HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 299-1997
County Commission
RESOLUTION NO.
299
-1997
A RESOLUTION SOLICITING THE ASSISTANCE OF UPPER KEYS COMMUNITY POOL. INC.
CONCERNING THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING PUBLIC AQUATIC FACILITIES IN THE
UPPER KEYS.
WHEREAS, Monroe County is an aquatic community, whose culture and heritage are
inextricably entwined with the marine environment surrounding its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the marine resources are utilized by a significant segment of the citizens of Monroe
County for commercial and recreational purposes; and
WHEREAS, the use of marine resources for commercial and recreational uses carries with it
certain inherent risks associated with the ability or inability to safely interact with the water; and
WHEREAS, swimming instruction and scuba training are proven methods for increasing the
ability of people to safely interact with the marine environment for both cQ(l1mercial and
I,D -"'1
-,-l
;,,~..., r-
. ;..:,
I "I:' ___ 'J ',=]
WHEREAS, an aquatic facility would provide an area for open recrea:ttori a nd-sociCJI I
- . - !(:-J
recreational purposes; and
. .J
interaction for children, teenagers, and families; and . ~; ;::,-,. :;1
.. ...:-~, -",
-"1'- :.--' a i.--J
WHEREAS, public facilities and programs for the adequate swimming and fsCUOO trrifnin~;pof
::.> i;~ ~.)
. I'v CJ
Monroe County citizens of all ages are not available to those citizens outside of the Lower Keys and
the city of Key West; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners supports efforts to assure the
safety of her citizens specifically as they interact with the aquatic environment; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County does not currently have a Parks and Recreation or Aquatics
Department to create and manage a public aquatic center for the purpose of swimming and scuba
safety instruction and recreational use; and
WHEREAS, the area traditionally referred to as the Upper Keys includes nearly 7,500
households and a population of over 25,000 people (approximately 30% of the population of
Monroe County), of which nearly 3,000 are children under the age of 18; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution No.
315-1995 on September 7, 1995, requesting that the Florida Department of Transportation
modify the proposed roadway improvements by constructing a three-lane road, rather than a
four-lane, stating, "Monroe County finds that the '3-lane alternative' ... is the most viable
proposal of those considered, because it balances the needs for a widened highway with
safeguards designed to address secondary impacts;" and
WHEREAS. FDOT explored all reasonable alternatives, including a two-lane alternative,
and in response to Monroe County's request and a similar request from the South Florida Water
Management District. FDOT redesigned the project to change the roadway from four lanes to
one in-bound lane with passing zones and two outbound lanes to minimize the potential for
additional growth to result from the improvements; and
WHEREAS, a two-month administrative trial was held on the redesigned FDOT proposal,
from September 4, through November 7, 1996 (including three evening public hearings on
September 24, 25, and 26, in which members of the public were invited to testify) during which
the Administrative Law Judge heard extensive expert witness testimony relating to primary,
secondary, and cumulative impacts of the project. resulting in findings that the project would
result in a net water quality improvement, that the mitigation and other environmental
enhancements of the project more than offset the environmental impacts and that the project
is definitely in the public interest: and
WHEREAS, the Administrative Law Judge expressly found that potential adverse
secondary impacts were offset by Monroe County's Comprehensive Plan and Land
Development Regulations, and by State agency regulations and oversight. and that "the
evidence was insufficient to establish at a level above speculation that adverse environmental
impacts will result" from future growth under the County's Rate of Growth Ordinance, all
culminating in a Recommended Order from the AU that permits for the roadway
improvements should issue; and
WH~~EAS, a grass-roots community-based organization, the Upper Keys Community Pool, Inc.,
has been meeting for nearly a year as a non-profit all-volunteer organization for the sole purpose of
creating and managing a public aquatic center in the Upper Keys for the use of the citizens of
Monroe County; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
welcomes and invites input from Upper Keys Community Pool. Inc. related to the feasibility of
developing public aquatic facilities in the Upper Keys, including but not limited to the assessment of
need and community support, the identification of program and facility costs and funding sources,
and the delineation of facility design and management.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Administrator shall provide appropriate coordination
with Upper Keys Community Pool, Inc. to facilitate the objectives set forth in this Resolution.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, at a
special meeting of said Board held on the 4th day of September, 1997.
Mayor Douglass
Commissioner Freeman
Commissioner Harvey
~,...",..=J~ommissioner London
:C:~,~6~rniSsioner Reich
2'-;; "",,, . ,,:'
0\\ ":"\ ' . \
~,)........ "
, 'l ' I' :
. "- re;t,;''oANNY/L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
,\l'!}. ,/ \\
~...~.,,,".,_..~J '
~~~ ~
By - ~ 6AA...
Depu~ ~
yes
yes
ab s en t
yes
yes
By
jrespool
B