Resolution 052-1996
County Administrator
RESOLUTION NO 052 -1996
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY
REQUESTING THE 1996 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR
THE PRESERVATION AND REPAIR OF THE STATE'S BEACHES. TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED
FOR FUNDING NON-FEDERAL PROJECTS, AND TO IDENTIFY A LONG-TERM DEDICATED
FUNDING SOURCE.
WHEREAS, Florida's beaches are an important part of the quality of life of this community.
providing aesthetic. environmental. hurricane mitigation and recreational benefits for our residents
and tourist: and
WHEREAS. beaches continue to be Florida's number one tourist attraction and are thus vital
to our economic well-being, generating over $9 billion in beach-related sales annually and
contributing to a ripple effect to the Florida economy of over $16 billion; and
WHEREAS, County Commission recognizes that severe beach erosion continues to be a major
problem. in Florida. with coastal development threatening this important natural resource; and
WHEREAS, federal funding for beach and inlet projects is declining. resulting in delays in
implementing needed erosion projects and putting more pressure on state and local sources; and
WHEREAS. since navigation inlets cause some 80% of beach erosion in Florida, the most cost-
effective way to reduce erosion is to recapture sand from inlets and place it on the eroded
down drift beaches; and
WHEREAS. as a matter of long-standing policy, the Legislature has given priority to funding
those beach and inlet projects which have substantial federal matching money; and
WHEREAS, the state legislature has historically demonstrated a commitment to the
preservation of Florida's beaches, and now must recognize the critical environmental and economic
need to maintain or repair our beaches, with or without the financial assistance of the federal
government; now, therefore "":>-
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MO+~fOU~' FL~IDA,
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Section 1.
The County Corrmission requests that the State Legislature provide adequate
annual funding to carry out a statewide comprehensive beach management program to protect
Florida I S remaining pristine beaches and repair those that are severely damaged, and consider the
Department of Environmental Protection 1996-97 budget request of $36.8 million.
Section 2.
The County Commission further requests that since navigation inlets are the
primary cause of beach erosion in Florida that the Legislature, in its beach management funding
strategy, give equal priority to inlet sand bypassing as it does to traditional beach nourishment
projects.
Section 3.
The County Commission further requests that in cases where the federal
government has not yet appropriated matching funds for projects, and where local governments
are willing to "loan" the federal share in order to deal quickly with an urgent erosion problem, the
Legislature, as a matter of policy, will consider such "loans" by local governments to be the
equivalent of the federal matching share for the project.
Section 4.
The County Commission finally requests that the State Legislature give serious
consideration to identification of an dedication of a fair and stable source of long-term funding to
fully implement a statewide beach management program for preserving and restoring Florida 's
threatened sandy beaches.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, at a
regular meeting of said Board held on the 21 s t day of
February
, AD, 1996.
Commissioner Douglass
Commissioner Harvey
Commissioner London
Commissioner Reich
Mayor Freeman
yes
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yes
yes
(SEAL)
Attest: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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May Chairman
By~~Ja~~
Deputy lerk
By
EFFECTIVE DATE
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