Agenda 04/28/2009 Item #10A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners adopts a Resolution in
opposition to drilling for natural gas and oil withiu three miles of the shoreline of Florida.
OBJECTIVE: For the Board of County Commissioners to approve a resolution in opposition
to offshore drilling for natural gas and oil off the coast of Florida.
CONSIDERATIONS: Currently the Florida Legislature is considering House Bill 1219 -
Regulation of State Lands and Oil and Gas Resources - which includes a provision allowing
offshore drilling within three (3) miles off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. As of this writing the
House bill is on Second Reading and has no Senate companion yet.
There has been a great deal of discussion both nationally and within the State of Florida on the
merits of drilling for gas and oil in the Gulf of Mexico. As a coastal tourism destination, this
issue has major impact on our current and future ability to promote our most important visitor
amenity- Collier County's award-winning beaches.
The Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (FACVB) held a workshop on the
subject in September 2008 with representatives of the oil and environmental community. The
F ACVB Board then adopted a position on this subject that is attached to this Executive
Summary.
In short, F ACVB endorses state and federal energy policies allowing the production of oil and
natural gas from existing leases within the Gulf of Mexico out of sight of Florida's coast - at
least 30 miles offshore - under the following conditions:
1. Any Florida offshore drilling must be a component of a comprehensive energy policy
dedicated to reducing America's dependence on foreign oil.
2. Production facilities must incorporate the most advanced zero discharge natural gas and
oil production systems.
3. The Federal revenue sharing plan affecting Gulf of Mexico resources, which currently
does not include revenue to the state of Florida, must be changed by the U.S. Congress to
include significant revenue to Florida.
4. A five-year moratorium on new leases in the eastern Gulf of Mexico must be established
so State officials can evaluate oil production safety and impact on Florida's natural
resources. This moratorium should permit exploration by seismic and geophysical
scientific testing to identify potential future oil and natural gas reserves.
5. The military mission of the U.S. Department of Defense must have first priority in the
Gulf of Mexico.
The U.S. Congress has now proposed new oil and gas drilling to occur within three miles of the
coast of Florida. This action poses a major threat to Florida's tourism industry, the state's
number one economic generator. At a time of critical economic uncertainty, this action will
devastate Florida's ability to compete in the global tourism market place.
ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION: The Collier County TDC reviewed the
F ACVB position on offshore drilling at their November 24, 2008 meeting and recommended ( 7-
1) that the County Commission adopt a Resolution supporting the FACVB position, with
provision # 4 deleted which concerns the establishment of a five-year moratorium on new leases
in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The TDC on numerous occasions has opposed drilling closer than
10 miles from shore.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no immediate fiscal impact to this discussion. However, possible
environmental damage to our beaches and inlets from an offshore oil disaster could have
enormous financial impact on tourist tax funds in the future.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed and approved by the County
Attorney's Office, is not quasi-judicial and requires no ex parte disclosure, requires only a
majority vote for approval, and is otherwise legally sufficient for Board action.-SRT
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no impact to the Growth Management Plan
related to this action.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners adopts the Resolution
opposing offshore drilling for natural gas and oil, and authorizes the Chairman to sign the
Resolution which when executed will be transmitted to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President
Jeff Atwater, Speaker of the House Larry Cretul, the Collier County Legislative Delegation, and
the Florida Association of Counties.
PREPARED BY: Jack Wert, Tourism Director
RESOLUTION 2009-_
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A RESOLUTION OF THE COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS IN OPPOSITION TO PASSAGE OF FLORIDA HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES BILL 1219 (DB 1219) THAT WOULD ALLOW NEAR-
SHORE OIL DRILLING THREE MILES OFF THE FLORIDA COAST AND
AUTHORIZING THE COUNT COMMISSION CHAIRMAN TO TRANSMIT
THIS RESOLUTION TO STATE REPRESENTATIVES.
WHEREAS, Florida's economy depends on its multi-billion dollar tourism industry,
which resulted in more than 82 million visitors coming to Florida in 2008, during which period
they generated over $4.0 billion in taxable sales; and
WHEREAS, Tax revenues from tourism during 2008 exceeded $1.2 billion and over
31,300 people were directly employed, receiving nearly $900 million in tourism wages, as a
result of the State's tourism industry; and,
WHEREAS the Collier County local hotel tax alone exceeded $14.5 million dollars
during fiscal year 2008; and
WHEREAS, oil and natural gas drilling in waters offthe coast of Florida will increase the
risk of oil pollution on Florida Beaches; and,
WHEREAS the risk to Florida's economy posed by oil and natural gas drilling off of
Florida's coasts is substantial and even a small oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off of Collier
County could be devastating to our most important visitor amenities; and,
WHEREAS, tax revenues generated from Florida's growing tourism industry are critical
to continued funding of essential governmental services, including transportation, schools, and
public safety; and,
WHEREAS, HB 1219, if passed by the State Legislature, would allow for near-shore gas
and oil drilling on submerged stated lands underlying the territorial waters off the State within
three (3) miles off the Florida coast; and,
WHEREAS, HB 1219, if passed by the State Legislature, would permit the installation of
oil rigs, pipelines, and drilling near the beaches and in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico
and other areas ofthe Florida coastline; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of County Commissioners of
Collier County opposes the passage ofHB 1219 during the 2009 legislative session.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of
Collier County shall transmit a copy of this resolution to Governor Charile Crist, Senate
President Jeff Atwater, Speaker of the House, Larry Cretul, the Collier County Legislative
Delegation, and the Florida Association of Counties, as evidence of the County's opposition of
HB 1219.
THIS RESOLUTION ADOPTED this 28th day of April, 2009 after a motion, second and
majority vote favoring same.
ATTEST
DWIGHT E. BROCK, Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
By:
DONNA FIALA, Chairman
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency:
Scott R. Teach,
Deputy County Attorney
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