Public Notice Meeting hosted by Monroe County and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on August 1 Key West Beachside Marriot Hotel 3841 North Roosevelt Blvd Key West, FL 33040 Aug. 1, 2023 10 a.m. to noon Meeting is open to the public or can be viewed via Monroe County channels: Monroe County Television (MCTV) www.monroecounty-fl.gov/mctv, Comcast Channel 76, AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, Hotwire Fision TV Channel 1615, Roku, and Amazon FireTV. Meeting to discuss administration and disbursement of $10 million for Monroe County habitat support structures Agenda:
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MONROE COUNTY, FL – On Wednesday, Monroe County Attorney Bob Shillinger and County Administrator Roman Gastesi updated the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on the County's recent meeting with the Acting FEMA Region IV Administrator Robert Samaam and his staff in Atlanta regarding the County's request to change certain floodplain regulations. Members of the public, the construction industry, and real estate professionals were involved in the discussion and provided input, suggestions, and questions regarding the potential changes to the BOCC. Shillinger and Gastesi relayed that the FEMA discussion focused on three issues the County faces with floodplain management: 1) the County's FIRM date (1973 versus 1975), 2) the restriction that limits downstairs enclosures to no more than 299 square feet (299 rule), and 3) the Inspection Upon Transfer of Ownership program. Unincorporated Monroe County is the only community in the Florida Keys restricted to 299 square feet, while the municipalities allow up to the full space underneath a structure as enclosable storage space. The 299 square foot limitation was agreed to by the County in 2004 as part of a remedial plan that was adopted to avoid being placed on probation and ultimate suspension from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) due to poor enforcement efforts of the minimum standards required for participation in the NFIP. FEMA's minimum standards were adopted to minimize the loss of life and costs of cleanup that would be incurred if homeowners were allowed to convert their downstairs enclosures into habitable living spaces. "The FEMA administrator expressed concerns that the community could backslide into a state of non-compliance similar to what led to the imposition of the remedial plan in the first place," said Shillinger. "We want to ensure we do not jeopardize our community's ability to participate in the NFIP." Currently, 1,913 (16 percent) of 11,796 NFIP-insured properties in unincorporated Monroe County are listed on FEMA's National Violation Tracker. At the meeting yesterday, the BOCC took input from the community about potential changes to the County's floodplain ordinance. Those suggestions will be incorporated into future negotiations with FEMA and may lead to ordinance changes that will be considered at future public hearings. Shillinger has been working with the National Association of Realtors legal staff regarding changes to the Inspection Upon Transfer of Ownership program that should address stakeholders' concerns. He also said County staff is working with FEMA to resolve the dispute regarding the correct FIRM date – 1973 or 1975. The BOCC also approved a resolution limiting liability for home sellers and buyers who may be affected by the Inspection Upon Transfer program in the ordinance to Jan. 31, 2024. The BOCC approved a similar resolution in March due to the inability of the Building Department to staff the inspection program. Since the BOCC is looking to make changes to the inspection program, they voted to extend the resolution, which was scheduled to sunset on Sept. 1, 2023. The resolution recognizes a defense to a code violation for homeowners who fail to obtain an inspection of their downstairs enclosures prior to the sale of their home. That requirement was adopted in 2012 to help ensure buyers were fully aware of the legality of the downstairs enclosures of homes they were buying. REMINDER: REENTRY STICKER VEHICLE WINDSHIELD DECALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MONROE COUNTY RESIDENTS7/20/2023 MONROE COUNTY, FL – Hurricane season is here. Monroe County residents are reminded to pick up one reentry sticker for each registered vehicle by providing proof of residency at a Monroe County Tax Collector’s office. Proof of residency includes a Florida Driver’s License or a property bill with a local address, and vehicle registration. For homeowners with a vehicle registered outside of Monroe County, bring your local property tax bill with the out-of-county vehicle registration. A decal is not required for reentry, proof of residency can be provided at the checkpoint; however, stickers make reentry easier if