Resolution 399-1988
Commissioner John Stormont
RESOLUTION NO. 399 - 1988
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMIS-
SIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, REQUESTING
THE DEPARTMENT OF NAVY AND FEDERAL REPRESEN-
TATIVES TO ACCOMMODATE PUBLIC ACCESS TO BOCA
CHICA ROAD AND SEEK ALTERNATE SECURITY
PROCESSES FOR BOCA CHICA NAVAL AIR BASE.
WHEREAS, local governments and the citizens to which local
governments are sworn to protect and benefit are aware of inter-
ests and needs of national security; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County, through its elected governing body,
recognizes the significance of Boca Chica Naval Air Base's
importance both to national security and to the economy of Monroe
County, Florida, and Key West; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida and Monroe County, Florida,
also recognize the significance and importance of isolated
shorelines, marshland, wild life and habitat, and aquatic pur-
suits, in relation to the recreational well being of their
citizens, which may well require a balance between the interest
of federal, state and local governments in their various respon-
sibilities; and
WHEREAS, it has been hithertofore unascertained and undocu-
mented that significant breach of security has taken place at
Boca Chica Naval Air Base; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1.
That the Board of County Commissioners
request and petition the Honorable William L. Ball, III, Secre-
tary of the Navy, the Honorable Lawton M. Chiles, United States
Senate, the Honorable Bob Graham, United States Senate, the
Honorable
Dante
B.
Fascell,
United
States
House
of
Representatives, Captain William J. Denning, Commanding Officer,
Boca Chica Naval Air Base, and Mr. Allen Zuffman, Naval Facility
Engineering Command to exercise and implement all other possible
alternatives to declaration of taking or condemnation by eminent
domain Old Boca Chica Road, owned by Monroe County, Florida to
include but not be limited to:
A. Closing and locking existing security gate entering
from Old Boca Chica Road.
B. Securing by security fence the base side perimeter
bordering Old Boca Chica Road at costs less than appraised
purchase value of Old Boca Chica Road previously offered.
C. Instituting security patrol hitherto unpracticed along
said perimeter; and
Section 2.
That the Department of the Navy consider
deeding or lease to Monroe County, Florida the oceanward land
between mean high tide line to the right-of-way of Old Boca Chica
Road for right of public recreational access for those residents
of Big Coppitt Key, so that Monroe County may itself control
access and utilization of those lands to preserve security yet
continue to provide direly needed recreational space for area
residents.
Section 3.
That Monroe County, Florida, is not satisfied
that alternative security measures have hithertofore been contem-
plated, considered or implemented, nor has invasion or compromise
of security been documented by the Department of the Navy nor has
the Navy hithertofore instituted semblance of even moderate
security patrol, nor in any other measure instituted alternative
security measures, the neglect of which would warrant condemna-
tion or declaration of taking process of public access and
property under a presumption of national security.
Section 4.
That public purpose and responsibility to the
well-being of citizenry must be balanced during peace time
against national security purposes, in that the pursuit of
national security for people devoid of liberty and pursuit of
happiness is contrary to fundamental human rights.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held
on the l6th day of August, A.D., 1988.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By ~~,~~
Mayor a1.rman
2
(SEAL)
Attest :DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
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Distribution:
The Honorable Lawton M. Chiles
United States Senate
Room 250, Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Bob Graham
United States Senate
241 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Dante B. Fascell
United States House of Representatives
2354 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
Captain William J. Denning
Commanding Officer
Boca Chica Naval Air Station
Key West, FL 33040-5000
Mr. Allen Zuffman
Naval Facility Engineering Command
200 Stoval Street
Alexandria, VA 22332-2300
The Honorable William L. Ball, III
Secretary of the Navy
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20305
3
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