Item P13 P.13'
i�`
CountCounty ��Monroe. ,y, ? "tr, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
y M T� \�1a� Mayor Michelle Coldiron,District 2
�1 1 nff `_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
September 15, 2021
Agenda Item Number: P.13
Agenda Item Summary #9697
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: County Administrator
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Lisa Tennyson (305)292-4444
n/a
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of the Monroe County 2022 State Legislative Agenda.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Staff is seeking Board approval of the issues presented herein to be included in the County's 2022
State Legislative Program.
Each year, the BOCC and staff evaluate the trends and issues affecting all County programs and
services to identify potential policy or substantive legislative issues. Staff has provided a list of
substantive priorities and a list general issues that we should monitor for the 2021 State legislative
session; and welcomes the addition or deletion of issues that the Board deems appropriate for the
County's 2022 legislative efforts.
Most of the County's legislative efforts are incremental and focused on issues that are built upon
throughout several sessions, such as our water quality and land acquisition needs, the importance of
wind insurance affordability, and protection of grandfathered vacation rental regulations; these will
continue to be legislative priorities in the 2022 session.
Each year the agenda also reflects changes or additional tasks in response to new challenges, new
ideas for existing challenges, or new opportunities for funding sources.
Important priorities this session include securing the full Florida Keys Stewardship Act
appropriation and having the Florida Keys Stewardship Act included as a funded project in State's
Land Acquisition Trust Fund. The Land Acquisition Trust Fund ("LATF") is funded with
documentary stamp taxes directed there by Amendment 1. Projects currently funded in the LATF
include some of the State's highest environmental priorities, such as Everglades Restoration and
springs restoration. Inclusion of the Keys' Stewardship Act into the LATF would elevate our
Stewardship Act to Statewide importance and help secure annual funding.
We will continue to work with the Legislature to tackle the issue of derelict vessels in Monroe
County. Last session, the Legislature passed a bill enacting new anchoring limits in the waters of the
Florida Keys. However, the new law includes the high hurdle of implementing 300 new moorings
before the new limits may be applied. We will work with the Legislature to resolve this issue, with a
"glitch" bill to lower the number of required new moorings, and having the new anchoring limits
apply only to stored vessels.
Another new top priority is to secure resiliency funding from the State's new Resilient Florida Grant
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Program, which will require Executive branch advocacy for the County's projects submitted in the
new grant portal.
We will also seek an expansion of the powers and responsibilities of the Monroe County Land
Authority to aid the County in activities related to enhancing residential resiliency to flooding and
sea level rise, to include: administering grants to the County for residential flood and sea level rise
mitigation projects, including grants for the elevation of structures above minimum flood elevations;
demolition and reconstruction of structures above minimum flood elevations; and acquisition of land
with structures at risk of flooding.
In the 2021 session, the Legislature transferred the management and administration of the Pumpout
Program, along with the $1M legislative appropriation for the program, to the Department of
Environmental Protection. DEP is currently in the procurement process for a vendor. Staff
discussions with DEP indicate that the agency's intention is to continue to provide the same service
levels and service areas. We are not yet certain DEP or the legislature's plan for the program's
oversight next year. DEP may include the funding in its agency legislative budget request
(anticipating that it will continue to run the program). If not, then the County will again pursue a
legislative appropriation to support the program. We are closely monitoring DEP's actions to
determine next steps.
Proposed appropriations requests this year are:
• $20M for water quality projects in the Florida Keys.
• $5M for land acquisition in the Florida Keys through Florida Forever set-aside.
• $500,000 for pump-out services in the Florida Keys (if necessary.)
Upon Board approval, the County's legislative team will pursue all of the legislative issues approved
by the Board, and in so doing, place appropriate priority on the issues that the Board directs to
receive a special level of attention in 2022.
Typically, through each session, the County's legislative team focuses on its priorities, and then
works through the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and the Small County Coalition (SCC) in
achieving broader legislative issues. FAC and SCC will finalize their legislative programs during the
FAC legislative conference in December. As a member of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate
Compact, Monroe County works collaboratively to help develop the Compact's annual legislative
program. That agenda will come to the Board for approval before the start to the session.
Key dates for the 2020 State Legislative Session:
2022 Legislative Session
September 15: Approval of BOCC Legislative Agenda
September 21-23: FAC Legislative Conference
September-December: Interim Committee Weeks (Sep-20-25; Oct 11-15, 18-21; Nov 1-5, 15-19;
Nov 29-Dec 3)
January 11: First Day of Regular Session
TBD: Local Delegation Meeting
TBD: Florida Association of Counties Legislative Day
TBD: Keys Day
March 1: Last Day for Committee meetings
March 11: Last Day of Regular Session
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PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: Approval of the 2021 State Legislative Agenda.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval.
DOCUMENTATION:
2022 State Legislative Agenda(final draft)
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:
REVIEWED BY:
Bob Shillinger Completed 08/31/2021 4:10 PM
Budget and Finance Completed 08/31/2021 4:34 PM
Maria Slavik Completed 08/31/2021 5:51 PM
Liz Yongue Completed 08/31/2021 6:05 PM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 09/15/2021 9:00 AM
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Monroe County Board of County Commissioners State Legislative Priorities 2022
Mayor Michelle Coldiron, District 2
Mayor Pro Tern David Rice, District 4
Commissioner Craig Cates, District i
Commissioner Eddie Martinez, District 3
Commissioner Mike Forster, District 5
Mill 1671 ,illlliT,,llllll'll r1w,in, Mn
County Administrator Roman Gastesi
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House District 120: Representative Jim Mooney
Senate District 39: Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez
Florida Association of Counties
Small County Coalition T)
Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact
South Florida Regional Planning Association
National Association of Counties
Gulf States Counties and Parishes Caucus
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. e
REPORT AND DISCUSSION.............................................................................................. 3
STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES:
Stewardship, LATF,Water Quality................................................................... 5
LandAcquisition.............................................................................................. 6
Resilience........................................................................................................ 7
WindInsurance................................................................................................ 8
Marine Protection (Derelict Vessels and Pump-out Program).......................... 9
VacationRentals.............................................................................................. 12
Affordable Housing 3.
