Item O1 0.1
County �� � .�� �y,4 ' �, "tr, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mayor Michelle Coldiron,District 2
�1 nff `ll Mayor Pro Tem David Rice,District 4
-Ile Florida.Keys Craig Cates,District 1
Eddie Martinez,District 3
w � Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
County Commission Meeting
November 17, 2021
Agenda Item Number: 0.1
Agenda Item Summary #9914
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: BOCC District 2
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Katherine Atkins (305)292-4512
n/a
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a resolution in support of the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission and its law enforcement officers, and in request of an increase in the
number of officers in Monroe County.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The continued environmental and economic viability of Florida Keys
depends on the preservation of environmental resources and on the continued protection of the
quality, tranquility, and safety of our surrounding waters. Monroe County urges FWC to direct
increased resources for the protection of Monroe's marine environment, and to implement strategies
to aid in the recruitment and retention of its officers such as sufficient pay consideration and/or
housing allowance to account for the local high cost of living.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
DOCUMENTATION:
FWC resolution
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date:
Expiration Date:
Total Dollar Value of Contract:
Total Cost to County:
Current Year Portion:
Budgeted:
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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:
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REVIEWED BY:
Michelle Coldiron Completed 11/02/2021 8:49 AM
Bob Shillinger Completed 11/02/2021 9:32 AM
Liz Yongue Completed 11/02/2021 10:06 AM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 11/17/2021 9:00 AM
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MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. -2021
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS IN SUPPORT OF THE FLORIDA FISH AND
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION AND ITS LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND IN REQUEST OF AN INCREASE
IN THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS IN MONROE COUNTY.
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WHEREAS, Monroe County is home to Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, U
Dry Tortugas National park, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, each a national "=
environmental treasure with uniquely important and diverse natural resources; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County is also home to Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Great
White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge, and Key West
National Wildlife Refuge; and �-
WHEREAS, the Federal and state governments have authorized and appropriated significant c
public investment in the restoration and preservation of Monroe County's ecosystem; and U_,
WHEREAS, Monroe County continues to invest in and to work in partnership with state and 0
federal agencies to protect the health of its unique marine environment; and
WHEREAS,the sustained health and safety of Monroe's marine refuges and nearshore waters
are vital to the tourist-based Florida Keys economy; and
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WHEREAS, Monroe County's marine environment provides an unparalleled boating, fishing
and diving experience, attracting high numbers of recreational boaters, charter boats, commercial
fishing vessels, liveaboard vessels, transient boaters, dive boats, personal watercraft, and kayaks 0
all contributing to the need for increasingly robust protective resources; and 0
WHEREAS, the highly active boating environment leads to a number of hazardous and
environmentally damaging impacts including:
1) Vessel groundings: more than 300 vessel groundings are reported in the Florida Keys E
National Marine Sanctuary every year, with 80% of these impacting the fragile seagrass
habitat and damaging corals; and
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2) Boating accidents: Monroe has the highest number of boating accidents in the State every
year, and in 2020 Monroe once again led the State with 99 accidents and 9 fatalities; and
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3) Derelict vessels: Monroe has the highest number of derelict vessels Statewide each year,
and is currently on track for the removal of 60 derelict vessels this year; and
WHEREAS,without exception, existing FWC staff provide excellent and highly professional
law enforcement service to Monroe County but could be strengthened by a staff increase; and
WHEREAS, FWC has the awesome responsibility for protecting the environmental resources
of a 2,900 square mile expanse of the Florida Keys' nearshore waters, 240 miles of coastline, and
one of the most diverse and active boating environments in the State; and Ch
WHEREAS, the provision and retention of FWC officers is vitally important to the ongoing E
protection of Monroe County's marine environment and the safety of Monroe's boating public; c
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and
WHEREAS, Monroe County has the highest cost of living in the State of Florida a well-
documented lack of affordable/workforce housing providing a significant affordability challenge
for local FWC officers; and c
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WHEREAS,there are currently 15 vacant FWC officer positions in the Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County urges FWC to direct increased resources for the protection of
Monroe's marine environment, and to implement strategies to aid in the recruitment and retention
of its officers such as sufficient pay consideration and/or housing allowance to account for the
local high cost of living; and "-
WHEREAS,the continued environmental and economic viability of Florida Keys depends one
the preservation of those environmental resources and on the continued protection of the quality, "-
tranquility, and safety of our surrounding waters; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys' unique marine environment is a highly valuable economic
engine in the State of Florida, generating over $200M in sales tax each year, and worthy of
increased State investment for its protection; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County encourages the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission to review the level of compensation for its law enforcement officers in a manner that
provides for adequate housing while increasing the level of service needed for public safety and
protection of environmental assets within the Florida Keys; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY y
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA: 2
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Section 1. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners expresses its strong support
for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and its law enforcement officers, and urges the State
of Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider directing additional law
enforcement resources to Monroe County; and
Section 2. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to transmit certified copies of this
Resolution to Governor DeSantis, Senator Ana Marie Rodrigues, Representative Jim Mooney,
FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton, FWC Commissioners Robert Spottswood, Mike Sole,
Rodney Barreto, Steven Hudson, Gary Lester, Gary Nicklaus, and Sonya Rood.
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Section 3. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida,
at a regular meeting held on the 17th day of November, 2021.
Mayor
Mayor Pro Tem
Commissioner
Commissioner
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Commissioner
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS y
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA 0
BY
Mayor
(SEAL)
ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK
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AS DEPUTY CLERK
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