Item E4
,-
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: AUGUST 17, 2000 Division: TDC
Bulk Item: Yes XXX No
Department:
N/A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Approval of resolution supporting Florida Scenic Highway Designation
ITEM BACKGROUND:
See Attached.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
BOCC at their meeting of June 21, 2000 requested that the Monroe
County's section of the 18 Mile Stretch be included in the resolution.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve original resolution
TOTAL COST:$
BUDGETED:
COST TO COUNTY: $
/TOURIST PAY
APPROVED BY: County Attorney _ OMB/Purchasing_ Risk Management
DIVISION APPROVAL:
Lynda M. Stuart
(Type/print name)
DOCUMENTATION: Included: X To Follow: Not Required
Agenda Item # J....M
THE FLORIDA KEYS & KEY WEST
Come as you are T"
P.O. Box 866, Key West, Florida 33041 U.S.A. (305) 296-1552 fax: (305) 296-0788
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
July 20, 2000
TO:
Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
FROM:
Captain Bill Wickers, Chairman
RE:
Resolution supporting - Florida Scenic Highway Designation
The TDC at their meeting of June 19th, 2000 unanimously approved a Resolution supporting local efforts to
seek Florida Scenic Highway designation for the Florida Keys Overseas Highway. The resolution was brought
forward to the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at their June 21st, 2000 meeting for approval.
The BOCC requested that the Monroe County's section of the 18 Mile Street be included in the Resolution.
At the July 19th, 2000 meeting, the TDC discussed this issue in length and concurred with the Chair of the
Florida Keys Scenic Highway Project (copy of her memo attached). The Monroe County Tourist Development
Council decided to leave the Resolution as it stands.
Attachments (resolution and memo from J. Helbing)
P.O. Box 866, Key West, Florida 33041 U.S.A. (305) 296-1552 fax: (305) 296-0788
htt,,://www.fla-ke!Js.com KeysSales@PoLcom
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF MONROE
COUNTY SUPPORTING LOCAL EFFORTS TO SEEK FLORIDA SCENIC -
HIGHWAY DESIGNATION FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS OVERSEAS
HIGHWAY
WHEREAS, the Florida Scenic Highway Program has been developed by the
State of Florida Department of Transportation to recognize highways that provide a
window into Florida's heritage and beauty; and
WHEREAS, the program was designed to preserve, maintain, protect and
enhance Florida's outstanding cultural, historical, archeological, recreational, natural and
scenic resources through a grassroots effort of community support; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys Overseas Highway has been recognized as an
official Florida Greenway; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys Scenic Highway Project has been organized within
Monroe County to undertake the designation process and to coordinate the compilation of
program documentation; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County Tourist Development Council wishes to request the
Monroe County Board of Commissioners to support the efforts to seek the Florida Scenic
highway designation for the Florida Keys Overseas Highway:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MONROE COUNTY
TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL:
SECTION I: that local efforts to seek Florida Scenic Highway designation for
the Florida Keys Overseas Highway is hereby approved subject to the approval of the
Monroe County Board of Commissioners.
SECTION II: that this resolution shall go into effect immediately upon its
passage and adoption by the Monroe County Board of Commissioners.
Passed and adopted by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council at a meeting
held this 3rd day of May, 2000.
Chairman
Monroe County Tourist Development Council
ATTEST:
FLORIDA SCENIC HIGHWAY PROJECT
." i July 18, 2000
TO: The Tourist Development Council
FROM: June Helbling, Chair of the Florida Keys Scenic Highway Project
I am sony that I cannot appear before you, but information conveyed to me regarding the
status of the IDC Scenic Highway Resolution alarms me greatly and I would ask that this
statement be read into the minutes.
It is my understanding that the IDC resolution that was presented to the BOCC was
rejected by the BOCC because they wanted to amend the boundaries of the scenic highway
designation to include the I8-mile stretch.
I can tell you as the Chair of the Florida Keys Scenic Highway Project; the community
advocacy group that I presently lead will not amend the eligibility document that has been
t -. .-. -.-. - '..,' '-
under construction for the last. sii'Ye?rs.' Wben-c\ve started tfiis project' we 'made a
conscious decision to avoid contro'versy-at- all cost. We-wanfecnfils project to be positively
received by all parts of the County, and believe it or not, I think we have been successful as
far as that goes. We did not want any part of the "four lane, three lane, two lane" battle.
The eligibility document in its final form was submitted to the District 6 office of DOT six
weeks ago for review. Weare hoping that the Scenic Highways Advisory Committee will
give it a favorable recommendation at their August meeting and issue the all-important
Letter of Eligibility. This letter will instruct my group to initiate the designation phase and
begin preparation of the corridor management plan, (the last requirement prior to
designation) .
The change that is now being suggested by the BOCC is the kiss of death for me and my
dedicated group of/ocal advocates. A designation can always be extended to include more
miles at some future date. We have worked too hard and too long. We cannot deal with
another hurtle at this late stage.
As the person who first brought the idea of the scenic highway to the Keys and the person
who has not faltered in her dedication to this program, I cannot, and I will not recommend
any change to the eligibility document at this time. I urge you to again present the
resolution to the BOCC as it was originally written.
Thank you for your consideration, and I again apologize for not being able to be present at
this meeting.
Respectively submitted,
June Helbling