HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem J4 J4
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
December 10, 2025
Agenda Item Number: J4
2023-4895
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: Planning & Environmental Resources
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Emily Schemper
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Discussion and Direction Regarding a Potential State of Florida
Administration Commission Agenda Item on the December 17, 2025, Meeting of the Florida Governor
and Cabinet (Florida Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner of Agriculture)
Relating to State Administration Commission Approval of the Up To 900 Additional ROGO
Allocations Approved by the Governor and Legislature To Be Distributed in the Florida Keys Area
Based Upon the Proportion of Vacant Buildable Parcels in Each Jurisdiction as Provided by Section
22., Chapter 2025-190, Laws of Florida (a/k/a Senate Bill 180).
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The Governor and Legislature enacted Senate Bill 180 (Chapter 2025-190, Laws of Florida) in the 2025
legislative session and included an increase in the required hurricane evacuation clearance time from 24
hours to 24.5 hours, and allowed up to 900 additional ROGO allocations Keys-wide to be distributed
based on the proportion of vacant buildable parcels in each jurisdiction.
SB 180, Section 22.:
The Department of Commerce shall conduct baseline modeling scenarios and gather data in order to
determine a number of building permit allocations to be distributed in the Florida Keys Area based
upon the hurricane evacuation clearance time provided in s. 380.0552(9)(a), Florida Statutes, as
amended by this act. The permit allocations must be distributed to counties and municipalities based on
the number of vacant buildable lots within each jurisdiction. The permit allocations must be distributed
over a period of at least 10 years but may not exceed 900 total permit allocations. All permits must be
issued for vacant, buildable parcels, of which only one may be awarded for any individual parcel, and
the distribution of which must prioritize allocations for owner-occupied residences, affordable housing,
and workforce housing.
As directed by the Board, professional staff have been working on draft amendments to the County's
Comprehensive Plan that would both redistribute a portion of Monroe County's Administrative Relief
allocations (as was requested last year by the Governor's Office and the executive branch Florida
Department of Commerce), and to distribute Monroe County's share of the 900 new ROGO allocations
from SB 180 according to the parameters set within the legislation(prioritizing workforce housing, limit
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of one allocation per buildable parcel, minimum 10-year distribution period).
In June, County professional staff met with the Florida Department of Commerce to request
confirmation that Monroe County's share of the 900 allocations is 588, based on each jurisdiction's
reported vacant parcel numbers, and confirmation that the County may proceed with the proposed
Comprehensive Plan amendment. At that time, the Florida Department of Commerce stated that they
were still processing the evacuation modeling update required by SB 180 and looking into the options
for distribution of the units.
On October 1, County professional staff attended meetings with the Florida Department of Commerce
and with the Governor's Office in Tallahassee to follow up on that earlier conversation. County
professional staff stressed the urgency of the matter, due to the minimum amount of time needed to
process a Comprehensive Plan amendment, and the need for the amendment to be completed prior to
July 12, 2026, at which time the County will not have any more ROGO allocations to award to permit
applicants without a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. At that time, the Florida Department of
Commerce did confirm that they have now completed the required hurricane evacuation modeling,
which does show that 900 allocations will "fit" within the new 24.5 clearance time. They also
confirmed that the inputs to the hurricane evacuation model utilized the same vacant parcel numbers
reported by each jurisdiction to distribute the 900 allocations among the jurisdictions. However, County
professional staff did not receive clear direction from Florida Department of Commerce, nor the
Governor's Office, on whether proceeding with a Comprehensive Plan amendment to include 588 new
permit allocations in the County's ROGO system is the more advisable action at this time to "accept"
the County share of the 900 new allocations.
The Florida Department of Commerce and the Governor's Office both indicated the requirement to go
to the Administration Commission for approval of any new allocations. They also mentioned they may
seek rule-making, which could take one to two years.
On October 15, 2025, at their regular meeting, the Board directed County professional staff to proceed
with the required Comprehensive Plan amendments with two options: 1) distribute a portion of Monroe
County's Administrative Relief allocations to extend ROGO for one additional year; or 2) distribute a
portion of Monroe County's Administrative Relief allocations AND distribute Monroe County's share
of the 900 new ROGO allocations from SB 180 according to the parameters of SB 180, and including a
new market rate workforce category of housing. County professional staff are moving both options
through the public process for Comprehensive Plan amendments and, as directed, will bring the items to
the Board for consideration after March 2026 when the 2026 legislative session has concluded.
County professional staff are still awaiting clear direction from the State on whether a Comprehensive
Plan amendment to include 588 new permit allocations in the County's ROGO system is the more
advisable action at this time to "accept" the County's share of the 900 new allocations. There is a
possibility that the State will include an item on the Administration Commission agenda at the
next meeting of the Governor and Cabinet - December 17, 2025. County professional staff are
seeking direction from the Board on any steps to be taken in anticipation of such potential agenda
item.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
1353
INSURANCE REQUIRED:
No
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
DOCUMENTATION:
Chapter 2025-190 Laws of Florida - Section 22.pdf
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
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Can. 2025-190 LAWS OF FLORIDA Ch. 025-190
Section 22. The Department of Commerce shall conduct baseline
mmmodelin scenarios a�ather data in order to determine a number of
building permit allocations to be distributed in the Florida Keys Area based
upon the hurricane evacuation clearance time provided in s. 3 0.0552(9)(a),
Florida. Statutes, as amended by this act. The permit allocations must be
distributed to counties and municipalities lased on the number of vacant
buildable lots within each jurisdiction. The permit allocations must be
distributed over a, period of at least 10 years but .may not exceed 900 total
permmit allocations. All permits must be issued for vacant, buildable arcels,
of which only one may be awarded for any individual parcel, and the
distribution of which....:must....prioritizeallocations, .. for....owner occ:u;p1ed:....re i....
dpncps, affordable hom ding, and workforce housing,
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