checkpoints are required to ensure safe reentry into the Florida Keys following a destructive storm. The sticker is color-coded for zone-by-zone reentry. Monroe County reentry stickers are barcoded to verify authenticity. Lower Keys residents from the south end of the 7 Mile Bridge to Stock Island (MM 40 to MM 4) are dark pink, Middle Keys residents from the south end of the Long Key Bridge to the north end of the 7 Mile Bridge (MM 64 to MM 47) are aqua, and Upper Keys residents from the county line including Ocean Reef to the north end of the Long Key Bridge (MM 113 to MM 64) have a purple decal. The City of Key West has its own sticker, which is white. If City of Key West residents already have a Key West reentry decal (no barcode), they do not need to pick up a new one. WHERE TO GET REENTRY STICKERS Residents from Ocean Reef to Stock Island: Stickers are available at the Monroe County Tax Collector’s office from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tax Collector Locations:
Residents in Ocean Reef: Stickers are available at Ocean Reef Public Safety, 110 Anchor Dr., Key Largo. Residents in Key West: STICKERS ARE THE SAME. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THE WHITE STICKER, YOU DO NOT NEED A NEW ONE. If you do not already have a reentry sticker, they are available at Key West City Hall, 1300 White St., or the Key West Police Department, 1604 North Roosevelt Blvd, and the tax collector’s main office at 1200 Truman Ave, Ste 101. The hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. Stickers are available throughout the year but do not wait until a storm is approaching to pick up a sticker. Stickers will not be available once a state of emergency is declared in Monroe County, which occurs several days before a storm is forecast to strike. For more information on reentry after a storm, visit www.monroecountyem.com/reentrystickers. COMMISSIONERS DISCUSS FISCAL YEAR 2024 AT BUDGET WORKSHOP; APPROVE FY24 PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE7/18/2023 MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners met today to discuss the proposed $667 million Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget. The budget includes the Board of County Commissioners, the constitutional officers, like the Sheriff's Office, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, and Clerk of Court, and other appropriations for the Tourist Development Council, capital projects, and reserves. Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi and Budget and Finance Director Tina Boan presented the tentative budget with FY24 estimates of residential real estate trends, taxable property values, sales taxes, and state shared revenues, along with fund balance, reserves, and general fund. “We are a little county with big county problems plus 5 million visitors a year,” said Gastesi. “This budget continues to meet our increased service demands for our residents, sustainability for our future, public safety, and more.” With the proposed budget and countywide average property values, a homesteaded residential property owner with an average appraised taxable value of $484,735 will see an $11.24 monthly increase in their property tax for the FY24 year with the tentative budget. The taxable value is different from the market value. FY24 budget key points:
FY24 Budget Timeline:
The Monroe County Office of Budget and Finance provides coordination and development of the budget. The award-winning office continues to work with inflation issues and Hurricane Irma and Ian impacts while providing for the department's daily operations, program enhancements, capital projects, and infrastructure improvements. For more information about the budgeting process, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/budget. BIG PINE KEY, FL – Monroe County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln and her aide Jen Garcia visited the culvert installation site on Big Pine Key connecting canals 259 and 263 in the Doctor’s Arm neighborhood on Wednesday. The culvert has already improved water quality by increasing the flushing in the canals allowing a more natural flow of water to the nearshore waters immediately outside the canal mouths. Fish and other wildlife were seen at the site of the once dead-end canals that are now connected underneath the road. The installation was funded in whole by grant money.
TANIA STOUGHTON, FLEET BUSINESS MANAGER, NAMED MONROE COUNTY’S EMPLOYEE OF THE FIRST QUARTER 20237/14/2023 MONROE COUNTY, FL – Tania Stoughton, Fleet Management Business Manager, is named Monroe County’s Employee of the First Quarter for 2023 for exceeding job expectations, noteworthy performance, and her positive impact on her co-workers and community. She started with the County in 2001 to 2004 (her husband was military) and returned to the County in 2011.
