Item N5 County of Monroe BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Mayor David Rice,District 4
Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates,District 1
The Florida Keys '
Y � �F' Michelle Coldiron,District 2
Vacant,District 3
--' Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
County Commission Meeting
January 21, 2022
Agenda Item Number: N.5
Agenda Item Summary #10177
BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: BOCC District 1
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Amanda Leggett(305) 292-3400
N/A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a resolution supporting enactment and approval of
House Bill 1065/Senate Bill 1432 to facilitate a reduction in the number of derelict vessels in the
waters of the Florida Keys and directing the Monroe County Marine Resources Office to pursue
necessary steps to implement new moorings as required by law and to partner with the City of Key
West in the effort to achieve implementation of additional moorings and associated local
management.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The resolution expresses the Commission's support for the goals of HB
1065 and SB 1432, which aims to reduce the number of derelict vessels and their associated impacts.
The resolution also expresses the Commission's support for installation of at least 100 moorings
within one (1)mile of the Key West Bight City Dock to address management needs in that area of
the Keys. Finally, the resolution directs staff to pursue the necessary steps towards implementing
the 100 new moorings required by law and to partner with the City of Key West to accomplish this
goal.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
DOCUMENTATION:
Draft Resolution HB 1065 -SB 1432
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:
N/A
REVIEWED BY:
Craig Cates Completed 01/20/2022 8:31 AM
Bob Shillinger Completed 01/20/2022 8:45 AM
Liz Yongue Completed 01/20/2022 9:37 AM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 01/21/2022 9:00 AM
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7 MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
8 MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
9 RESOLUTION NO. -2022
10
11 A RESOLUTION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
12 COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTING ENACTMENT AND APPROVAL OF
13 HOUSE BILL 1065 / SENATE BILL 1432 ("ANCHORING BILL") TO
14 FACILITATE A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF DERELICT
15 VESSELS IN THE WATERS OF THE FLORIDA KEYS AND DIRECTING
16 THE MONROE COUNTY MARINE RESOURCES OFFICE TO PURSUE
17 NECESSARY STEPS TO IMPLEMENT NEW MOORINGS AS REQUIRED
18 BY LAW AND TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF KEY WEST IN THE
19 EFFORT TO ACHIEVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ADDITIONAL
20 MOORINGS AND ASSOCIATED LOCAL MANAGEMENT.
21
22 WHEREAS,the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida(hereinafter
23 "BOCC", "Board", or"Monroe County") is the governing body of Monroe County, Florida; and
24
25 WHEREAS, the State of Florida has designated unincorporated Monroe County and the
26 City of Key West("City") as Areas of Critical State Concern; and
27
28 WHEREAS, the waters surrounding the Florida Keys are situated within the boundaries
29 of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and have, since July 26, 2001, been designated a
30 federal No Discharge Zone by the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to
31 Title 40, Chapter I, Subchapter D,Part 140, Section 140.4(b)(1)(ii), as may be amended from time
32 to time; and
33
34 WHEREAS, the wise stewardship of our natural resources involves the protection of the
35 marine environment for generations to come; and
36
37 WHEREAS, Monroe County has the highest number of derelict vessels in the state,
38 creating significant navigational safety issues, environmental impacts, and unnecessary financial
39 burdens for the residents of and visitors to the Florida Keys; and
40
41 WHEREAS, in 2021, the Florida Legislature enacted Senate Bill 1086,presently codified
42 at Florida Statute Section 327.4108(3)(a), which provides for a 90-day time limit for vessels
43 anchored in waters of the Florida Keys so as to address long-term anchoring issues including but
44 not limited to neglect, storage and abandonment of vessels, which frequently lead(s) to vessels
45 becoming derelict; and
46
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47 WHEREAS,Florida Statute Section 327.4108(3)(c)currently requires that 250 new public
48 mooring balls be placed within one(1)mile of the Key West Bight City Dock and for 50 additional
49 moorings to be placed within the existing Key West Garrison Bight Mooring Field before a new
50 such limit may be utilized and/or applied; and
51
52 WHEREAS, 300 new moorings are not appropriate in these locations due to insufficient
53 physical space and significant regulatory hurdles including but not limited to state and federal
54 permitting requirements, likely resulting in the inability to implement the above-referenced 90-
55 day anchoring time limit; and
56
57 WHEREAS, the City recently prohibited stored vessels from mooring in the Garrison
58 Bight Mooring Field,which will open up at least 30 existing moorings to local live-aboard vessels;
59 and
60
61 WHEREAS, in the 2022 session of the Florida Legislature, two bills, House Bill
62 1065/Senate Bill 1432, have been filed which propose lowering the number of required new
63 moorings to at least 100 in order to ensure the successful implementation of this 90-day anchoring
64 time limit; and
65
66 WHEREAS, the "2002 Keys-Wide Mooring Field System Preliminary Planning
67 Document",prepared by the professional staff of the Monroe County Planning and Environmental
68 Resources Department's Marine Resources Office, determined that the Wisteria Island/Fleming
69 Key anchorages in the vicinity of Key West Bight City Dock were the most problematic large
70 anchorages in dire need of management in the Florida Keys; and
71
72 WHEREAS, installation of a managed mooring field will reduce the number of derelict
73 vessels in the Florida Keys, ensure compliance with the federal Clean Vessel Act, minimize
74 benthic damage, and provide a safe and secure harbor for our local long-term live-aboard
75 community; and
76
77 WHEREAS, the BOCC desires to expeditiously move toward implementation of new
78 moorings within one (1) mile of the Key West Bight City Dock, and directs the professional staff
79 of the Planning and Environmental Resources Department's Marine Resources Office to begin the
80 necessary steps toward achieving such implementation, including professional evaluation of
81 mooring potential in the area by conducting a feasibility study including but not limited to benthic
82 resource surveys, water depth surveys, and regulatory guidance for the Board's further
83 consideration and input on subsequent steps toward implementation; and
84
85 WHEREAS, Monroe County desires to partner with the City of Key West in the effort to
86 achieve implementation of additional moorings and associated management in this location;
87
88 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
89 COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, THAT:
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91 Section 1. Recitals and Legislative Intent. The foregoing recitals and statements of
92 legislative intent are true and correct and are hereby incorporated as if fully
93 stated herein.
94
95 Section 2. The BOCC strongly encourages legislative efforts to effectively and
96 expeditiously reduce the number of derelict vessels and their associated
97 impacts on our community.
98
99 Section 3. The BOCC supports the goals of HB 1065 /SB 1432 through the installation
100 of at least 100 moorings within one (1) mile of the Key West Bight City
101 Dock as an appropriate strategy to address the management needs in this
102 area.
103
104 Section 4. The BOCC directs the professional staff of the Planning and Environmental
105 Resources Department's Marine Resources Office to pursue the necessary
106 steps toward implementing the 100 new moorings required by law and to
107 partner with the City of Key West to accomplish this goal and associated
108 management in this location.
109
110 Section 5. The Clerk of Court for this Board shall furnish copies of this resolution to
111 state representative James "Jim" Mooney, state senator Ana Maria
112 Rodriguez, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
113 commissioner Robert A. Spottswood, as soon as reasonably possible.
114
115 Section 6. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
116
117 PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
118 Florida, at a regular meeting held on the 21 st day of January, 2022.
119
120 Mayor David Rice
121 Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates
122 Commissioner Michelle Coldiron
123 County Commissioner District Three VACANT
124 Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein
125
126 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
127 FLORIDA
128
129 By:
130 Mayor David Rice
131 (SEAL)
132 Attest: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK
133
134
135
136 AS DEPUTY CLERK
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