HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MONROE COUNTY BOCC FEBRUARY MEETING IN KEY WEST

KEY WEST – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners held their latest monthly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, at the Harvey Government Center in Key West.

Here are a few highlights:

TEMPORARY HOUSING TRAILER PERMIT REGULATIONS

The Commission directed County staff to work on adding a second 180-day extension period to its Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code for permits to place temporary trailers on private property for emergency housing after a natural or manmade disaster in unincorporated Monroe County.  These permits are issued by the County Building Department. The current regulations allow for a 180-day permit with one 180-day extension if homeowners provide documentation they are moving forward on repairs or rebuilding of their damaged or destroyed home.

The Commissioners also addressed the issue of people living in FEMA trailers. Even with the extension, FEMA requires that all FEMA-issued trailers must be transported out of Monroe County by June 1, 2018, the start of hurricane season, due to federal floodplain policy. The Commission directed County staff to set up a meeting with FEMA and State officials to discuss this issue.

People who could become displaced out of a FEMA trailer due to this rule could put a private trailer in its place or seek rental assistance or direct lease with FEMA if they are eligible.

There is also possible help for people trying to find housing or get help with rebuilding efforts through non-profits and government programs. Contact Matt Massoud with Monroe County Social Services at [email protected].

BOCC APPROVES SITE FOR TINY HOME

The Commission approved three County-owned properties in the Lower Keys as sites on which to build “Tiny Homes.” These homes will serve as models for possible code compliant, small modular units that can be built elsewhere in the Keys as affordable alternative housing solutions. Different types of tiny homes will be built on each site.

This is being done to help people whose mobile home or other type of home was destroyed during Hurricane Irma – or whose home was substantially damaged and cannot be repaired due to federal floodplain rules – and are finding that the cost is prohibitive to rebuild a conventional home to meet today’s building codes in the Keys.

The selected sites are on Ramrod Key, next to the Cudjoe Key Fire Station/Sheriff’s Office substation and next to the Big Coppitt Key Fire Station.

The County will issue a Request for Proposals in March for vendors to build the “Tiny Home” models. Funding for construction has not been identified yet, but the County will begin soliciting sources of funding, including from charitable foundations. Different types of tiny homes will be built so that people can have a choice and see what type of tiny home might work best for a person’s budget.

FREE RESIDENTIAL HURRICANE DEBRIS DISPOSAL AT COUNTY TRANSFER STATIONS ENDS MARCH 24

The Commission approved continuing to waive the disposal fees for residential hurricane debris at its three County transfer stations until March 24, 2018.

After that date, the County will resume its disposal fee at the regular rate of $123.50 per ton.

Monroe County also will continue to support groups that want to do community cleanups of areas that big equipment couldn’t reach following Hurricane Irma.

If you are planning a community cleanup in unincorporated Monroe County and need Monroe County public works’ support for pickup of the collected debris or disposal at a County transfer station, please contact Monroe County Solid Waste at least a week in advance of the cleanup at 305-292-4536 to schedule.

Monroe County is proud of the community’s willingness and self-help attitude to support the Keys’ recovery.

RESOLUTION REGARDING IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH LAWS

The Commission passed a resolution urging the United States Congress and the Florida Legislature to consider legislation to improve our mental health laws to create a comprehensive system for investigating and reporting concerns regarding potential violence to law enforcement and provide additional funding for mental health programs.

MONROE COUNTY SIGN CODE

The Commission directed County legal staff to move forward on drafting proposed amendments to Monroe County’s Sign Code to make it constitutional.  These proposed amendments are based on preliminary review of the Sign Code by outside legal counsel that the County hired in 2016. This was in response to the U.S. Supreme Court case of Reed v. Town of Gilbert. This case dealt with the constitutionality of that town’s Sign Code and has led to many local governments around the country reviewing their own sign codes.

CARD SOUND ROAD TOLL

The Commission heard information about the future cost of capital projects to repave and to replace the Card Sound Road Bridge and four other smaller County bridges in North Key Largo. This information will be used to set the new toll rates at next month’s BOCC meeting, which will be held at the Murray Nelson Government and Cultural Center in Key Largo.

The old tollbooth, in which tolls were hand-collected for decades, was demolished last year to make way for an All Electronic Tolling System. The new system is expected to begin operation on June 2, 2018. The new toll will accept SunPassâ or drivers will receive a bill in the mail by TOLL-BY-PLATE.

There will be a discounted annual pass and a frequent-user monthly rebate program for people who travel through the toll often. The toll has been $1.00 per two-axel vehicle for decades, but likely will be increased to meet the future capital projects to repair and replace the bridges.

BOCC APPROVES FLORIDA BOATER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANT AGREEMENTS

The BOCC approved two grant agreements with the Florida Boater Improvement Program.

One grant will provide 75 percent funding, up to $37,500, for the replacement of the boat ramp concrete above high mean water at Harry Harris Park in Tavernier. Monroe County would provide 25 percent matching funds, or $12,500. The ramp has worn smooth over the years and is at the end of its usable life.

The other grant will provide 75 percent funding, up to $75,000, for boat ramp repair and dock construction at the Gulf View boat ramp at the end of Barcelona Drive on Big Coppitt Key. Monroe County will provide matching funds of 25 percent ($25,000).

The BOCC also passed a resolution to support Project Management submitting grant applications with the Florida Boater Improvement Program for two projects of $200,000 each. They are installation of a boat dock and parking lot repairs at the Geiger Key Boat Ramp and installation of boater educational and safety kiosks at all Monroe County boat ramps. The County’s Project Management applied for these same two grants during the 2017-18 grant cycle, but was denied funding.

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