Item O1 0.1
County �� � .�� �y,4 ' �, "tr, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mayor David Rice,District 4
�1 `ll Mayor Pro Tem CraigCates,District 1
The Florida Keys ��� `� � Michelle Coldiron,District 2
Eddie Martinez,District 3
w � Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
County Commission Meeting
December 8, 2021
Agenda Item Number: 0.1
Agenda Item Summary #10008
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: BOCC District 4
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Tamara Lamarche (305) 289-6000
9:OOAM
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of Resolution supporting the preservation and protection
of Biscayne and Everglades National Parks, and the natural resources and communities of the Upper
Keys, and opposing any civilian aviation operations at the Homestead Air Reserve Base (HARB),
and urging the United States Air Force to affirm its second supplemental record of decision (2001)
prohibiting commercial aviation activity at HARB.
ITEM BACKGROUND: Resolution request made by Ocean Reef Everglades Protection Alliance,
letter attached.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
NA
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
DOCUMENTATION:
Letter to Mayor Rice re HARB
Resolution Opposing Non-Military use of HARB
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date:
Expiration Date:
Total Dollar Value of Contract:
Total Cost to County:
Current Year Portion:
Budgeted:
Source of Funds:
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CPI:
Indirect Costs:
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts:
Revenue Producing: If yes, amount:
Grant:
County Match:
Insurance Required:
Additional Details:
NA
REVIEWED BY:
David Rice Skipped 11/22/2021 2:38 PM
Bob Shillinger Completed 11/23/2021 3:34 PM
Liz Yongue Completed 11/23/2021 4:39 PM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 12/08/2021 9:00 AM
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a.,
CA
November 23, 2021
The Honorable David Rice
Mayor, Monroe County
Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
Via Email
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Dear Mayor Rice:
I am writing on behalf of the Ocean Reef Community Association to express our strong concerns with Miami- i3
Dade County's pursuit of civil air operations at Homestead Air Reserve Base ("HARB"). We urge adoption of 06
a resolution that opposes any non-military aviation operation at HARB and urges the United States Air Force ca
to adhere to the 2001 "Second Supplemental Record of Decision (ROD)"that maintains use of the base for
its own operations.
Further efforts to expand uses, have been previously documented to place in harm's way environmentally
and economically important resources of the South Florida ecosystem such as Everglades National Park and
Biscayne National Park, as well as, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. �--
We appreciate Monroe County's advocacy on behalf of its residents, and specifically the upper keys, as well
as its stewardship of local significant environmental resources.
We respectfully request adoption of legislation that takes a strong stance and protects against risks to our
surrounding ecosystem.
Sincere ,
0
Genaro "Chip" Iglesias
President
Ocean Reef Community Association
cc: Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
ORCA Board of Directors
OCEAN REEF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
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MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. -2021
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY >_
COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION AND tJ
PROTECTION OF BISCAYNE AND EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARKS, 06
AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE UPPER
KEYS,AND OPPOSING ANY CIVILIAN AVIATION OPERATIONS AT THE
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE (HARB) AND URGING THE UNITED
STATES AIR FORCE TO AFFIRM ITS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL RECORD
OF DECISION ISSUED IN 2001 PROHIBITING NON-MILITARY AVIATION
ACTIVITY AT HARB,AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners has an interest in
protecting the environmentally and economically important environmental resources of the
Everglades National Park, the Biscayne National Park and the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary,and the protection of residents of the Upper Keys from the air and noise pollution and
other adverse effects of civilian aircraft takeoffs and landings and other impacts;and s
0
WHEREAS, the Everglades is a national and statewide environmental treasure and
includes uniquely important and diverse natural resources;and
WHEREAS,the Everglades National Park,the Biscayne National Park and the Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary are all part of a South Florida ecosystem that is critical to the
regional economy;and
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WHEREAS, the conservation, use and protection of wetlands, unique vegetative
communities, listed species and species of special status on mainland, water quality, marine
benthic communities,and fisheries in Florida Bay is critical to South Florida;and
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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 r_
quality,tranquility and peace of our surrounding waters and airspace over those waters;and 2
WHEREAS, the Federal and state governments have authorized and appropriated 0
significant public investment in the restoration and preservation of the Everglades and South
Florida ecosystem and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary;and
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WHEREAS,Monroe County continues to invest in and to work in partnership with state 0
and federal agencies to protect its existing public and private investments from sea level rise and
to restore and protect the health and economic value of its marine environment;and
O
WHEREAS,the environment, economy,public safety, and community character of the r_
Florida Keys can be substantially affected by land use decisions in southern Miami-Dade County; 2
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and
WHEREAS, the Homestead Air Reserve Base is located in this highly sensitive
environmental area with Biscayne National Park 1.5 miles to the east,the Everglades National
Park 8 miles to the west,and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 10 miles to the south; >
