​MONROE COUNTY, FL –  The Monroe County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller released an audit of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council’s (TDC) website and digital services. The audit reviewed the services provided by Two Oceans Digital to the TDC as contracted by the Board of County Commissioners over the past three fiscal years (2021-2023).
 
The audit identified 30 findings, including issues with the TDC’s competitive solicitation process and its contract structure with Two Oceans Digital. Key recommendations include re-evaluating the contract and the potential need to re-bid the website services.
 
“We take these audit findings seriously, and in the interest of transparency and accountability, the County Commission will review the audit findings, the current contract, and discuss the appropriate course of action,” said Monroe County Administrator Christine Hurley. “Ensuring the responsible use of public funds is a top priority for Monroe County.”
 
The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners will discuss the audit findings and the TDC’s contract with Two Oceans Digital during its regularly scheduled Nov. 19 meeting. The report can be found at www.monroe-clerk.com/finance-reports. 

​KEY WEST, FL – The 16th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit will be held Dec. 16-18 in Key West at the Casa Marina Resort. Monroe County hosts this year's summit on behalf of the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact. All five local municipalities, Key West, Layton, Marathon, Key Colony Beach, and Islamorada, are joining as co-hosts.
 
Summit speakers and participants will engage in "Keys to Resilience" themed topics for South Florida's resilient future. The theme reflects the Compact's commitment to planning and implementing climate change adaptation and resiliency strategies. Public, nonprofit, and business experts will lead sessions on adaptation and mitigation projects in the Florida Keys and Southeast Florida, cutting-edge modeling tools and the rapidly evolving landscape of sea-level rise. Elected officials and county administrators will discuss the successes and challenges of moving resilience strategies forward.
 
"This year's summit will focus on project implementation to help slow or avoid the effects of climate change and the specific resilience projects that are being implemented locally to manage the effects of the rising seas," said Monroe County Chief Resilience Officer Rhonda Haag. "This unique collaborative effort between the region's four counties was the first of its kind and is now being duplicated in other areas due to its success and effectiveness in developing resilience solutions."
 
The Compact was created in 2010 by Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties to coordinate and collaborate on climate change action across county lines and is internationally recognized as a leading example of regional-scale climate action. The summit is a major annual event, typically bringing together more than 500 thinkers and leaders from business, government, higher education, and nonprofits for discussions and networking. To learn more about the Compact, visit www.southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org.
 
Monroe County previously hosted the annual conference in 2011, 2015, and 2019. To learn more about the summit or to register for the 3-day conference, visit www.southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org/summits. There is a $450 registration fee for the event. Registration closes on Nov. 15. Tickets will not be available at the door.

MARATHON, FL – Monroe County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln cordially invites the community to a public in-person meeting hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Monroe County regarding the future of transportation in the state taking place on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. at the Marathon Government Center.
 
“Imagine if Henry Flagler had invited you to brainstorm the future of transportation,” said Lincoln. “Just like his vision connected the Florida Keys, let’s bridge the gap to 2055 together. Join us for an inspiring session where your input will shape the future of travel. Your ideas matter – let’s build the road ahead.”
 
Community members are invited to participate, and attendees can collaborate with transportation partners on the 2055 Florida Transportation Plan (FTP) update, provide input on the statewide transportation plan development, and learn more about the FTP development process.
 
Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, from 10 a.m. to noon  
Marathon Government Center  
2798 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050  
 
FDOT began the FTP update in May 2024 to develop Florida’s statewide plan guiding our transportation future. Community engagement is critical to the FTP development to ensure that the plan reflects the needs and priorities of Florida’s residents, visitors, and all transportation system users. 
 
In addition to the in-person meeting, a virtual open house will be held Nov. 7-22, 2024, on the FTP website at www.FloridaFTP.com/resources. The virtual open house will include the same presentation materials and an opportunity to provide comments. For more information on the FTP, visit www.floridaftp.com.
 
Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact [email protected] at least seven days before the meeting.  

BIG PINE KEY, FL—Monroe County Fire Rescue is teaming up with the Tunnels to Towers Foundation for its first southernmost 5K event on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 8:30 a.m. at the Big Pine Key Community Park, 31009 Atlantis Drive. The event will complement the 75 other races and tower climbs the nonprofit foundation hosts annually.
 
Tunnels to Towers Foundation has been supporting our nation’s fallen and catastrophically injured first responders, military heroes, and their families since the tragic event of 9/11. The event will honor and celebrate Monroe County’s first responders—fire, police, EMTs, and paramedics—as well as military service heroes who serve, sacrifice, and protect Florida Keys community members every day.
 
