Resolution 027-2006 " s
Commissioner George Neugent
RESOLUTION NO. 027 -2006
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
BESEECHING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO ELIMINATE OR REDUCE
SIGNIFICANTLY THE CAMERA POLES INSTALLED
OR PLANNED TO BE INSTALLED ON US HIGHWAY 1
IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.
WHEREAS, the Florida Department Of Transportation, District Six has begun
installation of an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)Project on the "Eighteen-Mile Stretch
and the remainder of US Highway 1 in Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, the County Commission for Monroe County recognizes that the monitoring
of traffic on US Highway 1 throughout the Florida Keys and provision of timely information to
motorists as to traffic delays is a valuable service to both the community and to tourists; and
WHEREAS, the County Commission finds that the addition of poles to accommodate
structures are redundant to existing structures and create an unsightly intrusion on the natural
environment and aesthetic features of the Keys; and
WHEREAS, the County Commission finds that the efforts of the County and
municipalities therein to curtail the negative impacts of signage on the scenic vistas of the Keys
is being contravened by the installation of many camera poles in conjunction with the ITS
project; and
WHEREAS, the County Commission previously asked FDOT to reduce the overhead
signage planned for the ITS project; and
WHEREAS, the County Commission finds that there already exist along US Highway 1
substantial utility poles, some of which could serve as structures upon which to mount the
cameras;
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY THAT:
1. The Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County is opposed to the camera
poles being installed by FDOT along US Highway 1 in the Florida Keys.
2. The Florida Department of Transportation, District Six, is hereby requested to:
A. Consider eliminating most, if not all, of the poles erected or planned to be
erected for cameras in the ITS Project; and
FDOT Camera Pole Res.
B. Consider mounting cameras on poles existing prior to the commencement of
execution of the ITS Project.
3. This Resolution shall become effective upon the date of its adoption herein.
4. The Clerk shall send copies of this Resolution to Representative Ken Sorensen,
Secretary Denver Stutler of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), FDOT
District Six Secretary John Martinez and Director of Operations Gus Pego, as well as the
FDOT District Six Project Manager Dori Vorce and Traffic Operations Engineer Rory
Santana.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida at a regular meeting of said board held on Jan. 18 , 2006.
Mayor McCoy Yes
Mayor Pro Tem Nelson Yes
Commissioner Neugent Yes
Commissioner Rice Yes
Commissioner Spehar Yes
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k Ail 1'bST; ,;.r :% By. J,
4 DAN-NY1L fKOLHAGE, CLERK MAYOR CHARLES" "',ONNY" McCOY
Deputy C erk
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MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY
AP VED AS TO F
ZANNE A. HirtON
ASSISTANT CO NTY A ORNEY
®ate y�U�_•-�
FDOT Camera Pole Res.
JEB BliSH
GOVERNOR
APR 1 0 2006
Florida Department of Transportation--:'~~--'__-===c=,J
District Six
Director of Transportation Operations Office DENVER J. STliTLER, JR.
1000 NW Illth Avenue, Room #6236 SECRETARY
Miami, Fl. 33172-5800
Telephone: 305-470-5466
Facsimile: 305-470-5610
Email address:gus.pcgo(aJdot.state.fl.us
March 31, 2006
Monroe County Board of Commissioners
C/O Mr. Danny L. Kolhage
Clerk of Court
500 Whitehead Street, Suite 101
Key West, Florida 33040
Subject: Monroe County Resolution No. 027-2006
Dear Mr. Kolhage:
This letter is in response to resolution passed by the Monroe County Board of Commissioners at
the January 18, 2006 session and received by the Department on February 27, 2006.
The Department has held numerous public meetings in the Florida Keys and made presentations
to Monroe County and municipal authorities along the Keys for the last several years. Project
specific meetings were held in the Upper and Lower Keys and were advertised to residents during
the Spring of2005.
The Department has made every attempt feasible to address the concerns raised by the
Commission throughout its construction. At the request of the Commission, the Department
modified and reduced significantly the number of dynamic message structures, selected colors
that would blend in more with the Keys environment and researched the possibility of using
existing poles to reduce the number of camera poles needed for this project. Due to numerous
safety and operational constraints, the use of existing poles such as the utility poles was deemed
unfeasible.
The number of camera poles being installed, which includes five being installed at Card Sound
Road at the request of Monroe County, is relatively minimal when considering the coverage area
(120 miles). To ensure adequate coverage, the cameras are spaced approximately three miles
apart. In some locations due to utility conflicts on both sides of the roadway, a few poles needed
to be installed in the median.
The Monroe County Commission recognizes in its resolution the importance of monitoring traffic
on US Highway I throughout the Florida Keys and the provision of timely information to
motorists is a valuable service to both the community and tourists. The placement of these
cameras is necessary to provide the coverage area necessary to detect incidents and aid in
expediting emergency response. The Department has a responsibility to ensure a safe and
efficient transportation system for all users of the transportation system.
www.dot.state.fl.us
Page 2
Mr. Kolhage
March 31, 2006
As a result, the Department is unable to reduce the number of camera poles without
compromising this responsibility and the overall effectiveness of this project.
Construction of this project is almost completed with the system being operational by June 2006.
Should you or any of the Monroe County Commissioners have any questions, do not hesitate to
contact me. We would like to take this opportunity, to invite again the Commissioners and staff
to tour our Traffic Management Center whenever they are in Miami. If I can be of further
service, please advise.
~in:ere ,
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Director of Transportation Operations
Cc: John Martinez, P.E., Rory Santana, P.E., Jesus Martinez, P.E.
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