Park closes, authorities overwhelmed

Migrants hoping to reach the United States by boat have landed at Dry Tortugas National Park. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE/Contributed

DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK TEMPORARILY CLOSES JAN. 2 AFTER 300 MIGRANTS ARRIVE

On Jan. 2 at 8 a.m., Dry Tortugas National Park temporarily closed to public access while law enforcement and medical personnel evaluated, provided care for and coordinated transport to Key West for about 300 migrants who arrived in the park over the past couple of days. The closure, which was expected to last several days, is necessary for the safety of visitors and staff because of the resources and space needed to attend to the migrants. Concession-operated ferry and seaplane services were temporarily suspended.

Like elsewhere in the Florida Keys, the park has recently seen an increase in people arriving by boat from Cuba and landing on the islands of Dry Tortugas National Park. Park first responders provide food, water and basic medical attention until the Department of Homeland Security arrives and takes the lead.

While the park is closed, vessels may seek safe harbor in the designated areas within the one nautical mile anchoring zone around Garden Key, including Bird Key Harbor.

There will be no visitor services available while the closure is in effect and emergency services will be extremely limited.

All closures will remain in place until further notice. Please check “Alerts” on the park website for current information.

In other migrant news…

The U.S. Office of Customs and Border Protection on Jan. 1 reported that 169 migrants had come ashore in the Florida Keys, separate from the 300 in the Dry Tortugas. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was assisting federal law enforcement agents, given the spike in Cuban refugee arrivals since Dec. 31 and continuing into the morning of Jan. 2.

“Refugee arrivals require a lot of resources from the Sheriff’s Office as we help our federal law enforcement partners ensure the migrants are in good health and safe,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “Residents may see an increased amount of law enforcement and emergency responders throughout the county as we continue to respond to these landings.”

The Sheriff’s Office has been told by the U.S. Border Patrol that some migrant landings may have to wait for federal resources to arrive until the following day, aggravating the mass migration crisis in the Keys.

“This shows a lack of a working plan by the federal government to deal with a mass migration issue that was foreseeable,” said Ramsay.

If residents see an arrival occurring, they should notify the Sheriff’s Office and provide a location.

COUNTY’S $2.6 BILLION STORM AND SEA-LEVEL RISE PROJECT SIGNED INTO LAW

A low-lying area of U.S. 1 near Bahia Honda at MM 37 is one of six targets for U.S. 1 stabilization projects. CONTRIBUTED

On Dec. 23, President Joe Biden signed into law authorization of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) $2.6 billion coastal storm and sea-level rise infrastructure resiliency project in the Florida Keys. Appropriations for the project will require annual approvals by Congress.

The county also secured a nearly $1 million initial appropriation, approved in the omnibus spending bill, to fund the planning, engineering and design of six U.S. 1 stabilization projects in the Keys, the first phase of the plan. The plan includes 5,500 feet of the road at Mile Markers 79.5, 70, 70.9, 67, 37, and 34.5, identified as vulnerable to erosion and wave energy. Estimates for the completion of the construction phase of the U.S. 1 stabilization project are $16 million.

With the board of county commissioners’ support, Chief Sustainability Officer Rhonda Haag and Legislative Affairs Director Lisa Tennyson worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and local stakeholders for five years to put this project together, including numerous public meetings. Then they worked to move the project authorization and appropriation through Congressional approval.

Based on the development of a three-year USACE coastal storm risk study, the project plans for the economic, environmental and social effects of coastal storms and sea-level rise and addresses the hardening of U.S. 1, dry floodproofing of critical infrastructure and private commercial buildings, and elevating residential residences. The study did not address the resiliency of locally-maintained roads, which Monroe County completed under a separate study. Future appropriations will allow for the voluntary elevations of up to 4,698 vulnerable residential homes and the dry floodproofing of 1,052 commercial and 53 critical infrastructure buildings susceptible to storm surge damage throughout the Keys. Dry floodproofing allows for essential services to resume more quickly after a storm surge. The total project, including the dry floodproofing and elevations, is estimated at $2.6 billion, to be split 65 percent federal ($1.7 billion) and 35 percent ($893 million) non-federal . Non-federal funds can come from the state, county, municipalities, residents and other non-federal entities. The county is coordinating with the Florida Department of Transportation for the non-federal match for the U.S. 1 stabilization phase. The county also intends to sign sub-agreements with the five municipalities to authorize and fund work within the cities.

