Required _X
DISPOSITION:
AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 2/05
RESOLUTION NO.
-2005
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
SUPPORTING THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE'S BOUNDARY AD.JLJSTMENT FOR THE
TARPON BASIN PROPERTY ADJACENT TO EVERGLADES
NATIONAL PARK.
Whereas, habitat protection is a cornerstone of the recovery efforts for tederally
endangered and threatened species in the Florida Keys,
ff'hereas, the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy are working together to
request a congressional authorization to allow for the National Park Service to adjust its boundary
to include Tarpon Basin property currently owned by The Nature Conservancy,
Whereas, The Nature Conservancy acquired this property in May 2003 subsequent to a
letter of intent from the National Park Service,
Whereas, the wetland portions of the tract include exceptional mangrove forest that will
benefit from National Park Service management attention that is currently lacking,
Whereas, subject to authorization, the Conservancy will convey the property to the
National Park Service,
Whereas, this property is a priority for the Park due to its significant natural resources,
Whereas, the property is immediately adjacent to Everglades National Park in the Key
Largo District of the Park, and
Whereas, the property consists of multiple parcels and is approximately 580 acres in size,
and
Whereas, the property includes signiticant marine and coastal resources characteristic of
Florida Bay and the Florida Keys,
Wherea,..,., this property contains hahitat for the American crocodile, West Indian manatee,
white-crmvned pigeon, other neo~tropical migrant bird species, and various other threatened and
endangered plant and animal species,
Wnereas, this property is entirely within the Conservation and Natural Area (Tier I),
FVnereas, this boundary adjustment is compatible with the Monroe County Comprehensive
Plan, the Florida Keys Carrying Capacity Study, and the South Florida Multi~Species Recoverv
Plan.
Whereas, this property is not located within the current National Park Service boundaries
and the National Park Service must obtain congressional approval to expand park boundaries
before they can acquire the property tram The Nature Conservancy,
Wherea,\', the National Park Service is working to draft the legislation for Congresswoman
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to sponsor the authorization of the boundary adjustment to Everglades
National Park.
A/ow ther(:fore, he it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida:
The Board of County Commissioners is hereby requested to support the authorization of
the National Park Service's boundary adjustment for the Tarpon Basin property adjacent to
Everglades National Park.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners
of Monroe County, Florida at a regular meeting held on the _ day of April, A.D" 2005
Mayor Dixie Spehar
Mayor Charles "Sonny" McCoy
Commissioner Murray Nelson
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner David Rice
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MON'ROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY:
Mayor Dixie Spehar
(Seal)
ATTEST:
Danny L, Kolhage, Clerk
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