“It is our honor to have Tunnels to Towers host an event within Monroe County,” said Deputy Fire Chief RL Colina. “When our community was impacted and we lost one of our own, Tunnels to Towers was there to support our department and the family of fallen firefighter Herve Thomas.”
 
The foundation has provided 1,400 mortgage-free homes to fallen first responder families with young children to date.
 
To register for the 5K, donate, and volunteer, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/BigPineKey/TunneltoTowers5KRunWalkBigPineKeyFL.
 
Registered walkers and runners will have the opportunity to create profile pages that feature their personal photos and individual stories. Additionally, participants can compete to raise funds and recruit friends to their team.   

FLORIDA KEYS, FL--The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is committed to a robust public participation process regarding the state-mandated hurricane evacuation modeling discussions that will continue through January 2025.
 
Survey #5 is currently available and is designed to gauge public opinions and ideas concerning planning considerations for the future growth of the Florida Keys, including how many new residential units are preferred and how they ought to be distributed. The survey will remain open until Friday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.
 
Monroe County community members are invited to take this short survey, the fifth and final of several. The survey can be found directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rogosurvey5 and should take approximately five to six minutes to complete.
 
This and past surveys will help officials learn more about community members' basic knowledge of ROGO/BPAS, how locals live and commute, when residents evacuate during a hurricane, legal considerations, and public opinion on additional residential growth. (Note: The first five questions of each survey are the same.)
 
Monroe County is also hosting several town hall meetings (Nov. 4, 6, 7), an upcoming workshop (Nov. 20), and a special BOCC meeting (Dec. 19) regarding the Dept. of Commerce's hurricane evacuation modeling to gauge public opinions on everything that affects evacuation timing and the number of additional ROGO/BPAS allocations the County and municipalities should request from the State. The hurricane evacuation modeling is based on a Florida Statute requiring that Monroe County residents be able to evacuate the Florida Keys within 24 hours before a storm. To learn more about these terms, view upcoming meeting details, or see past survey results, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/rogo2024.

The Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission gives notice that it is accepting applications for the vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Judge Luis Garcia. All interested applicants, please note the following:
 
1.  Applications for this Sixteenth Circuit Court vacancy must be received no later than the deadline of November 8, 2024 at 5 pm.  Applications shall be delivered pursuant to the instructions set forth in this Notice.  Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. All applicants must have been members of The Florida Bar for at least five (5) years at the time of submission of applications, must be electors of the State of Florida, and must reside within the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit before taking office.
 
2. The application form can be found at:  https://www.flgov.com/judicial-and-judicial-nominating-commission-information/.  Alternate application forms, including older versions, will not be accepted. 
            
3.  To be considered, applicants must, without exception, submit the following:
 
  (a)  a .pdf version of the complete, unredacted application with all attachments delivered by email to the Chair at:  [email protected];
 
  (b)  a .pdf redacted version of the complete application with all attachments, excluding all information deemed confidential and/or exempt under Florida Statutes Chapter 119 (or other applicable public records law), delivered to each Commissioner at the emails listed below.  Each .pdf file should be titled with the applicant’s full name and indicate whether it is the “original” or “redacted” copy.  Please combine the application and all attachments into a single .pdf file;
 
  (c)  all letters of recommendation in your possession that you wish the Commission to consider shall be included as attachments to the original application and the redacted copy;
 
  (d)  the financial disclosure information requested in the application, inclusive of a completed Form 6 (Full and Public Disclosure of Financial Interest), must be submitted as part of the original application and the redacted application;
 
  (e)  a recent photograph of the applicant shall be attached to the original and redacted applications; and,
 
  (f)  any additional information which you feel may be helpful to the Commission in assessing your qualifications shall be included as attachments to the original and the copies of the application.
  
 
4.  Please strictly follow all requests and instructions in this Notice and fully answer all questions in the application; failure to do so could result in your application not being considered.
 
5.  The Commission strongly suggests that you submit your application as soon as it is prepared, and well before the deadline.
 
6.  With the exception of deliberations, all proceedings of the Commission including interviews will be open to the public.  Accordingly, and subject to applicable Florida Statutes, you should not expect your application and information to be kept confidential.  All meetings will be publically noticed at a future date. 
 
8.  If an applicant is nominated, all materials attached to the original application will be submitted to the Governor’s Office.  Please note that the Governor’s Office may request additional copies of same.
 
9.  Please contact the Chair of the Commission with any questions about the application process at:
 
Bob Shillinger
Monroe County Attorney’s Office
1111 12th Street, Suite 408
Key West, FL 33040
Phone (305) 292-3470
Fax     (305) 292-3516
Email:  [email protected]