“We are committed to making Monroe County as resilient as possible against the effects of future storms and sea-level rise,” said Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi. “This partnership with USACE allows us to tap into federal money to help offset resiliency costs to Florida Keys residents.”

Anew year brought new laws in Florida. Legislation approved by state officials in the House and Senate in 2022, and taking effect in 2023, aim to keep some more money in motorists’ pockets. Other laws seek to cure issues related to workers at apartment complexes and rising insurance costs.

ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS FOR PROPERTY INSURANCE

State legislators were called back twice for special sessions to confront Florida’s property insurance industry problems. Bills addressed a number of issues, which included ending the ability for homeowners to sign over their claims to contractors who pursue payments from insurers. An analysis for Senate Bill 2-A stated that insurers complained about contractors who had property owners sign over their benefits and submitted bills to insurance companies for repair work that, on average, were 30% higher than estimates from vendors without an assignment of benefits. With vendors seeking to extract higher settlements from insurers came more litigation over the vendors’ invoices. Backers of the property insurance bill hammered a statistic that, with roughly 7% of nationwide claims, 76% of homeowners’ lawsuits in the U.S. were filed in Florida.

HIGHWAY TOLL RELIEF

Florida motorists who frequently pass through toll facilities will see some relief, per Senate Bill 6-A. A vehicle with a SunPass tag that records 35 or more transactions per month will be eligible for a 50% credit. State toll facilities include Florida’s Turnpike, which many Upper Keys residents use to drive to airports, stores and hospitals. It also includes the Card Sound Bridge toll that’s used by many workers who live outside the Keys. The state provided $500 million for the program, which goes through Dec. 31, 2023.

BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR APARTMENT WORKERS

Better known as “Miya’s Law,” apartment complexes must now run background checks on prospective custodians, repairmen and other employees before they’re hired. Applicants found guilty or who plead no contest to certain offenses, including violence and disregard for safety, wouldn’t be allowed to work at the facility. Approval of Senate Bill 898 stems from a Sept. 24, 2021 incident involving Valencia College student Miya Marcano. She went missing from her Orlando apartment where she also worked at the front office. She was later found dead miles from her apartment. Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigators said Marcano was taken from her apartment by Armando Caballero, who was a maintenance worker at the same apartment complex. It’s alleged that he had a master key fob for the complex, which allowed him to enter her apartment. Caballero was found dead by apparent suicide days after Marcano went missing.

Legislation also changed the time a landlord must give a tenant some kind of notice to conduct repair work, from 12 hours to 24 hours. And apartments must all maintain a log book for issuance of dwelling unit keys.

NEWBORN SCREENINGS

Hospitals and other state-licensed birthing facilities must now test newborns for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), should the infant fail a screening for hearing loss before the newborn is 21 days old. For babies born at home or in a licensed birth center, the bill requires the newborn’s primary health care provider to refer the infant for a CMV test seven days after birth if he or she fails a hearing test. Cytomegalovirus is a common virus for people of all ages; however, a healthy person’s immune system usually keeps the virus from causing illness. In the United States, nearly one in three children are already infected with CMV by age 5. Some babies with congenital CMV infection have health problems that are apparent at birth or that develop later during infancy or childhood. In the most severe cases, CMV can cause the death of an unborn baby (pregnancy loss).

LEGAL NOTICES

House Bill 7049 gives governments the choice to publish legal notices on a publicly accessible website of a county instead of a print newspaper under specified conditions. However, local governments with fewer than 160,000 people must hold a public hearing to determine whether its residents have sufficient access to the internet before going fully electronic. In November, Monroe County commissioners and County Attorney Bob Shillinger discussed whether it should make the move. Commissioners were open to the idea, but nothing has been locally approved yet.

PUBLIC OFFICERS & LOBBYING

Public officials won’t be able to lobby during office and six years after leaving office. The amendment to the state constitution was approved by Florida voters in 2018. It took effect Dec. 31, 2022 and affected a number of elected officials across the state. Elected officials in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach filed a lawsuit in an effort to block the new law, according to the Miami Herald. That request was denied, but arguments are expected to be heard Jan. 27.

