Resolution 513-2003
RESOLUTION 513-2003
A RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION 347 -1999
REGARDING COUNTY POLICY FOR WINDLOAD AND
FLOODPLAIN CONSTRUCTION DESIGN STANDARDS FOR
NEW BUILDINGS OWNED BY AND CONSTRUCTED FOR USE
BY MONROE COUNTY
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 347-1999 adopted by the Board of County
Commissioners on July 22, 1999, established a County policy on flood plain and windload
design standards for all new buildings of2,000 square feet or more in floor area owned by
and constructed for use by Monroe County in order to provide for additional public
refuges oflast resort; and,
WHEREAS, this County policy requires that all such new buildings be
constructed so they can withstand a minimal category five hurricane and thereby serve as
additional public refuges of last resort; and,
WHEREAS, a minimal category five hurricane is defined by the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Scale as having sustained winds in excess of 155 miles per hour; and,
WHEREAS, this policy requires that newly constructed buildings must be
designed and built to withstand wind pressures as measured in a peak three-second gust
velocity of 192 miles per hour, which converts to sustained winds of 155 miles per hour;
and,
WHEREAS, for standard building construction within Monroe County, the
Florida and County Building Code requires new buildings to withstand wind pressures as
measured in a peak three-second gust velocity of 150 miles per hour, which converts to
sustained winds of 122 miles per hour; and,
WHEREAS, the windload construction design standard for County buildings of
2,000 square feet or more set by Resolution No. 347-1999, significantly increases the
construction costs of County projects and may not be technologically feasible for some
types of structures; and,
WHEREAS, the floodplain construction design standards in Resolution 347-1999
require that the finished floor of all new County buildings be one foot higher than the
base flood elevation, which is the minimum level required of all new and substantially
improved structures under the County's floodplain regulations; and,
WHEREAS, the County staff has concerns about the appropriateness and cost-
effectiveness of requiring all County buildings of 2,000 square feet or more to meet such
windload and floodplain construction design standards solely to make these structures
available for refuges of last resort; and,
mewamendres34 7 -1999 .111903
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WHEREAS, the County staff believes that County policies for special windload
and floodplain design construction standards above those found in the Florida Building
Code and County's floodplain regulations are too complex to be simply applied to all
new County-owned or used buildings; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners concurs with the
recommendations of County staff;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1. Resolution 347-1999 is hereby rescinded.
Section 2. The Clerk of the Board is hereby directed to forward one (1) certified
copy each of this Resolution to the County Administrator, Division of Growth
Management, Division of Public Safety, Division of Public Works, Fire Chief, and
Florida Division of Emergency Management.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 19th day of November, A.D., 2003.
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Mayor Murrary E. Nelson
Mayor Pro Tern David P. Rice
Commissioner Charles "Sonny" McCoy
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner Dixie Spehar
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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Mayor/Chairman
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MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY
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ZANNE A. l:JT ON
ASSISTANT ~N~ ATTORNEY
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mewamendres34 7 -1999 .111903
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