Item M1 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date July 17, 2013 Division: BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes _No x Department: George R. Neugent
Staff Contact Person/Phone#: T. Colonna 4512
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
A resolution of support, endorsement, and recognition that the establishment of coral reef nurseries as
zoological parks in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary waters nurturing and growing coral for the
replanting of reefs which have be decimated by run-off, nutrient loaded waters, ship groundings and
other damaging impacts. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners recognizes the negative
impact to tourism that an unhealthy coral reef system could have on our visiting tourist bed tax and
impact to our overall Keys economy.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST: INDIRECT COST: BUDGETED: Yes No
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE:
COST TO COUNTY: SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM#
Revised 7/09
Mayor Neugent
RESOLUTION NO. -2013
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
SUPPORTING, ENDORSING AND RECOGNIZING THE
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF
ESTABLISHING CORAL REEF NURSERIES AS
ZOOLOGICAL PARKS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS;
RECOGNIZING A HEALTHY CORAL REEF SYSTEM IS
VITAL TO ATTRACTING TOURISTS TO THE FLORIDA
KEYS; RECOGNIZING THAT CORAL REEF NURSERIES,
AS ZOOLOGICAL PARKS, WOULD ATTRACT BOTH
VISITORS AND RESIDENTS AND PROMOTE PUBLIC
AWARENESS OF THE FRAGILE CORAL REEF SYSTEM
IN THE FLORIDA KEYS WHICH IS SO VITAL TO BOTH
OUR LOCAL AND STATE ECONOMY.
WHEREAS, the Fabulous Florida Keys, Monroe County, is home to the third largest
barrier reef in the world; and
WHEREAS, the 150 mile reef tract is a virtual ecosystem within an ecosystem that
spawns and provides protection for our marine resources that literally is the foundation of our
economy; and
WHEREAS, nurturing and growing coral in manmade nurseries for replanting reefs,
which have been decimated by elevated sea surface temperatures due to climate change in which the warm
temperatures enhance the conditions for coral diseases with some damage„attributable to storm-water run-
off, far-field loading from agriculture runoff, nutrient loading from impaired waters, ship
groundings and other damaging impacts; and
WHEREAS, coral reef nurseries could also serve as zoological parks attracting both
visitors and residents to the Florida Keys and promote public awareness of the fragile coral reef
system; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, in recognizing the
catastrophic impact to tourism that the missing element of a healthy coral reef system would
have on our local and state economy through the loss of visiting tourist's bed and sales taxes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA:
Section 1. The BOCC enthusiastically supports and endorses the establishment of coral reef
nurseries as zoological parks throughout the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary to aid recovery and perpetuation of the most unique and valuable asset
of the State of Florida and the Florida Keys economy.
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Res coral reef nurseries as zoological parks
BOCC 7/17/13(7/8/13(KP)
Section 2. This resolution shall become effective upon the date of its passage and adoption herein.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe
County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 171h day of July, 2013.
Mayor George Neugent
Mayor Pro Tem Heather Carruthers
Commissioner Danny Kolhage
Commissioner David Rice
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy
(SEAL)
ATTEST: AMY HEAVILIN,CLERK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA
By:
Deputy Clerk By:
Mayor
MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY
PROVED S 0 ORM:
C H iA L. ALL
ASSI ANT wCO UNT�YATTORNEY
Date
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Res coral reef nurseries as zoological parks
BOCC 7/17/13(7/8/13(KP)
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Neugent, County Commissioners, County Administrator
FROM: Cynthia L. Hall,Assistant County Attorney
THROUGH: Bob Shillinger, County Attorney
DATE: July 10, 2013
SUBJECT: Request for Opinion of the Attorney General re: Use of Local Option Tourist
Development Taxes for Coral Out21anting Project
Recently, the Coral Restoration Foundation submitted an application for a tourist
development council "bricks and mortar" grant. The funds would be used to grow "reef ready"
corals and outplant them to degraded reefs. F.S. 125.0104(5)(b) describes the only projects for
which tourist development taxes may be used, two of which are zoological parks and nature
centers. Without any case law or Attorney General opinions, I was unable to conclude that a
naturally occurring coral reef as described in the application is a zoological park or nature center
for the limited purpose of this statute. An agenda item asking for permission to send a request to
the Attorney General for an opinion to clarify the matter will be placed on the August agenda for
your consideration.
1.