SCHOOL BOOK SELECTIONS

House Bill 1467 increases the transparency and accountability for selecting and using instructional materials and library materials in schools. It forces certain school district instructional material review committee meetings to be noticed and open to the public. It also mandates school district personnel who are involved in reviewing and selecting certain instructional materials and library materials to complete training developed by the Department of Education on selecting quality, age-appropriate books, prior to making selections.

NEW YEAR, NEW LAWS

Lobbying restrictions, toll relief & insurance fixes to take effect

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation enacting new property insurance reforms, as well as $750 million in relief for communities affected by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in December 2022. GOVERNOR’S OFFICE/ Contributed

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ROMAN GASTESI’S 2022 YEAR IN REVIEW

As we enter a milestone year for Monroe County in 2023, our commissioners and staff continue to enhance the quality of the lives of our citizens, business owners and visitors. I am honored to serve as Monroe County Administrator for the past 14½ years, and I am proud of the remarkable accomplishments of our commissioners and 623 part-time and full-time employees in 2022.

Since the creation of Monroe County on July 3, 1823, transportation and the environment have been at the forefront of our citizen’s minds, and it still rings true today. This year, the County hired a transit director with a three-year plan to work with the municipalities on transportation woes throughout the Florida Keys. With resident participation, Planning and Environmental Services submitted the top transportation priorities to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), with many of the ideas incorporated into FDOT’s five-year work plan.

The Sustainability Office and our commissioners continue to lead the country in climate change and sea-level rise adaptation conversations. The recently completed Roads Elevation Study came in with a $1.6 billion price tag for county-maintained road adaptations subject to sea-level rise by 2045. With Legislative Affairs’ successful utilization of our lobbyists and close collaboration with our state and federal delegation, several “big-picture” long-term projects were approved. For example, Congress recently approved authorization and initial funding of a $2.6 billion U.S. Army Corps of Engineers program in the Florida Keys to improve resiliency by reducing damage and risk from impacts of storms and to guard against potential damage from sea-level rise.

With the help of Other People’s Money, as I like to say, we will continue to chase grants and other funding sources. This year we secured $30 million in state and federal appropriations and numerous additional grants for water quality, bridge replacements, and storm risk mitigation. We will continue to push forward with canal restoration efforts, supporting the health of our nearshore waters. Code Compliance reached an 80 percent connection rate to the central sewer system, with hopes to have all of unincorporated Monroe County hooked up in the next 18 months – another giant leap toward improved water quality in the Florida Keys. Passage of the federal coral reef protection bill authorizing $45 million in annual funding bill caps off our environmental successes this year.

Budget and Finance produced the $519.7 million FY23 budget, which boasts the lowest property tax rate in Florida for another year. Key West International Airport broke ground on a new concourse project that will improve service to the more than one million passengers who pass through the terminal. Project Management completed the Plantation Key Courthouse and Detention Center, the Pine Channel Nature Park, and repaired many of the county’s properties damaged in previous storms. Parks and Beaches, a relatively new department, is outfitting beaches with mobility mats and sand wheelchairs and adding accessible swings at playgrounds, taking us one step closer to making recreational opportunities truly for everyone. The Permitting Department successfully implemented an all-online permitting system earlier this year, creating a more streamlined process.

To make the community safer, the new Emergency Operations Center in Marathon will be home to Emergency Management, Fire Rescue headquarters, and the Sheriff’s Office dispatch center. Emergency Management activated for two storms in 2022, and 18 of our firefighters, our public information officer, and I deployed to help our northern neighbors in DeSoto County after Hurricane Ian.

Engineering and Roads focused on completing bridge projects and significant road improvements in Key West and throughout the county. Monroe County Fire Rescue’s Trauma Star provided a record number of life-saving flights to the mainland while transporting our residents with no out-of-pocket costs. The fifth “Hot Shots” firefighter training class graduated – a program that waives tuition for residents. Unincorporated Monroe County continues to hold on to one of the best ratings in the Community Rating System, saving flood insurance policyholders millions of dollars annually in the Florida Keys.

Solid Waste championed a “Put a Lid on It” event in endangered Key Deer areas, and staff collected about 1.8 million pounds of locally produced debris in three weeks by Ian. Strategic Planning gathered new information on community priorities to incorporate into a refreshed 2023 strategic plan. Veterans Affairs secured more than $5 million in annual disability payments for local Veterans, and Social Services and Guardian ad Litem advocated for our most vulnerable residents, from our youngest to our oldest. For those with a green thumb, the Extension Service guided residents in learning about local flora, fauna and other vital Keys resources.