Everglades Restoration.................................................................................... 3.3
Coral Reef Protection....................................................................................... 3.3
Clerks'Funding/Judgeships............................................................................... 3.3 N
N
Single Use Plastic Bags .................................................................................... 3.3 N
Florida Retirement System............................................................................... 14 .�
Home Rule, Unfunded Mandates, County Revenues .......................... 14
GENERAL STATE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES:
Growth Management/Environmental Regulation.............................................. 3.5
Emergency Management................................................................................... 3.5 >
Health, Mental Health, and Social Services.......................................................... 3.6 y
Transportation.................................................................................................... 3.7
Veterans.............................................................................................................. 3.7
Libraries.............................................................................................................. 3.7 N
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County Jails,Juvenile Justice............................................................................... 3.7 N
Homelessness .................................................................................................... 3.8 m
Overseas Heritage Trail Pedestrian Bridges........................................................ 3.8
MedicalMarijuana.............................................................................................. 3.8
Oil Drilling/Fracking............................................................................................ ig
Sustainability/PACE/Recycling .......................................................................... ig
CONTACT INFORMATION ................................................................................................... 20
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Monroe County Board of County Commissioners State Legislative Priorities 2022
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA DEVELOPMENT
Staff is seeking Board approval of the issues presented herein to be included in the County's 2022 State
Legislative Program. Upon Board approval, staff and the contract lobbying teams will pursue all of the
legislative issues approved bythe Board,and in so doing,place appropriate priority on the issuesthatthe Board
directs to receive a special level of attention in 2022.
Annually,the Board reviews legislative priorities and gives direction on and approval of priority legislative issues
to guide the County's lobbying efforts at both the State and federal level. Typically, the County identifies as
priorities only its most pressing issues and then supports the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and the
Small County Coalition (SCC) in achieving their broader substantive initiatives. As a member of the Southeast
Florida Regional Climate Compact, Monroe County collaborates on the Compact's annual legislative program.
Each year, the BOCC and staff evaluate the trends and issues affecting all County programs and services to
identify potential policy or substantive legislative issues. Included herein are the substantive priorities and
general issues to be pursued and supported during the 2022 State Legislative session.
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LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES cCD
„
The County's legislative efforts are incremental and focused on issues that are built upon throughout several
sessions, such as funding for water quality infrastructure and land acquisition, and protecting Citizen's wind
insurance affordability;these will continue to be legislative priorities in the 2020 session.
The County's number one priority is to secure a $25M appropriation through the Florida Keys Stewardship
Act(FKSA),of which $20M is to fund water quality projects and $5M is for land acquisition. The County utilizes 0)
its share of Stewardship funding for the canal restoration program.
The FKSA authorizes an annual $5M set-aside of Florida Forever funding for the next ten years, dedicated
specifically to enable Florida Department of Environmental Protection to renew an aggressive land acquisition M
program in the Florida Keys. As the universe of development permits shrinks, and the County reaches "build
out," there is a need to keep our State legislators mindful about the impacts and consequences of Monroe
County's challenge of protecting both environmentally sensitive lands while balancing private property rights.
The State of Florida, having designated the Florida Keys as an Area of Critical State Concern, is a partner with
Monroe County in this challenge and we continue to work closely with the State's ACSC oversight agency,the
Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) on these issues, and the State's main environmental regulatory
agency,the Department of Environmental Preservation.
An important goal is to have the Florida Keys Stewardship Act included as a funded project in State's Land
Acquisition Trust Fund. The Land Acquisition Trust Fund ("LATF") is funded with documentary stamp taxes
directed there by Amendment i. Projects currently funded in the LATF include some of the State's highest
environmental priorities, such as Everglades Restoration and springs restoration. Inclusion of the Keys'
Stewardship Act into the LATF would elevate our Stewardship Act to Statewide importance and help secure
annual funding.
Another top priority is to secure funding for resiliency projects. The County will submit its funding requests
into the new DEP Resiliency Funding portal as required by the new law passed last session. The County's
legislative team will then advocate with the Governor's office and DEP to secure the funding for those project
submittals.The County is also pursuing an expansion of the powers of its Land Authority to add staff expertise
and resources to securing and administering resilience funding from state and federal grant programs.
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We will continue to work with the Legislature to tackle the issue of derelict vessels in Monroe County. Last
session,the Legislature passed a bill enacting new anchoring limits in the waters of the Florida Keys. However,
the new law includes the high hurdle of implementing Soo new moorings before the new limits may be applied.
We will work with the Legislature to resolve this issue, by lowering the number of required new moorings, and
applying the new anchoring limits only to stored vessels.
Wind insurance affordability is yet another critical need for our constituents and a key component in
preserving the Keys'strong local economythat is a valuable economic engine forthe State. Atthe State level,
this requiresworking with Citizens Property Insurance Company's windstorm insurance to find waysto enhance
affordability,with the Office of Insurance Regulation to address annual rate increases, and to oppose efforts to
increase premiums, eliminate the cap on annual increases, reduce coverage, and reduce eligibility.
The spate of preemption bills introduced last session,and increasingly over recent legislative sessions,such as
those related to vacation rentals, emergency powers,contractor licensing, home-based businesses,cruise ship
activity in local ports, single use plastic bags, business regulation, use of county rights of way, affordable
housing, and local referenda represent a significant challenge to home rule. We expect these State legislative
efforts to continue.
In response to the 2023. State legislative session -- arguably one of the most active legislative sessions with
regard to home rule preemptions-- FAC will be standing up a new"preemption"committee that will help focus
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on this issue,guide strategy and research with a long-range perspective and with initiatives(notjust reactions.)
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It is beneficial for the Board to be active participants in the legislative process by testifying on behalf of the
County and working with the legislative delegation. Staff will continue to keep the Board involved in legislative '✓
issues through agenda items, resolutions, memoranda, FAC"Call to Action"emails, and regular updates.
LOBBYING CONTRACTS
4-
The County utilizes contract lobbying services at the State level to further Monroe County's legislative goals
and to secure vital appropriations. Monroe County currently contracts with Robert Reyes with Capital Group,
Ryan Matthews of Peebles Smith with a sub-contract with Dean Cannon of Gray-Robinson, Frank Bernardino
with Anfield Consulting, and Nick larossi with Capital City Consulting. These firms provide a daily presence in
Tallahassee and advocate for the County's legislative priorities. y
Staff coordinates regularly with the County's State lobbying team by phone and e-mail to strategize on key
State policy, regulatory, and budget issues. In addition to weekly conference calls during session, and weekly
issues tracking, lobbyists also submit monthly reports, and formally report annually to the Board of County
Commissioners.