Stoughton was nominated by co-worker Generator Technician Lyle Tabb, who said her attention to detail and management of vendor contracts sets Monroe County fleet above the others. Fleet operates and manages County garages, vehicles, fuel, and generators, among other things. “We technicians always have information on the front end, proactively, whenever there is a change or an update,” said Tabb. “She is always professional, precise, and if she doesn’t have an answer right away, she follows up quickly.” Her department director Daryl Greenlee echoed Tabb’s sentiments, adding that she is an asset to the team. “As I have been engaged in special projects, I have assigned Tania additional duties to coordinate and expedite countless requests on my behalf,” he said. “She has helped keep all operations cohesive and flowing.” MONROE COUNTY, FL – On Wednesday, July 19, at approximately 11 a.m., Monroe County Attorney Bob Shillinger and County Administrator Roman Gastesi will update the Board of County Commissioners on the County's recent meeting with the Acting FEMA Region IV Administrator Robert Samaam and his staff in Atlanta regarding the County's request to change certain floodplain regulations. The BOCC meeting is hybrid and can be attended in person at the Marathon Government Center or via Zoom at https://mcbocc.zoom.us/j/82032493400. The Atlanta FEMA discussion focused on three issues the County faces with floodplain management: 1) the County's FIRM date (1973 versus 1975), 2) the restriction that limits downstairs enclosures to no more than 299 square feet (299 rule), and 3) the Inspection Upon Transfer of Ownership program. At Wednesday's meeting, the County would like input and suggestions on potential changes from industry professionals and the public since the acting FEMA Region IV Administrator expressed a willingness to consider alternatives to the 299 rule and Inspection Upon Transfer regulations outlined in the remedial plan. "The FEMA administrator did have concerns that the community could backslide into a state of non-compliance similar to what led to the imposition of the remedial plan in the first place," said Shillinger. "We want to ensure we do not jeopardize our community's ability to participate in the NFIP." Currently, 1,913 (16 percent) of 11,796 NFIP-insured properties in unincorporated Monroe County are listed on FEMA's National Violation Tracker. FEMA put unincorporated Monroe County on the remedial plan to maintain its eligibility in the NFIP after a history of non-compliance led to the County being placed on probation and threatened with expulsion from the NFIP. The Board will consider ideas at the meeting and may incorporate them into future negotiations with FEMA and possible code changes. Any actual code changes will be considered at future public hearings held pursuant to State requirements. Monroe County continues to work on resolving the conflicting FIRM dates of 1973 versus 1975 with FEMA staff but has confirmed that it does not affect the pre-/post-FIRM status of a property for NFIP flood insurance purposes. FLORIDA KEYS -- Monroe County Project Management received good news from the Tourist Development Council that it was awarded bricks-and-mortar grant funding for five projects throughout the Florida Keys totaling $2.28 million. The funding includes two Monroe County Parks and Beaches projects for pool refurbishments at Jacobs Aquatic Center in Key Largo and the construction of a bandshell at Big Pine Key Community Park. Project Management also secured funding for restoring the historical brickwork at Fort East Martello in Key West, along with window and air conditioning unit upgrades on the property, and ADA bathroom improvements at the Key West Lighthouse. “The County appreciates the TDC’s District Advisory Council’s support of these projects,” said Project Management Director Cary Knight. “With the grants, these areas will continue to be great assets for the visitors to the Florida Keys, but they are also places our Florida Keys residents love to enjoy as well. It is a win-win situation for everyone.” The TDC bricks-and-mortar grants are funded through a percentage of the bed taxes charged to those who stay in Florida Keys lodging accommodations and can be used by government and nonprofits to make repairs or upgrades to tourism-related infrastructure. MONROE COUNTY, FL – On Friday, June 30, Monroe County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln was elected as the first vice president of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) at the association’s annual conference in Orlando. Commissioners Holly Merrill Raschein and Jim Scholl were also at the conference. Lincoln previously served as second vice president and sits on many policy committees, including Health, Safety, and Justice and Water and Environmental Sustainability. “Public service is something I truly enjoy,” said Lincoln. “By continuing to serve on the association’s executive committee, I have the opportunity to assist my community in a unique way by being their representation at a state and national level.” In addition to her leadership position at FAC, Lincoln holds an Advanced County Commissioner II designation, the highest level of commissioner education offered by the Institute for County Government. “In recent years, I have seen Commissioner Lincoln step up to the plate for her community,” says FAC Executive Director Ginger Delegal. “Observing her determination to be a leader in the association has proven her as an asset to Florida’s 67 counties.” As first vice president, Lincoln plays a vital role in the association’s advocacy and policy efforts along with representatives from Charlotte, Okeechobee, Pinellas, and Seminole counties. Founded in 1929, FAC has represented the diverse interests of Florida’s counties and Floridians, emphasizing the importance of protecting home rule – the concept that communities and their local leaders should make the decisions that impact their community. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners recognizes its long-term employees for their contributions to the citizens of the County. See below those celebrating milestones this month.
25 Years
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