CAPTAIN JOEL’S FISHIN’ HOLES

FOCUS SHIFTS WITH CLOSURE OF GROUPER SEASON

Happy New Year! We hope 2023 will be a great year for everyone. Grouper CAPT. JOEL BRANDENBURG season is closed from Jan. 1 to April 30. This …is a fifth-genera- closure includes tion Floridian and red, black, gag, second-generation fishing captain who owns and operates Ana red hind, scamp and yellowedge grouper. Most Banana Fish- of our bottom ing Company in fishing efforts Marathon. His passions include fishing, hunting and spending time will be focused on mutton snapper, amber with his family. jack and cobia. Many clients who come down to the Florida Keys want to get enough meat to fill a cooler, and some want enough meat to fill a dinner plate. Since most of the groupers we would target are now out of season, we’ll focus a lot of our “meat hunts” on mangrove, yellowtail and lane snapper trips. We have several spots up and down the Seven Mile Bridge to target these species of snapper and also catch yellow jack, muttons, permit, pompano, mackerel and grunts.

The best tide for fishing the Seven Mile Bridge is a slack or slack-ish outgoing tide on the gulf side or slack or slack-ish incoming tide on the Atlantic side. We like to fish with our baits drifting away from the bridge rather than into the bridge, and we chum a LOT. If you see Bermuda chubs come into your chum line, that means the snapper bite will turn on – but no chubs means that not many hungry snapper will show up.

We like to flat line with appropriately weighted larva hooks or jig heads with a live shrimp tipped on the hook. We like to hook the shrimp under the chin, through the head, in front of the brain and make the hook even with the horn of the shrimp’s head. This keeps the shrimp lively and streamlined so as it goes with the flow through the water column it looks like it’s swimming naturally to the game

Monster mangrove snappers near the Seven Mile Bridge make for happy customers. CONTRIBUTED

fish. Bait hooking techniques, light knots and light line all matter when trying the tough task of fooling Mother Nature.

Try to pick spots near the bridge that have ledges and holes. Yellowtail snapper season is open year round. They have to be 12 inches or bigger to keep, measured, like all snapper and grouper, from the tip of the bottom lip to the tip of the pinched tail down the lateral line of the fish. A quick helpful tip: most 5-gallon buckets have a 12-inch diameter, so many times we put a yellowtail’s nose on one edge. If its tail hangs over the opposite edge of the top diameter, we know it’s a keeper. The yellowtail limit is 10 per person per day, not to exceed a boat aggregate of 50.

Mangrove snapper limits get a little more complicated. If you’re harvesting mangrove snapper on the gulf side, you can keep up to five fish per person per day at 10 inches or bigger. The Atlantic side is up to 10 fish per person at 12 inches or bigger. So if you’re targeting mangrove snapper, start in the gulf, transfer to the Atlantic, and get pulled over with 10-inch mangrove snapper, you are breaking the law. On the other hand, if you start in the Atlantic and you transfer to the gulf, get pulled over, and have more than five mangrove snapper per person, you’re also breaking the law. I’ve never been able to get a good answer for this dilemma, but just know it’s an issue.

Have an awesome 2023!

To book a charter with Ana Banana, call or text Capt. Joel at 813-267-4401 or Capt. Jojo at 305879-0564, or visit anabananafishing. com.

MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT THERESA AXFORD REVIEWS 2022

The Monroe County School District has had an amazing year with a number of accomplishments to share.

Notably, the school district has an interim agreement with SPGL to build 90 units of affordable housing for teachers and staff on Trumbo Point in Key West. Although there are still a number of hurdles to jump, it’s a great start. It has taken hours of work to get to this point and we hope to have shovels in the ground sometime in 2023.

The school board granted each teacher an unprecedented $5,000 raise in November. (This was in addition to the raise they received in August, which amounted to about $2,800 per teacher, for an overall total raise of $7,800). All other employees received an additional $2,600 in November and nearly the same amount in August. I applaud the board for endeavoring to help bridge the gap between the annual median income in Monroe County, which is $100,500, and teachers’ starting salary of $56,800. These efforts must continue if we are going to hire and retain qualified staff.

