Resolution 058-2023 18 13
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 058 -2023
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS IN SUPPORT OF THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION COMMISSION AND ITS LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS, ENCOURAGING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF
OFFICERS, AND ALLOWING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF
PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF ILLEGALLY TAKEN SPECIES BY
ALLOWING DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY TO AID IN ENFORCEMENT
EFFORTS IN MONROE COUNTY.
WHEREAS, Monroe County is home to the Everglades National Park, the Biscayne National
Park and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, each a national environmental treasure with
uniquely important and diverse natural resources; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County is also home to several refuges throughout the Florida Keys,
including but not limited to Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Great White Heron National
Wildlife Refuge, the National Key Deer Refuge, Key West National Wildlife Refuge and Dry
Tortugas National Park; and
WHEREAS, the Federal and state governments have authorized and appropriated significant
public investment in the restoration and preservation of Monroe County's ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County continues to invest in and to work in partnership with state and
federal agencies to protect the health of its unique marine environment; and
WHEREAS, the sustained health and safety of Monroe's marine refuges and nearshore waters
are vital to the tourist-based Florida Keys economy; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County's marine environment provides an unparalleled boating,
attracting high numbers of recreational boaters, charter boats, commercial fishing vessels,
liveaboard vessels, transient boaters, dive boats, personal watercraft, and kayaks, all contributing
to the need for increasingly robust protective resources; and
WHEREAS, the highly active boating environment leads to a number of hazardous and
environmentally damaging impacts including:
1) Vessel groundings: more than 300 vessel groundings are reported in the Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary every year, with 80% of these impacting the fragile seagrass
habitat and damaging corals; and
2) Boating accidents: Monroe has the highest number of boating accidents in the State every
year; and
3) Derelict vessels: Monroe has the highest number of derelict vessels Statewide each year,
and is currently on track for the removal of 60 derelict vessels this year; and
Page 1
WHEREAS, our marine environment is a highly popular and productive fishing destination,
necessitating an important array of protective marine regulations related to the fishing, harvesting,
possession, and sale of a broad array of species from spiny lobster to coral; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County supports the committed and coordinated efforts of FWC, the
Monroe County Sheriff and the State Attorney for the 16'h Judicial Circuit in their efforts to ensure
compliance with and enforcement of these important protective marine regulations and to pursue
violations; and
WHEREAS,to assist these enforcement efforts, Monroe County supports allowing for the use
of digital photography as an additional enforcement tool, enabling it to be used as the photographic
evidence that is required in investigations of illegally taken wildlife, freshwater fish or saltwater
fish, Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, FWC has the awesome responsibility for protecting the environmental resources
of a 2,900 square mile expanse of the Florida Keys' nearshore waters, 240 miles of coastline, and
one of the most diverse and active boating environments in the State; and
WHEREAS, the provision and retention of FWC officers is vitally important to the ongoing
protection of Monroe County's marine environment and its protected resource, and the safety of
Monroe's boating public; and
WHEREAS, without exception FWC provides excellent and highly professional law
enforcement service to Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County has the highest cost of living in the State of Florida a well-
documented lack of affordable/workforce housing providing a significant affordability challenge
for local FWC officers; and
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 quality,
tranquility, and safety of our surrounding waters; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys' unique marine environment is a highly valuable economic
engine in the State of Florida, generating over $225M in sales tax each year, and worthy of
increased State investment for its protection; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the level of service needed for public safety and protection
of environmental assets within the Florida Key, Monroe County encourages the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Commission to direct increased resources for the protection of Monroe's marine
environment, and to implement strategies to aid in the recruitment and retention of its officers such
as sufficient pay consideration and/or housing allowance to account for the local high cost of
living, especially.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners expresses its strong support
for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and its law enforcement officers, and encourages
the State of Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider directing additional
law enforcement resources to Monroe County; and
Section 2. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners strongly supports the
enforcement of marine regulations that protect and conserve wildlife and marine species, and tools
Page 1 2
to aid in those enforcement efforts, including the use of digital photography as evidence in
investigations; and
Section 3. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to transmit certified copies of this
Resolution to Governor DeSantis, Senator Ana Marie Rodrigues, Representative Jim Mooney,
Interim FWC Executive Director Tom Eason, and FWC Commissioners Robert Spottswood,
Rodney Barreto, Steven Hudson, Gary Lester, Gary Nicklaus, Sonya Rood and Albert Maury.
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 15th day of February, 2023.