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KEY DATES
2022 Legislative Session
September 15:Approval of BOCC Legislative Agenda
September 21-23: FAC Legislative Conference
September-December: Interim Committee Weeks
(Sep-20-25;Oct 11-15, 18-21; Nov 1-5, 15-ig; Nov 29-Dec 3)
January ii: First Day of Regular Session
TBD: Local Delegation Meeting
TBD: Florida Association of Counties Legislative Day
TBD: Keys Day
March is Last Day for Committee meetings
March ii: Last Day of Regular Session
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Monroe County Board of County Commissioners State Legislative Priorities 2022
FLORIDA KEYS STEWARDSHIP: WATER QUALITY PROTECTION
CHALLENGES:
➢ Unique Ecosystem:The Florida Keys lie within the waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
This fragile and complex marine ecosystem of the Florida Keys is one of the unique ecosystems in the world
and is home to the only living coral reef in the continental U.S. and the third largest barrier reef in the
world,the largest sea grass meadow in the hemisphere,and 6,000 species of marine life. Leaching cesspits,
runoff and degraded canal waters pollute the nearshores waters of the Sanctuary and threaten the
ecosystem.
➢ Unrivaled Economic Impact: This ecosystem is the lifeblood of marine-based tourism and fisheries
economy unrivaled in the State of Florida generating over$413 in economic activity, enabling the Keys to
generate over$225M in sales tax revenue for the State (in normal years).
➢ Federal State Water Quality Mandates: The implementation of Advanced Wastewater Treatment
standards,storm water management and canal water restoration in the Florida Keys are all pursuantto and
in furtherance of the Federal Water Quality Protection Program mandates that apply to all of the waters
surrounding the Florida Keys. Congress created the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in iggo, and W
directed US EPA and the State to develop a Water Quality Protection Program to restore and protect water
quality.
➢ Wastewater Implementation: The State mandated that The Florida Keys Area of Critical Concern
construct a centralized wastewater treatment system in compliance with FS 383.and 4o3 across the span W
of the ioo+ mile archipelago. This has cost the local governments of the Florida Keys s9ooM. The State
has invested siooM in that system.
➢ Storm Water and Degraded Canal Waters: With wastewater treatment system improvements almost
complete, the Keys must now address two remaining areas of water quality concern, storm water and
degraded canal waters. Runoff and poor canal water leach into the nearshore waters of the Florida Keys y
National Marine Sanctuary and threaten its fragile ecosystem. Environmental testing has determined that
many canals in the Keys have poor water quality that fall below the State water quality standards.
➢ Land Acquisition Trust Fund: A portion of the State's doc stamp taxes are deposited into this trust fund,
per Amendment 1,to fund State's environmental priority projects. Inclusion of the Stewardship Act into
the LATF would significantly enhance efforts to secure annual Stewardship funding.
➢ LOCAL COMMITMENT:
o County Funds: The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners expended s7M in local funds to
conduct a Restoration Pilot Program, wherein we implemented a number of different restoration
technologies on seven different canals to determine the costs and benefits of each technique.
o RESTORE Act funds: The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners has committed all of its
$20M in its RESTORE Act funds to Canal Restoration.
o Natural Resources Conservation Service Funds: The County secured a s4SM federal grant in 2o3.8 to
remove hurricane-related debris from almost 200 canals.
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
SUPPORT a $20M appropriation for the implementation of The Florida Keys Stewardship Act.
SUPPORT inclusion of the Florida Keys Stewardship Act in the State's Land and Water Trust Fund.
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FLORIDA KEYS STEWARDSHIP ACT: LAND ACQUISITION
CHALLENGES:
➢ Area of Critical State Concern: The State of Florida designated the Florida Keys an Area of Critical State
Concern, in recognition of its unique and significant environmental resources, and through the
Administration Commission, the State maintains oversight of the growth and development issues in the
Florida Keys.
➢ Hurricane Evacuation: State law limits residential housing growth in the Keys sothat permanent residents
can be safely evacuated within 24 hours. U.S. i has limited capacity for cars on the road, which limits the
number of people that can live here. The State accomplishes this through an annual rationing of building
permits, until we reach a cap or"build out."
➢ Development Permits:The State caps the total number of new building permits in the Keys. In 2013 that
cap was set at 3,550. Each year,for the next ten years,the State allocates 355 permits to the Keys.We will
reach build out in 2026, after which there will be no more permits, and no further development will be
permitted. (Note, the County extended the buildout timeframe from 2023, and has divided its remaining
permits to extend the build out date to 2026 to allow for more time to focus on land acquisition.)
➢ Property Rights/Legal Liability: After we apply all of the available permits (3,550), there will still be
approximately 8,000 privately owned, undeveloped parcels, potentially with no ability to develop. The
deficit of permits could trigger property rights lawsuits against the local governments and the State from
owners who may have been denied the ability to build a home on their property. The total value of the '✓
remaining 8,000 parcels, and the liability of potential takings claims, is conservatively estimated at$846M
(2oi8 data). The County and the State have been named as co-defendants in property rights suits filed as
a result of ACSC regulations, and jointly defended those suits.
➢ Conservation and Non-Conservation Lands: Florida Forever provides a programmatic funding source
through which the State can acquire lands to retire development rights, as long as those properties are
conservation lands within the Florida Forever project boundaries. Of the 8,000 privately-owned,
undeveloped properties that could be left without permits approximatelY3,500 lie within Florida Forever
project boundaries. In 2o3.8, we secured legislative changes that authorizes the State to acquire non-
conservation lands in ACSCto retire development rights. However,this type of acquisition requires a State
funding source.
➢ Military Base Buffering: The Keys are home the U.S. Naval Air Station Key West. Approximately 50o of
the 7,800 privately-owned, undeveloped parcels lie within NASKW's military buffer areas. In 2o18, we
secured legislative changes that prioritized NASKW within the State's military buffer lands program, but N
the program requires greater State funding in order to acquire more base buffer land.
➢ LOCAL COMMITMENT:
o Since August 1, 2o3.6, Monroe County has expended a total of$19.7M in local funds(a combination of
infrastructure sales surtax and Monroe County Land Authority)to reduce this liability by acquiring land
and retire the development rights. The County has an additional $6.3M budgeted. The State has
expended $4.6M. To date, 349 development rights have been retired (264 by the County and 85 by
the State).
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
` SUPPORT appropriation of$5M within Florida Forever as authorized in The Florida Keys Stewardship Act
for land acquisition within the Florida Keysthatwill both conserve environmentally sensitive land and retire
development rights to mitigate future takings liability.
SUPPORT continued partnership with DEO and FDEP to fund and implement an aggressive, long-term
land acquisition strategy aimed at reducing the total inventory of privately owned vacant land to curtail the
threat of significant future takings liability.
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Monroe County Board of County Commissioners State Legislative Priorities 2022
SUPPORT increased funding for Military Base buffering for State acquisition of buffer lands around NASKW
that will protect base encroachment AND retire development rights to mitigate future takings liability.
