Resolution 441-2021 MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 441 -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.
WHEREAS, Monroe County is home to Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park,
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
public investment in the restoration and preservation of Monroe County's ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County continues to invest in and to work in partnership with state and
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
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,
all contributing to the need for increasingly robust protective resources; and
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
National Marine Sanctuary every year, with 80% of these impacting the fragile seagrass
habitat and damaging corals; and
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
WHEREAS, the provision and retention of FWC officers is vitally important to the ongoing
protection of Monroe County's marine environment and the safety of Monroe's boating public;
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
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 on
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
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA:
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 Maria Rodriguez , 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 David Rice Yes
Mayor Pro Tern Craig Cates Yes
Commissioner Michelle Coldiron Yes
Commissioner Eddie Martinez Yes
Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein Yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
,oxie,s:„............_
tk\reNT_4.0 BY
-" ~" Mayor David Rice
i'CC',. *. a a J?
``° -- _' EVIN MADOK, CLERK
qa.",,,,,,eAL,,,,,___,‘
AS DEPUTY CLERK
Digitally signed by Robert B.Shillinger
DN:cn=Robert B.Shillinger,o=B.O.C.C.of Monroe County,
Robert B. S h i l l i n g e r�'
FL,ou County Attorney,email=shlllinger-
bob@monroecounty-fl.gov,c=115
/,r Date:2021.11.191654:7-05'00'
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency J
By Robert B. Shillinger, Monroe County Attorney - t.n "
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Page 13
4�KcouRTc 1.
� ° ..�,, Kevin Madok, CPA
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Ate_ Clerk of the Circuit Court&Comptroller— Monroe County, Florida
`,S;;;; -
December 2, 2021
Honorable Governor Ron DeSantis
State of Florida, The Capitol
400 S Monroe Street
Tallahassee FL 32399-0001
Honorable Governor DeSantis,
Enclosed is a certified copy of Resolution No. 441-2021 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.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on November 17, 2021. Should you have any questions
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of
the Circuit Court& Comptroller&
ex-officio to the Monroe County
Board of County Commissioners
by:Pamela G. Hancock, D.C.
cc: Representative Jim Mooney FWC Commissioner Steven Hudson
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez FWC Commissioner Gary Lester
FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton FWC Commissioner Gary Nicklaus
FWC Commissioner Robert Spottswood FWC Commissioner Sonya Rood
FWC Commissioner Mike Sole File
FWC Commissioner Rodney Barreto
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY PK/ROTH BUILDING
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88820 Overseas Highway 50 High Point Road
Key West,Florida 33040 Marathon,Florida 33050 Plantation Key,Florida 33070 Plantation Key,Florida 33070
305-294-4641 305-289-6027 305-852-7145 305-852-7145