Mayor Craig Cates Yes
Mayor Pro Tern Holly Merrill Raschein Yes
Commissioner Michelle Lincoln Yes
Commissioner James K. Scholl Yes
Commissioner David Rice Yes
,p. — 7 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
; 5, _43 ' OF MONROE CO.:"i Y, FLORI 0 A
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Approved as to form and legal sufficiency: =.
Digitally signed by Robert B.Shillinger —vs `•.: ' (! .
DN:cn=Robert B,Shillinger,o=B.O.C.C.of Monroe ww
Robert R. Shillinger"County,F4 ou=County Attorney,email=shillinger-
bob@monroecounty-fl.gov,c=US
I Date:2023.02.21 16.09.25-05'00' �'
Robert B. Shillinger, Monroe County Attorney
Page I3
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 22, 2023
Governor Ron DeSantis
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001
Honorable Governor DeSantis,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 22, 2023
Senator Anna Maria Rodriguez
314 Senate Building
404 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100
Honorable Senator Rodriguez,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 22, 2023
Representative Jim Mooney
212 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100
Honorable Representative Mooney,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 22, 2023
Mr. Tom Eason, Interim Executive Director
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
Dear Mr. Eason,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 24, 2023
Commissioner Robert Spottswood
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
Dear Commissioner Spottswood,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 24, 2023
Commissioner Rodney Barreto
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
Dear Commissioner Barreto,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 24, 2023
Commissioner Steven Hudson
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
Dear Commissioner Hudson,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 24, 2023
Commissioner Gary Lester
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
Dear Commissioner Lester,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 24, 2023
Commissioner Gary Nicklaus
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
Dear Commissioner Nicklaus,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 24, 2023
Commissioner Sonya Rood
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
Dear Commissioner Rood,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 24, 2023
Commissioner Albert Maury
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
Dear Commissioner Maury,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 058-2023 in support of the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its Law Enforcement Officers, encouraging an
increase in the number of officers, and allowing for the modernization of photographic evidence
of illegally taken species by allowing digital photography to aid in enforcement efforts in
Monroe County.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. 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
March 20, 2023
Florida HsVi
and Wildlife Conservation
lSevi. Madcrk, CPA
Commission Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
Monroe County
Gor°nrnissoners 31.17 Overseas Highway
Rodney Barreto Marathon, FL 33050
Chairman
Coral Gables
]dear Mr". M.ade>k,
Preston Lee Farrior
Tampa On behalf of Chairman Rodney :Barreto and the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Steven Hudson Conservation Commission (l''WC'), we thank you and, the Monroe County Board of
Vice Fort Lauderdale e County Commissioners for adopting Resolution 058-2023 in support of our
collaborative action in protecting the county's unique and beautiful marine
Gary Lester environment. Our relationship with Monroe County residents and leaders stands as
Oxford
one of the strongest in Florida and enables us to make significant progress toward
Albert Maury our shared conservation and public safety goals.
Coral Gables
Gary Nicklaus We're deeply grateful for our partnership with the Monroe County Sheriffs Office,
Jupiter Key West Police Department; and College of the Florida Keys, which launched the
Sonya Rood first-ever joint Basic Recruit Curriculum for Law Enforcement at the College of the
St.Augustine Florida Keys. Thanks to this cooperative effort, six new :FWC officers graduated and.
joined, their counterparts in Monroe County to patrol and protect the fish, wildlife
Office of theand habitats that make the Keys so special. We plan to continue this important
Exrector
Dr.ncubve ThomalsuH.Eason initiative to recruit and retain .l«WC, law
4xw enforcement officers in Monroe County.
Acting Executive Director
Jessica Crawford
The FWCY also appreciates the Monroe,County Commission's recognition of the nee
Chief of staff to aid FWC law enforcement officers by incorporating advancements such as using
digital photographs as evidence of illegally taken fish and wildlife. The :lw-"WC is
Dlvusdorr of Law monitoring the progress of Senate Bill 1.044, which., if approved, would allow that.
Enforr errm irnt
Co&onel Roger Young;
Director Thanks to your unwavering support, we see a bright future for the sustained health
850-488-6251 and safety of Monroe County's amazing natural resources.
850-487-0463 FAX
Managing fish and wildlife Sincerely,
resources for their,long-terrn
well-being and the benefit
of people.
RENNUMEMEMEMENNOR Colonel log' A. Yo g
620 south Meridian street Director, Division of Law Enforcement
Tallahassee,Florida
32399-1600
Voice:850-488-4676
Hearing/speech-impairedr
800-955-8771(T)
800 955-8770(V)
MyFWC.com