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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem C10 CIO BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY of MONROE Mayor James K.Scholl,District 3 The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern Michelle Lincoln,District 2 Craig Cates,District 1 David Rice,District 4 Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5 Board of County Commissioners Meeting January 15, 2025 Agenda Item Number: CIO 2023-3496 BULK ITEM: Yes DEPARTMENT: Facilities Maintenance TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Willie DeSantis n/a AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval to advertise a public hearing for a request from Reef Environmental Education Foundation for a temporary road closure of a small portion of Bahama Road in Key Largo on April 27,2025, from 10:00am- 5:00pm for their annual Lionfish Derby and Festival. ITEM BACKGROUND: Reef Environmental Education Foundation has requested a temporary partial road closure of Bahama Road on April 27, 2025, from 1 Oam - 5pm for their annual Lionfish Derby and Festival. The section of road requesting to be closed borders the Northern end of their property that houses REEF's new Ocean Exploration Center. the small portion of the road is located between the Southbound and Northbound lanes of US 1 Highway near MM98 in Key Largo. The intent of the closure is to create additional space for a safe "block party" style atmosphere that enhances the festival experience for all attendees. PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: N/A INSURANCE REQUIRED: No CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval to hold public hearing DOCUMENTATION: Request to close Bahama Road Apr 27 2025_rev.pdf Bahama Road closure map.pdf 371 FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A 372 Reef firMronrnentar Educrrtlon Foundatlort November 22, 2024 Upper Keys Facilities Maintenance Monroe County Public Works, 300 Magnolia Street Key Largo, FL 33037 Attn: Nestor Torra (1 Dear Facilities Maintenance Team, I am writing to formally request a temporary closure of Bahama Road, located between the southbound and northbound lanes of US1 in Key Largo, on Sunday,April 27, 2025,from 10:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m., to support a community event hosted by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). For more than a decade, REEF has organized the lionfish Derby and Festival in the Florida Keys to encourage the removal of invasive lionfish from our coral reefs. Historically, the festival has been held on the grounds of a resort hotel in Islamorada. In 2025,we are thrilled to expand this event into the Florida Keys lionfish Derby&Arts Festival, which will take place at our REEF Campus property at MM98.5 (in the median) in Key largo. This expanded event will feature hands-on activities, interactive displays, educational games, and other engaging experiences designed to inspire conservation and connect our community. To accommodate the anticipated increase in visitors, families, and vendors, we request the closure of Bahama Road between the southbound and northbound lanes of US1 at MM98,This section of road borders the northern end of our property and provides access to only one building—RE F's new Ocean Exploration Center. The closure would create additional space for a ,safe, „block party"-style atmosphere that enhances the festival experience for all attendees. We estimate that between 400-500 people will participate in the Festival, amid we are applying for Public Assembly Perrnit with the Planning Department. Thank you for considering this request, If you require additional details or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact REEF Operations Manager Sierra Barkdoll at 305-852-0030 or sierra.barkdoll@REEF.org. We look forward to working with you to make this exciting community event a success. Stric e , ) rr �J1I'fKuehnert° Campus Director Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) Attachment:Google map of the Bahama Road area requested to be closed Cc:Commissioner Holly Merrill Raschein REEF conserves rn ardne environments worldwide.Cher mission is to Protect biodiversity and ocean 11fe by actively err aging and inspiring the t:rubflc through citizen science,education,and tca!inex'shri„,as with the scientific community. N.0. Box 370246■Key Largo, Florida 33037 0 305-852-0030■ Fax 305-852-0301■wvvw.REEF.org■ reefhq@REEF.orR 373 Go &Map �p trrlttrtrtrtilr�l� vID ,y,p ly ��"� ��� IIII��I / rrrlll�� � �✓ r 1 1 r �, ' 'v,^`4 t o ai m�,= l', hlu�nr r ° rr'r.�. If Y �S, W pII�IJ�I,�lf Illy �(IIW(IIII%� � ,Yi Gi)11C X LI1 l LI'IG Yx� � `'` III"I�W � I���� s1111 sY'k Yllti7 iA(Wontsairto Zon 1 pppl�, Proposed closur � lJI1JI' td� I Reef OECAN rl , a rnir��iryrrul�tifi C�c1�ir�stirGo�i��p:rnnd,ah rui a,„r we Map data©2024 200 ft ROAD CLOSURE REQUEST: 4/27/2025 11 OA-5P1 Bahama Road between Northbound and Southbound lanes of US1/Overseas Highway at MM98 For community event "Florida Keys Lionfish Derby &Arts Festival" Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) Contact: Sierra Barkdoll, Operations Manager, sierra.barkdoll@reef.org Carolyn Corley, Education Coordinator, carolyn.corley@reef.org 305-852-0300 374