R96-027RESOLUTION NO. R96-~'
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, REQUESTING
THE 1996 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE
ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE PRESERVATION AND
REPAIR OF THE STATE'S BEACHES, TO RECOGNIZE
THE NEED FOR FUNDING NON-FEDERAL PROJECTS
AND TO IDENTIFY A LONG-TERM DEDICATED
FUNDING SOURCE
WHEREAS, Florida's beaches are an important part of the quality of life of this
community, providing aesthetic, environmental, hurricane mitigation and recreational
benefits
our residents and tourists; and
WHEREAS, beaches continue to be Florida's number one tourist attraction and
are thus vital to our economic well-being, generating over $9 billion in beach-related
sales annually and contributing to a ripple effect to the Florida Economy of over $16
billion; and
WHEREAS, the City of Boynton Beach recognizes that severe beach erosion
continues to be a major problem in Florida, with coastal development threatening this
important natural resource; and
WHEREAS, federal funding for beach and inlet projects is declining, resulting
in delays in implementing needed erosion projects and putting more pressure on state
and local sources; and
WHEREAS, since navigation inlets cause some 80% of beach erosion in
Florida, the most cost-effective way to reduce erosion is to recapture sand from inlets
and place it on the eroded downdrift beaches; and
WHEREAS, as a long standing policy, the Legislature has given priority to
funding those beach and inlet projects which have substantial federal matching money;
and
WHEREAS, the state legislature has historically demonstrated a commitment
to the preservation of Florida's beaches, and now must recognize the critical
environmental and economic need to maintain or repair our beaches, with or without
the financial assistance of the federal government.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, THAT:
Section 1. The City of Boynton Beach requests that the State Legislature
provide adequate annual funding to carry out a statewide comprehensive beach
management program to protect Florida's remaining pristine beaches and repair those
that are severely damaged, and consider the Department of Environmental Protection
1996-97 budget request of $36.8 million.
~ The City of Boynton Beach further requests that since navigation
inlets are the primary cause of beach erosion in Florida that the Legislature, in its
beach management funding strategy, give equal priority to inlet sand bypassing as it
does to traditional beach nourishment projects.
Section 3. That the City of Boynton Beach further requests that in cases
where the federal government has not yet appropriated matching funds for projects,
and where local governments are willing to "loan" the federal share in order to deal
quickly with an urgent erosion problem, the Legislature, as a matter of policy, will
consider such "loans" by local governments to be the equivalent of the federal
matching share for the project.
Section 4. That the City of Boynton Beach requests that the State Legislature
give serious consideration to identification of and dedication of a fair and stable source
of long-term funding to fully implement a statewide beach management program for
preserving and restoring Florida's threatened sandy beaches.
Section 5. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this
Resolution upon passage to all members of the Palm Beach County legislative
delegation, Senator Jim Scott, Senator Mario Diaz-Ballart, Senator W.D, Childers,
Rep. Peter Wallace, Rep. Buss Richie, and Rep. Randy Mackey.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ~ day of March, 1996.
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
Maygr~~'~
ATTEST:
Cit]~Clerk
Commissioner
Rec. BeachProjeets
2/28/96