HomeMy WebLinkAbout18-241RESOLUTION NO. 18-241
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN SUPPORT OF REAUTHORIZATION OF
AND FULL FUNDING FOR THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made the
following determinations:
1. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), established by Congress in 1964, is one of
the most successful government programs in preserving our country's precious natural and
cultural resources and improving equitable access to the outdoors in urban and rural
communities, which is essential to Florida's health, culture, jobs and economic opportunities
and the future of our children and grandchildren.
2. The LWCF has been instrumental in creating opportunities for Floridians in urban, suburban,
and rural areas to get outdoors. Over the past 54 years, LWCF funds have provided more than
$1 billion to protect Florida's outdoor places, promote water resources and healthy ecosystems
and increase sportsmen's access and opportunity. LWCF has been a critical tool in conserving
Florida's national parks and historic sites; national wildlife refuges; watersheds and rivers;
forests; wildlife areas; and state and local parks as well as trails and ball fields.
3. The LWCF takes a portion of royalties from offshore oil and gas development and invests that
money in protecting America's important public lands and waterways for future generations
-- be that an iconic national park or an urban playground.
4. The LWCF is based on the simple premise that as we extract natural resources that belong to
our nation, such as offshore oil and gas, we should in turn protect and invest in onshore
and coastal resources for future generations.
5. Though LWCF is authorized to receive $900 million annually, this cap has been met only
twice during the program's nearly five decades of existence and, instead of being fully
funded, nearly every year Congress diverts much of this funding to purposes other than
conserving our most important lands and waters.
6. Despite receiving only a fraction of its intended funding over the last 54 years, LWCF has led
to the protection of land in every state and nearly every county in America, has improved
access to these public lands, and has provided matching grants for the creation of more than
41,000 state and local park projects.
7. The LWCF supports and maintains the economic assets that our federal, state and local
public lands and waterways represent. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, paddling and other
outdoor recreation activities contribute a total of $58.6 billion annually to Florida's economy
and support 485,000 jobs in our state, which generates $17.9 billion in wages and salaries and
also adds $3.5 billion to state and local tax bases. (Source: Outdoor Industry Association, 2017).
Whether manufacturing, retail or service related, many of these jobs are sustainable
resource -based and/or tourism -based jobs that cannot be outsourced to other countries.
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8. The LWCF funds have been essential to protecting Florida's wildlife and habitat, providing hundreds
of millions of dollars that have been used for restoration of the Everglades National Park, Everglades
National Wildlife Refuge, Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, Osceola National
Forest, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Florida
National Scenic Trail among others. The Land and Water Conservation Fund not only helps fund
Florida's iconic national parks and wildlife preserves, but also provides money for sportsmen's
access including funding of fishing piers and boat ramps across the state. All of these projects help
support local jobs and promote Florida's outdoor recreation economy.
9. Florida has received more than 500 state side LWCF grants to local governments and state
parks, totaling over $131 million and impacting every county in Florida.
10. Over the last 54 years, LWCF funding has contributed to the enhancement of local parks,
sports fields, walking trails and other recreational opportunities that are part of the fabric of
St. Lucie County including providing essential funding for:
0 Savannas Recreation Area
• Jetty Park
• St. Lucie County Recreational Development project
0 Surfside Park
0 Pepper Beach Park
0 Heathcote Botanical Gardens
11. Local parks, trails, and recreation projects dependent upon LWCF funding are help contribute
to the health, well-being and quality of life of Florida families.
12. The Land and Water Conservation Fund was initially authorized by the President and Congress
over 50 years ago and expired on September 30, 2018.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie
County, Florida:
1. This Board does hereby expresses support for and urges Congress to act swiftly to enact
permanent reauthorization and full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund given the
important contributions it makes to our nation's and Florida's economic well-being,
recreational access to our nation's natural treasures
2. This Board also directs the County Administrator to forward a copy of this resolution to the
entire Florida Congressional Delegation to show support for the permanent reauthorization and
full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
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After motion and second the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Commissioner Linda Bartz, Chair
Commissioner Cathy Townsend, Vice Chair
Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky
Commissioner Sean Mitchell
Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson
Passed and duly adopted this 4th day of December, 2018.
ATTEST:
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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APPROV D AS TO FORM ND
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COUNTY ATTORN