Item J1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: 15 March 2006
Bulk Item; Yes No -1L..
Division:
Oro\\1h Manauement
Department
Marine Resources
Staff Contact:
Rich Jones
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Acceptance by the Board of County Commissioners of the Monroe County Marine Management Strategic Plan
and direction to staff to pursue policy development both internally and through policy experts as necessary;
bring back to the Commission a 'No Net Loss' general policy and draft "no net loss" of waterfronts ordinance;
and to pursue development of a Marina Siting Plan
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners directed the Marine Resources Department (Department)
to have a Marine Management Plan developed in the spring of 2005 to provide for protecting and preserving
both working waterfronts and public access throughout the Keys. That plan, now titled the Monroe County
Marine Management Strategic Plan (Plan), was produced by the South Florida Regional Planning Council and
the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions of Florida Atlantic University (Consultants). The Plan was
completed and provided to the Department for review just prior to the contract deadline of 31 December 2005.
Department staff has reviewed the Plan, met with the Consultants, and made any necessary minor changes and
modifications. The Plan is now finished and available on line at \vww.sfrpc.com/mcmmsp.htm .
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
February 2005 - approval of contract with SFRPC and FAU
July 2005 - approval ofIDO for Working Waterfronts
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
NA
ST AFF RECOMMENDATIONS;
Acceptance of Marine Management Strategic Plan with direction as outlined in the agenda item wording.
TOT AL COST:
NA
COST TO COUNTY:
NA
BUDGETED: Yes
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
No
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No X AMOUNT Per Month
Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty NA
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
OMB/Purchasing NA
c~
)
Ron a Norman, Acting Director of Grovv1h 1 .. arpgernent
j ~ j
DOCUMENTATION: Included -1L.. Not Required _ I '
DISPOSITION:
AGENDA ITEM NO.:
BC060310.doc
2/28/2006 [2:15:00 PM
Memorandum
Derartment of l\'larine Resources
2798 Overseas Highway, Suite 420
Marathon, Florida 33050
Voice: (305) 289 2507
FAX: (305) 289 2536
Email: garrelt-george(dmomoewuntv-f]. gOY
Board of County Commissioners
Mayor Charles 'Sonny' McCoy, Dist. 3
Mayor Pro Tern Murray Nelson, Dist. 5
Commissioner Dixie Spehar, Dist. 1
Commissioner George Neugent. Dist. 2
Commissioner David Rice, Dist. 4
DATE:
28 February, 2006
TO:
Monroe County Board of Commissioners
FROM:
Rich Jones, Senior Marine Planner
THROUGH:
George GaITett, Director of Marine Resources
SUBJECT:
r, I
f f
Staff Report for the acceptance of the Monroe County
Marine Management Strategic Plan
Background and Overview
The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners directed the Marine
Resources Department (Department) to have a Marine Management Plan
developed in the spring of 2005 to provide for protecting and preserving both
working waterfronts and public access throughout the Keys. That plan, now titled
the Monroe County Marine Management Strategic Plan (Plan), was produced by
the South Florida Regional Planning Council and the Center for Urban and
Environmental Solutions of Florida Atlantic University (Consultants). The Plan
was completed and provided to the Department for review just prior to the contract
deadline of 31 December 2005. Department staff has reviewed the Plan, met with
the Consultants, and made any necessary minor changes and modifications. The
Plan is now finished and available on line at www.sfrpc.com/mcmmsp.htm
The structure of the Plan includes one core document with five accompanying
appendices. The appendices are each significant, stand-alone documents that
contain a wealth of information that may not be evident when reading the core
document. It is important that the various appendices are reviewed to provide an
overview for the project itself. Appendix 1, The Legal Overview and General
BC0603 [ I.doc
2(28/2006 II :58:00 AM
Policies Report, (among other things) discusses the bills passed by the state in
2005 that all coastal counties must address in their comprehensive plans. Those
elements are intended to provide for preservation and address the statewide issues
relating to re-development and loss of public access. Appendix 2, The Working
Waterfronts Report, is the subjective side of the Plan which documents and
illustrates the concerns of a variety of stakeholders in the Keys. Appendix 3, The
Map Atlas for the Marine Facilities Inventory, is a compilation of numerous data
sources and has been developed into a spatially formatted GIS database that will
allow future users to query and analyze using common linkages. It was also
prepared in anticipation of the development of a Marina Siting Plan, as required by
the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan. Appendix 4, The Demographic and
Economic Analysis of Monroe County and the Marine Industry, provides the
objective and statistical side to the Plan. It discussed the very complicated
economic issues and ramifications regarding continued redevelopment and the loss
of working waterfronts and the associated industries. Finally, Appendix 5, the No
Net Loss Ordinance Passed by Martin County, was provided as it illustrates the
plans already adopted and being implemented by an area with very similar issues.
It indicates a variety of existing strategies, in the form of an ordinance that Monroe
County may want to follow including a 'no net loss' policy.
Staff Comments and Recommendations
Marine Resources and Planning staff are pleased with the products of the Marine
Management Strategic Plan. While the Plan does not provide detailed drafted
policies, it does provide the framework, general strategies and recommendations
necessary to proceed to the next step. Most importantly the Plan provides a variety
of data indicating an overwhelming desire by the citizens for Monroe County to
take an active role in providing stewardship for the marine industries that comprise
the Keys' working waterfronts. It is evident that Monroe County has been asked to
provide leadership in preserving both the economic and historic/traditional
elements that the working waterfronts provide, in addition to ensuring future
access to the land/water interface for the public.
Upon adoption of the Plan by the Board of County Commissioners, staff will
commence developing comprehensive plan amendments, drafting necessary
ordinances and creating general policies deemed appropriate in an effort to
preserve essential working waterfronts and provide for future public water access.
The Growth Management Department recognizes the limitations of staff resources
and may need to utilize outside consulting services, in addition to in-house staff for
generating policies and regulations.
2
Staff recommendations relating to the Monroe County Marine Management
Strategic Plan are as follows:
1) Adopt the Monroe County Marine Strategic Plan
2) Direct staff to begin drafting policies to be brought back to the Board
3) Authorize staff to pursue outsourcing policy development as
necessary
4) Adoption of a 'No Net Loss' general policy
5) Authorize staff to pursue development of a Marina Siting Plan
Conclusion
Growth Management staff is prepared to move forward with many of the strategies
and recommendations provided in the Plan. Some of the recommendations are
mandated by the State of Florida; others are voluntary and have been deemed to be
essential and appropriate in addressing the state-wide and regional issues we are
incurring in the Florida Keys. Many of the strategies can be implemented in the
short term, while others (i.e. comprehensive plan amendments) will take a longer
period of time due to standard governmental processes.
The Interim Development Ordinance (IDO) authorized by the Board of County
Commissioners for waterfront re-development will expire in July. Staff will begin
(if directed to do so) developing necessary policies addressing re-development and
public water access in anticipation of the expiration of the IDO. It is likely that
Land Development Regulations and Comprehensive Plan amendments will be in
progress at that time.
3