ENHANCING MONROE COUNTY'S`RESILIENCE TO SEA LEVEL RISE,
KING TIDES AND STORM i INUNDATION
CHALLENGES:
➢ Estimated Costs: In 2oi8, Monroe County embarked on a comprehensive study to examine the impacts of
sea level rise, King Tides and storm inundation on the County's road system. This study, currently
underway, has produced initial cost estimates of$3.813to elevate and otherwise mitigate flooding impacts.
(This estimate does not include roadways within the Keys'municipalities.)
➢ Severe and persistent road flooding is impacting many communities affecting public safety, commerce,
property values and quality of life.
➢ The County is charting a course to pursue all available funding streams to assist with this comprehensive
effort, including federal and state grants, Congressional appropriations, special assessments and local
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funding.
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➢ A highly impactful revenue source for Monroe is the i-cent infrastructure sales surtax. Monroe County '✓
currently levies a i-cent infrastructure sales surtax that raises$34M, countywide,annually(ofthis amount
Monroe County BOCC is allocated approximately$23M.) The current i-cent sales tax sunsets in 2o33,and
we will seek,via referendum,to extend it 2053.The revenue of the extension could be bonded to generate
$200M. An additional i-cent tax levy, if approved bythe Legislation, and levied after approval bythe local
voters via a referendum, would raise an additional $34M annually that could be bonded to generate
$-400M,which we contemplate utilizing toward the County's road elevation/resiliency program. Note: We
are not actively working on this issue this session as there is minimal support in the Legislature at this time.
However, should there arise any significant legislative effort related to a sales tax increase for resilience, we
will raise it for discussion and direction by the Board. y
➢ Monroe County's residential communities and privately owned housing stock also require resilience
investment. The Federal Army Corp of Engineers has conducted a study of the Florida Keys and within
unincorporated Monroe County alone there are over 3.800 residential structures at risk for flooding and
recommended for elevation. There are several State and federal grant programs including the Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and the Flood Mitigation cv
Assistance (FMA) program that provide funding for acquisition, elevation, and demolition/reconstruction,
enabling local governments to facilitate rebuilding their communities to be flood resistant and eliminate E
flood risk. These programs are vital to the changing climate and risks associated with flooding related to
storms and sea level rise;they also require significant staff expertise and time.
➢ The Land Authority would be in a position to provide that staff expertise and time. The Land Authority
recently entered into an agreement with the County to manage additional acquisition programs
developed by the County over the past several years to consolidate and streamline government
operations. These programs work with private property owners and furtherthe goals of acquisition of land
with protected habitat, acquisition of development rights to decrease legal property rights potential
takings liability or Bert J Harris claims,acquisition of damaged structures and restoring land to green space
or facilitating drainage improvements. The FMA grant program for acquisition is the same program used
for elevations and demolitions/reconstruction. Given the programs recently transferred to the Land
Authority and the fact that staffing and program administration forthe acquisition portion ofthe programs
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duplicate the staffing and program administration for the additional program benefits, it makes financial
and programmatic sense expand the powers of the land authority to continue this vital work.
REQUESTED ACTION:
SUPPORT funding for projects submitted to DEP through the Resilient Florida grant program.
SUPPORT an expansion of the powers and responsibilities of the Monroe County Land Authority to aid the
County in activities related to enhancing residential resiliency to flooding and sea level rise, to include:
administering grants to the County for residential flood and sea level rise mitigation projects, including
grants for the elevation of structures above minimum flood elevations; demolition and reconstruction of
structures above minimum flood elevations; and acquisition of land with structures at risk of flooding.
SUPPORT State legislation that continues to encourage vulnerability assessments, coordinates resources
and supports the efforts of local governments to mitigate and adapt to hurricanes,sea level rise, and other
climate-related challenges,and aggressive State funding for adaptation planning and investments in areas
such as roads and other infrastructure projects that provide hazard mitigation and serve to reduce
immediate and long-term risks to critical infrastructure.
WIND INSURANCE AND FLOOD INSURANCE: N
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AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSABIL`ITY `=
CHALLENGES:
➢ Wind insurance rates: Monroe's residential and commercial Citizens'wind insurance rates are the highest
in the State. Monroe's premium rate 175%higher than the median coastal rate. Citizens Property Insurance
Company provides wind insurance coverage for approximately go%of Keys'homes. High costs and limited
coverage negatively impact our citizens, our workforce, our property values, and our economy.
➢ Monroe's building standards: Monroe County's building standards are among the most rigorous in the
State,yet this is not reflected in Citizens'rate calculations for Monroe.
➢ Modeling: Despite dramatic differences in projected losses for Monroe County from the various rating
models, Citizens until this year used only the model most unfavorable to the County to apply statewide
increases to Monroe.
➢ Premiums vs.Claims: Premiums charged by Citizens are not commensurate with actual risk. `CD
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o From 2004-2oi8 Monroe paid in total more than a half billion dollars in premiums over claims.
➢ Affordability and Annual Glide path: Monroe's already high rates are compounded with annual lo%
increases. These costs exacerbate the County's housing cost crisis. Property insurance affordability is a key
component in preserving the Keys' strong local economy. The legislature recognized the importance of
affordable property insurance, but Citizens has failed to apply an "affordability" definition or standard
(beyond capping annual increases to io%.)
o Citizens Property Insurance Corporation statute reads: "The absence of affordable property insurance
threatens the public health, safety, and welfare and likewise threatens the economic health of the State.
The State therefore has a compelling public interest and a public purpose to assist in assuring that
property in the State is insured and that it is insured at affordable rates so as to facilitate the remediation,
reconstruction, and replacement of damaged or destroyed property in order to reduce or avoid the
negative effects otherwise resulting to the public health,safety,and welfare, to the economy of the State,
and to the revenues of the State and local governments which are needed to provide for the public
welfare."
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Monroe County Board of County Commissioners State Legislative Priorities 2022
➢ During the 2021 Legislative session, lawmakers increased the annual rate cap in Citizens' premiums 1%
each year for the next 5 years. Citizens and lawmakers continue to discuss raising Citizens'rates, and
eliminating the rate cap altogether. We will monitor this discussion closely, and work with FIRM to advocate
against any legislation that would further increase or eliminate the cap.
➢ Flood Insurance: Affordable flood insurance is another important issue, but mainly a federal one.
Affordable flood insurance is provided through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). With more
NFIP policies than any other State, Florida has a lot at stake with the future of the program, and its
continued ability to provide flood insurance to Floridians at affordable rates.The majority of NFIP policies
belong to homes and businesses in the State's coastal communities;these coastal communities generate
8o%of the State's GDP. The County encourages the State Legislature to recognize the value of NFIP and
the local and statewide economic benefits of affordable flood insurance and to ensure and support
measures that preserve it.