One of the best things going forward is the district’s new and well-developed strategic plan. This took the last six months of 2022 to complete. The plan was developed in hours of meetings with all stakeholders, many of whom participated virtually to ensure everyone had a voice in the process. It is a flight plan for the future and will ensure our success. The completed plan will be housed on our website at keysschools.com. The board and the community will receive regular updates on progress.

The school district also unveiled a new smartphone app known as “My MCSD” that offers all the information anyone needs to navigate the school system. Parents can check their students’ grades, schedules and attendance. They can access calendars for all school events and lunch schedules. Push notifications will notify them of any emergency issues. If they have students in two different schools, they can get all the information in the same app by toggling to the other school. Student information is available to parents through their FOCUS log-in; however, all other information about the district is available to community members as well.

Our focus on environmental education is another great plus for the district. We have developed a curriculum to educate all students (pre-K through 12th grade) on the importance of protecting our natural resources. The curriculum was developed with the help of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, but our partnerships extend to others, including the Coral Reef Restoration Foundation, NOAA, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, United Way and Reef Relief.

Another school enhancement occurred with the addition of a much-needed elementary wing at Sugarloaf School, where I spent 20 years of my career.

The school board members toured the new facility on Dec. 6 and were thrilled to see the classrooms and other amenities that will benefit students and teachers.

The Monroe Occupation and Vocational Experiences (MOVE) program has expanded and continues to grow. Through our partnerships with local businesses, district students are finding opportunities to learn important workplace skills. Through the MOVE program, businesses can train prospective employees before they enter the workforce, reducing the costs of new employee training and employee turnover.

Our sports programs were stellar throughout the year and achievements are too multiple to name here. The Keys Weekly’s Sports Wrap reporters Tracy and Sean McDonald have masterfully covered our athletes and programs.

But I would like to thank each of our athletic directors and coaches for their relentless efforts to coordinate all of our teams.

Lastly, the class of 2022 received community scholarships in the amount of $2.6 million. Hats off to our community for its support of students. I know scholarship money comes from multiple fundraisers throughout the year and hours of dedicated work by volunteers. We are beyond grateful for this support. In addition, these same students received other scholarships totaling $4.5 million, for a grand total of $7.1 million.

We enjoy our work in providing educational services for the students in Monroe County and the school district staff plans to actualize our new mission statement each day in the coming year:

“Working together to inspire and bring excellence to every student every day.”

Happy New Year!

9805 Overseas Hwy., Marathon Tuesday, January 10, 2023 5:30 P.M. (*Denotes Item Is Passed By Consent Upon Approval of Agenda) Public Comments taken on all times and at 6:30pm time certain for items not on the agenda or as soon as possible thereafter of after the last agenda item; whichever comes first.

City Council Items

*A. Approval of Minutes B. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service C. BPAS Fee Discussion (Councilmember Smith) (Continued from December 13, 2022) D. Non-Profit Grants Discussion/County’s Procedures (Councilmember Still) (Continued from December 13, 2022)

City Manager Report

*A. MCSO Marathon Substation Report *B. Grants Update *C. Building Report *D. Park and Recreation Report *E. Marathon Fire Rescue Report *F. Marina Report *G. Code Report *H. Wastewater Utilities Report *I. Public Works Report J. Council Update And Request For Specific Direction Concerning The Amendment Of The City’s Building Permit Fee Schedule (Continued Discussion From December 13th Meeting). K. Permission To Develop A Scope Of Work And Estimated Costs, Seek Bids, And Develop Contracts Intended To Replace The Air Conditioning System At City Hall.

Quasi-Judicial Public Hearings:

A. Resolution 2023-01 Consideration Of A Request For A Conditional Use Permit For A Plat And Site Plan Approval As Submitted By QOF, Inc. For A Plat Pursuant To Chapter 102, Article 10 Of The City Of Marathon Land Development Regulation (LDRS) Entitled “Subdivision Of Land/Plats And Re-Plats,” Particularly, 4800 Overseas Hwy Unit 14 Which Is Described As Thompson And Adams Subdivision PB2-24, Part Lot 4 And Adjacent Filled Bay Bottom And Adjacent Bay Bottom (A/K/A Parcel D & Bay Bottom Parcel A), Section 10, Township 66 South, Range 32 East, Key Vaca, Marathon, Monroe County, Florida, Having Real Estate Number 00327140-000200. Nearest Mile Marker 50.