and U
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WHEREAS, in early 1990's, the Homestead Air Reserve Base was subject to a Base
Realignment and Closure Commission recommendation to surplus 1,632 acres, which
subsequently precipitated plans to redevelop that surplus land for commercial aviation purposes; s
and
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WHEREAS, in 2000, Congress singled out the Homestead Air Reserve Base and its
0
sensitive surroundings when it approved its 2000 Water Resources Development Act(WRD)bill,
warning that redevelopment of the site for commercial aviation"could potentially cause significant p:
air,water and noise pollutions and result in the degradation of adjacent national parks and other
protected Federal resources," and urged federal agencies "to carefully consider and weigh all
available information concerning potential environmental impacts on various reuse options"in a
manner"consistent with the goals of the Everglades restoration plan;"and s
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WHEREAS,on January 15,2001,the Air Force signed the Second Supplemental Record
of Decision(ROD)for Portions of the Former Homestead AFB and the ROD was developed based
on consideration of the December 2000 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement '
(SEIS),correspondence received by the Air Force,and other relevant factors;and
WHEREAS,the Air Force decided in the ROD to offer approximately 717 acres of surplus
property to Miami-Dade County for mixed-use development, but will not allow non-military 0
aviation use at the site.The Air Force will retain the runway and airfield areas at the former base Z
for its own use and those areas will continue to be maintained by the Air Force and used by the
Air Force Reserve,the Florida Air National Guard,Customs Service,and other federal agencies;
and
WHEREAS,in 2001,the United States Air Force issued a Second Supplemental ROD �
finding that potential redevelopment of HARB involves special circumstances due to its proximity r_
to and location between two national parks which are under assault from urbanization and other 2
pressures, and because of the huge national and state investment being made in protecting and
restoring the south Florida ecosystem;and 0
WHEREAS,the 2001,United States Air Force Second Supplemental ROD concluded that
the Air Force will not allow the environmental impacts of a commercial airport in this unique
location because the development of a commercial airport in such close proximity to Biscayne
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and Everglades National Parks poses unacceptable risks to these natural resources and is contrary 0
to the purposes of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan;and
WHEREAS, in 2004. Miami-Dade County acquired approximately 600 acres of the 0
surplus land, and is currently pursuing a Joint-Use Agreement with the United States Air Force r_
that would allow the County to make use of portions of the HARB facility that remains under the 2
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ownership and control of the Air Force;and
WHEREAS,the past history of efforts,and current stated intentions of some Miami-Dade
County officials,to put the airport facilities at HARB to substantial economic development uses
create a likelihood that allowing the general aviation uses for which Miami-Dade County is
currently seeking approval will result in the subsequent expansion of aviation activities to include U
more intensive commercial uses,such as cargo transport;and 06
WHEREAS, public statements made by a number of Miami — Dade County officials
during the October 8, 2020 meeting at which the Miami-Dade County Commission adopted a s
Resolution directing continued negotiation of a continued joint use agreement with the US Air
0
Force declared an expectation and intention that a general aviation use would allow cargo shipping
operations;and
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WHEREAS,the legal and practical limitations may preclude subsequent ability of a local
government to limit civilian operations at a facility authorized by the Federal Aviation Authority
for such purposes;and
WHEREAS,adverse impacts to natural resources and the peaceable enjoyment by citizens
and residents of their homes,communities and environs that may be necessary in the interests of 0
national defense are unacceptable when proposed for general economic purposes;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA:
Section 1.The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are hereby incorporated as if fully
stated herein. 0
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Section�.The Monroe Board of County Commissioners expresses its opposition to any — Formatted Font:Bond
non-military aviation operations at Homestead Air Base, and its support for strict
t: ----- ---- ------
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enforcement and adherence to the 2001 US Air Force's Second Supplemental Record of
Decision(ROD)for Disposal ofPortions of the Former Homestead Air Force Base(AFB),
Florida, and the long term stewardship of all lands controlled by the federal government r_
within the South Florida Ecosystem to restore and protect these unique natural resources. 2
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Section 3.The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to transmit certified copies of the - Formatted Font:Bold 0
----- ---- -----
Resolution to the Mayor and Commissioners of the Miami-Dade Board of County
J
Commissioners.
Section 4.This resolution shall become effective upon adoption. — Formatted Font:Bold
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PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,Florida,
at a regular meeting held on the day of 2021.
C
Mayor David Rice O
Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates
Commissioner Michelle Coldiron
Commissioner Eddie Martinez
Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein
CJ
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 06
OF MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA
0
BY
MAYOR DAVID RICE
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(SEAL)
ATTEST:KEVIN MADOK,CLERK w
AS DEPUTY CLERK
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c�
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency by
Robert B.Shillinger,Monroe County Attorney
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