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
` SUPPORT legislation that exempts Monroe County from the annual wind insurance rate increase passed
last session (11-3.5% over the next five years) and maintaining the County's rate cap at io%, recognizing
Monroe's unique housing affordability issues and strong building codes.
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SUPPORT legislation to help lower premiums and annual rate increases by requiring Citizens to: W
o Apply mitigation credits that account for Monroe's rigorous building standards;
o Apply an affordability definition or standard, per the statutory language mandating affordability.
OPPOSE legislation that limits the availability of Citizens'coverage (particularly in areas such as Monroe,
where there is no reasonable degree of competition for windstorm insurance.) W
SUPPORT the legislative efforts of Fair Insurance Rates for Monroe (FIRM) related to both wind and flood
insurance affordability and availability for Monroe County.
MARINE PROTECTION: `-"
ANCHORING LIMITS, DERELICT VESSEL REMOVAL FUNDING,
AND PUMP-OUT PROGRAM
CHALLENGES:
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Preventing and reducing the number of derelict vessels is a program priority for Monroe County. Monroe has the
highest number of derelict vessels in the State. The generation of derelict vessels (DVs) around the State has
been recognized by the Florida Legislature and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Derelict vessels post significant navigational safety and environmental impacts. The costs of their removal are
an unnecessary financial burden for taxpayers. Monroe County removes approximately 6o derelict vessels a year,
and at average annual cost of$240,000.
➢ Anchoring Limits: In 2021,SB 3.o86 became law. This bill recognized that long-term anchorage contributes
to vessel dereliction and included a provision that enacted a go-day anchoring limit for all the waters of the
Florida Keys. Monroe County has long supported anchoring limits as an intervention to reduce derelict
vessels,and the County supported this provision.
However, the go-day anchoring limit provision was ultimately modified to require that Soo new public
mooring balls be placed in the waters around the City of Key West before the new limit can be enforced in
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Keys'waters. This requirement is difficult if not impossible to meet, and therefore precludes the new law's
use and benefit.
Most derelict vessels result from having been anchored out,sedentary,and neglected for extended periods
of time. The vessel's physical condition degrades, eventually becoming inoperable. Often, the vessel is
abandoned. The vessels often become "at-risk," "pre-derelict," and/or eventually "derelict". Anchoring
limits reduce the number of days that a vessel may be anchored in one place without moving;they require
the vessel to be moved,which requires that the vessel be maintained in an operable condition, reducing its
chances of becoming derelict.
About half of the long-term anchored vessels surrounding the waters of Key West are stored vessels, with
the other areas throughout Keys'waters also containing numerous stored vessels; these are the greatest
generator of derelict vessels. Stored vessel owners commonly choose to store their vessel at anchor as an
alternative to paying the high prices for shore side dockage; or,they have the intent to abandon the vessels
to avoid the costs associated with proper disposal.
Many long-term anchored vessels are those being used as primary domiciles,or"liveaboards." Liveaboards
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are prolific particularly in the waters around Key West because housing is expensive and scarce and
liveaboards provide an inexpensive and available workforce housing alternative.
The requirement for Soo new moorings was understandably intended to assist liveaboard vessels that are
anchored long-term and that often serve as a form of affordable housing. Without sufficient moorings as
an alternative option, the requirement to move every go days can be difficult. However, this requirement
cannot feasibly be attained for the following reasons:
i) Due to the plethora of federal and State environmental regulations governing Keys' waters, the
installation of new mooring balls in Keys' waters is an expensive, lengthy, and arduous regulatory W
process; and
2) There is insufficient physical space for Soo new mooring balls within the required i-mile distance from
Key West; and
3) The required number exceeds local need. Site visits to the anchorages, FWC DV data, and Monroe
County pump-out program registration data indicate the presence of ioo liveaboard vessels in the
anchorages around Key West. M
Without being able to meet this condition and without modification to the requirement, the Florida Keys,
which suffersthe highest number of derelict vessels, is precluded from benefitting from these new and very
necessary anchoring limits for the foreseeable future.
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History: Monroe County has been working closely with FWC for many years on this issue. From 2009-203.7, cv
Monroe County was one of five local governments who participated in a statewide Pilot Program for
Anchoring & Mooring to test several regulatory approaches for waterway management. At its conclusion,
a final report was submitted by FWC to the Florida Legislature recommending several statutory changes to
boating laws.In recentyears,many ofthese recommendations have been implemented; however,the issue
of long-term anchoring was not properly addressed until last session.
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
SUPPORT modifications to current law resulting from SB 3.o86 to lower the number of required mooring
balls from Soo to ioo(or lower based on the availability of additional moorings for liveaboard vessels in the
Key West Mooring Field), allow enforcement of the new anchoring limits on stored vessels and delay
enforcement of new anchoring limits on occupied/liveaboard vessels until those new moorings are in place,
and
` OPPOSE further dilution of county authority to regulate vessels and waterways.
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Monroe County Board of County Commissioners State Legislative Priorities 2022
➢ Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Funding: In 2o3.9,the Florida Legislature redirected approximately 3o%of
statewide recreational vessel registration fees into a Trust Fund for use in funding derelict vessel removals.
The legislation also authorized FWC to administer a Derelict Vessel Grant Program for distribution of the
funds. The State's primary purpose was to ensure more equitable distribution of funding across the state
for derelict vessel removals, particularly to communities with minimal boating revenues, and allow FWC to
utilize any unspent funds for agency-funded removals.
The Trust Fund currently generates approximately$2.3.million dollars annually. Since the implementation
of this law, Monroe County's portion of the revenues has decreased by approximately$70,000 a year,while
operational challenges have increased. The new program has:
• Created a heavy reliance on external funding for a continued level of service;
• Increased the vessels removal timeline by an average of 3-6 months due to restrictive programmatic
guidelines, primarily due the inability to remove the vessel prior to execution of a grant agreement;
• Increased our administrative coststo prepare,submit and administerthe numerous associated grant
agreements(g were executed in FY2o alone); and
• Required our staff to make subjective determinations on which vessels may or may not cause
additional harm while awaiting the life cycle of the grant, which is especially problematic during
hurricane season. CD
These challenges have resulted in increased boating safety issues,unnecessary environmental impacts,and
additional removal costs for Monroe County. For example, a number of these vessels have either gone
missing, relocated or sunk while awaiting the grant approval timeline which is particularly unfortunate.
Furthermore, because these revenues are part of a statewide trust fund,the annual budgetary approval and
spending authority forfunding distribution is determined bythe state legislature.As a result, FWC has been
challenged with inconsistent and/or significantly reduced spending authorization for this program.
