Resolution 203-2022 r �
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MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 203 - 2022
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS URGING FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE
SANCTUARY TO BALANCE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION
AND SUSTAINABLE USES AND TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE
STAKEHOLDERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE FLORIDA KEYS AND
BEYOND; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on November 16, 1990, Congress designated the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) to be protected and managed by the National Oceanographic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP); and
WHEREAS, the FKNMS is a national treasure and protects 2,900 square nautical miles
of unique and nationally significant marine resources, including most of one of world's largest
barrier reef ecosystems, 1.4 million acres of seagrass beds, 1,800 miles of mangrove-fringed
shoreline, and more than 6,000 species of marine life, including sea turtles, manatees, and
dolphins; and
WHEREAS, the FKNMS is hugely important economically and contributes $4.4 billion
annually to the state's economy, with approximately 60% of the Florida Keys economy directly
tied to marine-related activities; and
WHEREAS, the FKNMS' resources, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and some fish
populations, have been on the decline for decades due to impacts from increased use, marine
debris, pollution, lack of freshwater delivery to Florida Bay, intensifying storms, disease
outbreaks, rising ocean temperatures, and ocean acidification; and
WHEREAS,NOAA and FDEP' s current management of the FKNMS is based on its 1997
final environmental impact statement (EIS) and a 2007 revised management plan which
implemented sanctuary-wide regulations and established the nation' s first comprehensive network
of marine zones following years of planning, design, and public input; and
Page 1 of 3
WHEREAS, the "Condition Report 2011 for the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary," (2011 Condition Report) the most recent document of its kind, classified Sanctuary
water quality as"fair" or"fair/poor" and not improving,biologically structured habitats(e.g., coral
reefs and seagrass beds) as "fair/poor" and declining, biodiversity as "fair/poor" and declining,
and key species (e.g., corals) as "poor" and not improving, and this was before onset of the
devastating Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease; and
WHEREAS, the 2011 Condition Report supported the need for additional management
actions that address the degraded conditions of some key habitats and living resources in the
FKNMS; and
WHEREAS, due to the 2011 Condition Report and its obligation to adaptively manage its
resources, FKNMS is updating its management plan and regulations and released the "Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary: A Restoration Blueprint" (Restoration Blueprint) in 2019 to
gather public input on management and regulatory options that could help counteract the decline
in resource conditions, reduce threats, and, where appropriate, restore coral reefs, seagrasses, and
other important habitats; and
WHEREAS, the FKNMS released the next iteration of the Restoration Blueprint, also
known as the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the "proposed rule" or the "draft rule," on July 12,
2022, with proposed actions to protect critical natural areas, improve zoning and marine
management, and build ecological resiliency in conjunction with ongoing restoration efforts as
well as sustainable uses, and
WHEREAS, the FKNMS is holding a series of public meetings for stakeholders to learn
more about the Restoration Blueprint and to provide public comment at those meetings and
through other mechanisms for 100 days between July 13 and October 21, 2022; and
WHEREAS,the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners(BOCC)recognizes the
biological, recreational, and commercial importance of the marine resources of the FKNMS, and
that protecting FKNMS resources is valuable not only for the environment but also for the
economy; and
WHEREAS, the BOCC recognizes that the special marine resources of the region, which
led to the area' s designation as a national marine sanctuary, contribute to the high quality of life
for residents and high quality visitor experiences, and that without these unique marine resources,
both quality of life and the economy of the Keys would decline; and
WHEREAS, the BOCC recognizes that public input is vitally important to determining
the future of the Florida Keys, has encouraged the public to engage in past FKNMS public
comment opportunities, and has encouraged FKNMS to take all comments into consideration.
Page 2 of 3
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,THAT:
Section 1. Monroe County supports the public engagement process for the FKNMS
Restoration Blueprint, urges FKNMS to continue to engage stakeholders from throughout the
Florida Keys and beyond, and urges stakeholders to participate by making public comments, all
with the end goal of balancing marine'resource conservation and sustainable uses.
Section 2.Direct the Clerk to transmit copies of this resolution to the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
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 20th day of July 2022.
Mayor David Rice Yes
Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates Yes
og 0i., Commissioner Michelle Coldiron Yes
1.
` 1- 23 a, Commissioner James Scholl Yes
"� % Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein Yes
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'",:►_"'') -:�,." BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
T,.
Atte + MADOK, Clerk OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA .
By By `
A Deputy Mrk Mayor D ice
MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Ate,+ r (`Digitally signed by Robert B.Shillinger
ns i DN:cn=Robert B.Shillinger,o=Monroe County BOCC,
•� ""' Robert B. Shillinger`ou=Monroe County Attorney,email=shlllinger-
bbFXamonroecounty-fl.gov,c=US
;� I-- ��~Date:2022,07.21 11:30:01-04'00'
J-- Approved for form and legal sufficiency
_ --=t= By Robert B. Shillinger, County Attorney
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o°s °,°�� Kevin Madok, CPA.
;, y � � Clerk •of°the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida.
August 4, 2022
Sarah Fangman
FKNMS Superintendent
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
33 East Quay Road
Key West, Florida 33040
Ms. Fangman,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 203-2022 urging the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary to balance natural resource conservation and sustainable uses and to continue
to engage stakeholders from throughout the Florida Keys and beyond.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on July 20, 2022. 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 and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By.• Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
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��.�°�°�'°LE y- Kevin Madok, CPA.
4 Clerk of the Circuit Court&Comptroller— Monroe`County, Florida,
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August 4, 2022
Eric Sutton, Executive Director
Florida Fish& Wildlife Conservation Commission
Farris Bryant Building
620 S. Meridian St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
Mr. Sutton,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 203-2022 urging the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary to balance natural resource conservation and sustainable uses and to continue
to engage stakeholders from throughout the Florida Keys and beyond.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on July 20, 2022. 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 and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
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��yN Cu,p�F�gg,. Kevin Madok, CPA% :
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�i .. b F.= Clerk of the Circuit Court&
1 Comptroller— Monroe County, Florida
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August 4, 2022
Shawn Hamilton
Dept. Of Environmental Protection
Office of the Secretary
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard M.S. 49
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Mr. Hamilton,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 203-2022 urging the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary to balance natural resource conservation and sustainable uses and to continue
to engage stakeholders from throughout the Florida Keys and beyond.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on July 20, 2022. 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 and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070