B. Resolution 2023-02 Consideration Of A Request By David Crum For A Conditional Use Permit, Pursuant To Chapter 102, Article 13 Of The City Of Marathon Land Development Regulations (“the Code”) Entitled “Conditional Use Permits”, Authorizing The Development Of A Restaurant/Bar, Marina/Boat Rentals, Retail Shop/Convenience Store, and Affordable Housing Units At The Property Located At Vacant Land Overseas Highway, Which Is Legally Described As 11 66 32 Key Vaccas Part Government Lot 2 and Bay Bottom North Of And Adjacent To Part Lot 2, Marathon, Monroe County, Florida, Having Real Estate Number 00103770-000000. Nearest Mile Marker 50.

Ordinances for First Public Hearing

A. Ordinance 2023-01, Amending The City’s Code Of Ordinances, Chapter 26, “Streets, Sidewalks, And Other Public Places.” In Order To Modify A Portion Of The Chapter, To Add A New Article Iv, And Renumber Articles And Sections; Accordingly, And Providing For An Effective Date.

Resolutions For Adoption

*A. Resolution 2023-03 Authorizing The Purchase Of Cancer Decontamination Equipment And Installation Fees For Station 14, In An Amount Not To Exceed $37,995.00.; Authorizing The City Manager To Appropriate Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.

*B. Resolution 2023-04 Awarding The Contract For Modification The Area 3 Vacuum Main To Reynolds Construction, LLC In An Amount Not To Exceed $39,890.00; Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into Agreements In Connection Therewith, Appropriating And Expending Budgeted Funds; And Providing For An Effective Date.

C. Resolution 2023-05,Adopting A Fee Schedule For The Donation Of Moneys Either For The Land Acquisition Or For Affordable Housing As Provided In Section 107.09 1. And 2. “Lot Dedication Or Cash In-Lieu Of Dedication,” As Part Of The BPAS Scoring System; Providing For An Effective Date.

*D. Resolution 2023-06, Approving The Professional Service Agreement Between The City And Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. For Civil Engineering Design Services Associated With The Re-Development of the Quay Property In An Amount Not To Exceed $99,910.00; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Contract And Expend Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.

*E. Resolution 2023-07, Approving The Professional Service Agreement Between The City And Cummins Cederberg Costal & Marine Engineering. For Marine Engineering Design Services Associated With The Re-Development of the Quay Property In An Amount Not To Exceed $129,400.00; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Contract And Expend Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.

*F. Resolution 2023-08, Approving A Standard Local Agency Program Agreement Between The City Of Marathon And The Florida Department Of Transportation To Receive Federal Funds For The Replacement Of the 117th Street Bridge; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Agreement And Expend Budgeted Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.

*G. Resolution 2023-09, Approving A Lease Agreement Between The City Of Marathon And The Florida Department Of Transportation For The Utilization Of Property Owned By FDOT within The Limits Of The Seven Mile Marina Property; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Agreement And Expend Budgeted Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.

*H. Resolution 2023-10, Approving A Change Order To The City’s Contract With Brightview Landscape Services In the Amount of $132,592.42 For The Renovation/Restoration Of The North And South Baseball/Softball Fields At Community Park As Required To Accommodate The Junior And Senior Divisions Of The Little League Program; Authorizing The City Manager To Execute The Agreement And Expend Budgeted Funds On Behalf Of The City; And Providing For An Effective Date.

*I. Resolution 2023-11, Approving A Lease Agreement Between The City Of Marathon, Florida And Pigeon Key Foundation For A Term Of Three Years With Rights Of Lease Extensions In Three-Year Increments; Providing For Term, Rent, Utility Considerations, Use Provisions And Restrictions; Providing For Lessor And Lessee Responsibilities; Providing For Indemnification And Insurance Requirements; And Providing For An Effective Date.

K. Resolution 2023-12, Approving A Resolution And Settlement Agreement Between The Parties Identified As The City Of Marathon, Florida, The Florida Department Of Economic Opportunity, And Boat Works Investments LLC Concerning The Project Known As Boatworks; And Providing For An Effective Date.

Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at such hearing or meeting, one will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose that person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made; such record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. ADA Assistance: Anyone needing special assistance at the City Council hearing due to disability should contact the City of Marathon City Attorney at (305) 289-4130 at least five days prior thereto. Please contact the City Clerk at clavierd@ci.marathon.fl.us if you would like to receive any of the items on the agenda by email.