In addition, FWC has utilized these funds in response to hurricane-related derelict vessels rather than
distribution through the grant program.We do not believe the intent of this funding was to address natural v,
disaster response for derelict vessels. Both of these issues have created unpredictable and unreliable
funding availability for local governments to address this critical issue.
In response, Monroe has requested that FWC consider rulemaking changes to its Derelict Vessel Grant
Program Guidelines to include the following recommendations: N
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i. Provide advance funding agreements to local governments to provide a set amount of annual
funding;
2. Authorize pre-award costs for removal operations.(NOTE: Monroe County is willing to provide a 25%
funding match for this request);
3. Authorize pre-agreement cost reimbursement for vessels that become an`imminent threat to public
safety'in the time period between application submittal and contract execution.
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
"° SUPPORT rulemaking and/or legislative changes to the Derelict Vessel Program per the above staff
recommendations.
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SUPPORT FWC's budget request for agency spending authority to utilize revenues in the Marine Resources
Conservation Trust Fund ford istributi on via grant program to local governments forthe removal of derelict
vessels.
➢ Vessel Pump-out Program: The pristine waters of the Florida Keys attract high numbers of boaters from
all overthe State and country.These waters are within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and are
designated as a No Discharge Zone(NDZ)by DEP and the Sanctuary. In 203.3, Monroe County implemented
a large-scale Mobile Vessel Pump-out Program to assist boaters in complying with the NDZ. Monroe
County is also launching implementation of a Marina Pump-out Initiative to expand the number of available
shoreside pump-out facilities throughout the Keys.
• Monroe County requires occupied vessels to provide a "proof of pump-out"and provides a free weekly
mobile pump-out service. Combined,these measures have ensured nearly i00%compliance with NDZ
regulations.
• To date,the Mobile Vessel Pump-out Program has captured over 2 million gallons of vessel sewage.
• Monroe County supports this program through its Boater Improvement Funds, Clean Vessel Act
funding, and direct legislative appropriations. This funding makes it possible to provide the pump-out
service at no charge,which is highly effective at incentivizing boaters to pump-out and ensuring water
quality protection for public health and our marine environment. ¢'
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In the 2021 session, the Legislature transferred the management and administration of the Pump-out W
Program, along with the $iM legislative appropriation for the program, to the Department of
Environmental Protection. DEP is currently in the procurement process for a vendor. Staff discussions with
DEP indicate that the agency's intention is to continue to provide the same service levels and service areas.
We are not yet certain of DEP or the legislature's plan for the program's oversight next year. DEP may
include the funding in its agency legislative budget request (anticipating that it will continue to run the
program). If not,then the County will again pursue a legislative appropriation to support the program. We
are closely monitoring DEP's actions to determine next steps.
REQUESTED ACTIONS: M
SUPPORT a legislative appropriation of $5oo,000 to support Monroe County's Mobile Vessel Pump-out
Program (if necessary.)
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VACATION RENTALS
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
SUPPORT legislation that provides a "carve out" for Monroe County from preemptive vacation rental
regulations via the County's status as an Area of Critical State Concern to enable the County to
amend/update our vacation rental regulations in order to increase supply of workforce housing.
"° SUPPORT legislation that protects Monroe County's grandfathered vacation rental ordinances and that
would allow local governments with grandfathered ordinances to amend and update their regulations
without losing their grandfathered status.
"° SUPPORT legislation that enhances Monroe County's abilityto enforce local vacation rental regulations.
OPPOSE legislation that preempts local communities from regulating vacation rentals, and legislation
that threatens grandfathered protections.
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Monroe County Board of County Commissioners State Legislative Priorities 2022
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
CHALLENGE:The challenges facing citizens of finding and securing affordable housing in Monroe County are
not new but have increased exponentially after Category 5 Hurricane Irma hit the Keys in 2017.
As an "Area of Critical State Concern," Monroe is the only County to receive a special set aside in the State's
competitive annual allocation of Housing Tax Credits. Staff works in partnership with Florida Housing Finance
Corporation for awards of Tax Credits and SAIL funding, as well with DEC) to highlight the importance of
funding and other incentives to aid in our ongoing housing recovery and rebuilding efforts, and to address the
County's affordable housing challenges.
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
` SUPPORT award of Tax Credits to Monroe County, and protection of the Florida Keys set-
aside;'' SUPPORT award of SAIL funding to Monroe County;
SUPPORT legislation that provides propertytax relief on residential properties that provide long-term
affordable/workforce rental housing; and
SUPPORT full appropriation of Sadowski Housing Trust Fund monies for affordable housing.
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EVERGLADES RESTORATION
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
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SUPPORT legislation and funding to support continued implementation of the Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan.
CORAL REEF PROTECTION
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REQUESTED ACTIONS: M
SUPPORT legislation and funding that protects and preserves Florida's coral reef tract.
CLERKS FUNDING/JUDGESHIPS c„
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REQUESTED ACTIONS:
SUPPORT continued attention to the adequate funding for the functions of the clerks of court, including
an allocation process that result in a fair and sufficient distribution of court generated revenue.
OPPOSE the decertification of any Monroe County Courtjudgeships and to any reductions to the local
judiciary.
SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
OPPOSE legislation that preempts local communities from banning single use plastic bags, particularly
coastal communities where plastic bags are not only an environmental pollutant but also pose a danger
to ocean and coastal wildlife.
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FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
OPPOSE any benefit changes that result in an increase in the FRS county and county employee
contribution rates.
SUPPORT requiring all legislation that potentially results in an increase in the FRS contribution rate orthe
closing of the traditional pension plan to new employees to be analyzed and evaluated to determine the
direct fiscal impact of proposed changes to all local and State government to be eligible for consideration.
HOME RULE, UNFUNDED MANDATES,
COUNTY REVENUES, STATE FUNDING LEVELS
CHALLENGES: °3
➢ Preemption of Home Rule: Home rule,conferred to Florida counties by Article Vill, Section i(f)and i(g)of
the Florida Constitution(3.968),and by section 3.25.o3., Florida Statutes,isthe principle thatthe government
closest to the people is the appropriate authority to serve the needs and requirements of the community.
The preservation of this concept is essential to the operation of county governments in Florida, and which N
allows counties to develop and implement county-based solutions to local problems. `CD
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o Preemption Examples: The State Legislature often pursues local government preemptions in its
bills that prohibit local governments from banning or even regulating activities enabled by the
Legislature such as:fracking, single use plastic bags and vacation rentals.
➢ Unfunded Mandates:The State Legislature frequently passes legislation that compels local governments W
to provide a service, program, or benefit without providing the appropriate funding. As more and more
mandates are created, local governments are faced with the burden of using local tax dollars to finance
functionsthat they have little control over and compromising local governments'abilityto provide services
requested by our local communities.
➢ Cost shifts: The State Legislature frequently passes legislation that passes along the costs or increases y
local share requirements for services traditionally funded by the State, such as but not limited to County
Health Departments, Courts, Clerks'offices,Juvenile Justice, and mental health services.
➢ Restrictions of County Revenue Sources:Atthe same time the State Legislation imposes more mandates
and costs, it often pursues legislation reducing, restricting or eliminating sources of revenue for county
services, such as the Local Business Tax, Communication Services Tax, impact fees, transportation N
concurrency fees, State park admission fees, and sales taxes.
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
OPPOSE legislation that would revise current law in a manner that reduces or eliminates current local
government-related revenues or preempts home rule authority.
OPPOSE efforts to shift cost of services, implement unfunded mandates, reduce State funding for
infrastructure, programs and services, or other legislation that is costly and limits Monroe County's ability
to serve the needs of its citizens.
OPPOSE legislation that preempts the legislative and policy-making powers of counties used to regulate
land use and implement local zoning controls.
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Monroe County Board of County Commissioners State Legislative Priorities 2022
GROWTH MANAGEMENT/ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
SUPPORT the continued designation of the Florida Keys as an Area of Critical State Concern.
OPPOSE legislation that prevents counties from having local environmental protection programs that are
stricter in nature than State or federal regulatory programs.
OPPOSE any legislation that restricts State, county and city government purchases of conservation land,
and which would effectively eliminate land conservation efforts in the Florida Keys.
SUPPORT growth management legislation that is thoroughly vetted with all stakeholders,and thattakes
a targeted approach to increasing regulatory efficiencies, rather than broadly preempting local
governments.
SUPPORT legislative efforts that strengthen the existing roles and home rule powers of local
governments to implement comprehensive planning programs that guide future development and
encourage the most appropriate use of land and natural resources.
SUPPORT county home rule authority, and current statutory provisions, which allow counties to retain W
their current transportation concurrency systems, and impact fees,as adopted by local ordinance.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT W
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
SUPPORT assistance for building/identifying Out of County Shelter for residents of Monroe County in >
cases of mandatory evacuation during storm-related events and other emergencies.
SUPPORT an increase to the county base grant funding, which has remained unchanged for nearly a
decade.
SUPPORT maintaining the original intent and purpose of the Emergency Management Preparation And
Assistance Trust Fund, which is to serve as a funding source for State and local emergency management
programs, by ensuring that all monies collected for purposes of funding emergency management,
preparedness and assistance are deposited into the EMPA Trust Fund and spent on emergency
management activities, and opposing legislative sweeps of these trust fund monies.
SUPPORT changes to the EMPA trust fund by ensuring the $2.00 and $4.00 annual surcharge on all
homeowner and business insurance policies is assessed on either a per-parcel or per-unit basis of coverage,
rather than on a single policy and a repeal of the service charge to general revenue on the EMPA trust fund
and redirect these monies back to the counties in the same manner in which the EMPA base grant is
distributed.
HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH,
SOCIAL SERVICES,;AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
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SUPPORT efforts to secure state financial assistance (ie, legislative appropriation) to make necessary
upgrades to the Guidance Care Center facility that serves as Monroe County's Baker Act facility.
SUPPORT increasing State general revenue funding for County Health Departments(CHDs), preserving
the ability of CHDs to provide primary care and direct patient care services, particularly in communities
without adequate substitutes or alternative providers for these services, and maintaining a coordinated
system of county health departments (CHDs) that is centrally housed within the Department of Health
(DOH).
"° OPPOSE efforts to decentralize the public health system by transferring authority over CHDs from the
DOH to the respective county governments, any State reductions to the County Health Department Trust
Funds; and any efforts, legislative or otherwise,to limit or eliminate the provision of primary care services
in CHDs.
"° SUPPORT increased funding for core mental health and substance abuse services. SUPPORT efforts to
increase supportive housing,employment and education initiatives for people with behavioral health issues
and/or disabilities. SUPPORT diverting, medically assisting, ortreating mentally ill persons outside of the
criminal justice system through alternative community programs.
"° SUPPORT establishing a cap on growth in the individual county Medicaid costs to address cost shifts; and
continued evaluation ofthe County-State Medicaid cost-share arrangement.
"° SUPPORT State legislation drawing down federal funds made available to Florida under the PPACA to cV
expand health care coverage to certain individuals who earn up to 3.38 percent of the federal poverty level,
if such a program does not further shift Medicaid costs to counties.
OPPOSE legislation that limits the ability of county EMS providers to be reimbursed for out of network
transports.
SUPPORT maintaining a countywide regulatory system for EMS through the current Certificate of Public W
Convenience and Necessity(COPCN)process.
SUPPORT efforts to increase supportive housing, employment and education initiatives for people with
behavioral health issues and/or disabilities.
SUPPORT appropriate funding for children in early learning and school age care to ensure children's access
to educational, enrichment and readiness programs; and continuation of funding for the Florida Healthy M
Start and Healthy Families program.
SUPPORT the continuation of a coordinated Transportation Disadvantaged (TD)system,and appropriate
and dedicated State funding for the TD program; protect the TD trust fund.
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TRANSPORTATION
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
SUPPORT continuing enhanced State funding for the Small County Outreach Program (SCOP). This
funding is critical to Monroe County, which is a small county with major bridge and local road
responsibilities.
"° SUPPORT increasing the cost cap (from $400,000 to $750,000) for counties to self-perform road
improvement projects using the Constitutional Gas Tax proceeds.
"° SUPPORT legislation that would index local option fuel taxes to annual adjustments of the CPI.
SUPPORT amending s.336.045, Florida Statutes,to include an additional paragraph expressly authorizing
Florida counties to determine the reasonable level and frequency of local road maintenance.
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Monroe County Board of County Commissioners State Legislative Priorities 2022
VETERANS
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
SUPPORT legislation that enhances State funding and resources for County Veterans Offices and
establishing a program that allocates State funds to hire Veterans Services Officers in counties in order to
increase services and federal benefits for Florida veterans.
LIBRARIES
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
` SUPPORT State Aid to Public Libraries Grant Program: Restore funding to $23,000,000. This provides
Monroe County with approx. $40-5oK each year.
SUPPORT Library Cooperative Grant Program: Appropriate recurring $2,000,000 (F.S. 257.40-42). This
supplies many of the Libraries Databases and electronic resources that we would be unable to provide
independently.
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` SUPPORT Public Library Construction Grants: Appropriate funding of$3.6,800,000 to support all eligible W
applications(F.S. 257.191). Monroe will apply for this grant for the Marathon library project.
SUPPORT Career Online High School: Appropriate to $750,000. This is a program that allows adults who
did not graduate from high school to complete their education online and receive a credentialed diploma.
Monroe will be applying for participation in the coming year. W
COUNTY JAILS, INMATE MEDICAL COSTS', JUVENILE JUSTICE
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
T)
OPPOSE sentencing of State inmates to county jails, but support counties' ability to contract with the
Department of Corrections for housing State inmates.
SUPPORT legislation that reduces jail expenses by setting a reimbursement amount paid by counties to
medical providers for health care services for inmates and arrestees at no higher than the established `V
Medicare rate plus io%,the same rate as currently charged to the Department of Corrections, unless there
is an existing contract in place or a business practice providing a lower rate.
SUPPORT continued efforts to obtain Medicaid eligibility for persons incarcerated in county jails while
waiting disposition of their cases and to ensure that existing Medicaid benefits are not terminated during
incarceration.
` SUPPORT initiatives that reduce juvenile detention through prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation
services.
'' SUPPORT the Legislature appropriating State funds to the Department of Juvenile Justice to upgrade,
renovate, or reconstruct detention centers across Florida that are in a State of disrepair and State
investments in juvenile facilities to improve the conditions of secure confinement for detained youth
without such costs being shifted to the counties.
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HOMELESSNESS
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
SUPPORT legislation that creates a dedicated State funding source for homelessness programs and
services.
SUPPORT continued coordination with the State's homeless planning council, specifically as it develops
policies in support of the new Federal Strategic Plan to end Homelessness.
SUPPORTthe development of strategiesthat would allow local governmentsto work with the State and
federal government to serve target populations: The chronically homeless, Veterans and Families and
children,with particular emphasis on children aging out of the foster care system.
SUPPORT a process that would waive the fees related to obtaining personal identification from the State
for persons identified as homeless.
OVERSEAS HERITAGE TRAIL: a,
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES
CHALLENGES: N
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➢ Pedestrian/Fishing Bridges: These bridges are an essential part of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage W
Trail.They are on the National Register of Historic Places.The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Master
Plan (completed in 2000) was prepared by Monroe County in partnership with FDEP, FDOT, and the
National Park Services to fulfill the expressed vision by Monroe County citizens to have a continuous trail
along US 3.spanning the length of the Keys.As such,completion of the trail is a high priorityforthe County,
FDEP and other project stakeholders. The bridges are in poor condition, posing hazards to trail users and
boaters underneath and posing environmental hazards to the waters of the National Marine Sanctuary. (In
203.4, DEP closed 4 of these bridges due to their unsafe structural condition.) DEP must conduct a
Preliminary Design and Engineering study (PDE) to assess the conditions of the bridges and
repair/rehabilitation options. The PDE will cost$7.5M. Possible sources for funding include the following:
inclusion in DEP's legislative budget request and TAP funds are also a possibility, but TAP funds are also
limited.
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
SUPPORT DEP's efforts to fund the Preliminary Design and Engineering study. `CD
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MEDICAL MARIJUANA
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
'' SUPPORT home rule: maintaining local authority to determine land use, zoning, and other regulatory
standards for marijuana cultivation, processing, and distribution.
SUPPORT recurring revenue: a taxation or fee structure should be implemented with the State or
independently to help counties recoup all costs for public services, including but not limited to law
enforcement, and regulatory enforcement.
'' SUPPORT legislation that provides comprehensive health-based regulatory system where the DOH is
responsible for licensing cultivation sites, dispensing facilities, and manufacturers of marijuana for
medicinal purposes.
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Monroe County Board of County Commissioners State Legislative Priorities 2022
OIL DRILLING/FRACKING
REQUESTED ACTIONS:
OPPOSE legislation authorizing hydraulic fracturing or"fracking"or similar well stimulation processes and
treatments performed for the purpose of exploration or production of energy resources in the State, or in
the Florida Keys, or any area near conservation land or drinking water aquifers.
"° OPPOSE legislation pre-empting local regulation of fracking/drilling activities, including ancillary activities
such as waste storage, handling and disposal,trucktraffic,and other local public health and safety impacts.
"° OPPOSE legislation that would create a public records law exemption for proprietary information provided
by drilling companies.
SUPPORT continuation of prohibitions against leases or permits for oil or gas drilling within Florida's
territorial seas, State lands, and the Everglades.
SUSTAINABILITY, PACE, RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE
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SUPPORT the 2022 legislative initiatives of the SE Florida Regional Climate Compact's Legislative
Program.
SUPPORT State legislation that encourages vulnerability assessments, coordinates resources and
supportsthe efforts of local governments to mitigate and adaptto sea level rise, increasing storm severity W
and other climate changes, and State funding for adaptation planning and investments in areas such as
roads and other infrastructure projects that provide hazard mitigation and serve to reduce immediate and
long-term risks to critical infrastructure.
SUPPORT a State comprehensive climate change action plan, energy policies, and other initiatives to
reduce carbon dioxide and other compounds in the atmosphere which will help provide solutionsto present �+
and future generations, including ecosystem sustainability, long term water supply,flood protection,public
health and safety, and economic growth and prosperity.
SUPPORT State funding of Solid Waste Management Grants.
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MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mayor Michelle Coldiron, District 2
BOCC2 @monroecounty-fl.c�ov3o5-292-4512
Mayor Pro Tern David Rice, District 4
BOCC4@monroecounty-El.pov3o5-289-6000
Craig Cates, District 1
♦ BOCC1@monroecounty 190v 305-292-3440
Eddie Martinez, District 3
BOCC3@monroecounty-fl.c�ov 305-292-3430
Mike Forster, District 5
BOCC5@monrocounty-f1.90v 305-453-8787 °3
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Roman Gastesi
Gostesi-roman@monroecounty-fl.gov
Office:305-292-4441 cCD
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Cell:305-394-1332 '✓
DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
Lisa Tennyson W
♦ Tennyson-liso@monroecounty-fl.gov
Office:305-292-4444
Cell:305-509-1709
COUNTY ATTORNEY T
Bob Shillinger
Shillinger-bob@monroecounty-fl.gov
Office:305-292-3470
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Cell:305-747-4717 CD
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LOBBYISTS: E
Capitol Group: Robert Reyes,Tallahassee, FI 850-425-4050
Anfield Consulting: Frank Bernardino, Tallahassee, FI 866-96o-5939
Peebles, Smith, Matthews:John Wayne Smith, Ryan Matthews,Angela Drzewiecki,Tallahassee, FI 850-
681-7383
Gray Robinson: Dean Cannon,Tallahassee, FI 850-577-9090
Capital City Consulting: Nick larossi,Tallahassee FI 850-222-9075
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