Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 04-19-NW Florida Greenway Project — reading text

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CRESTVIEW, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING CONSERVATION OF THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA GREENWAY FROM APALACmCOLA NATIONAL FOREST TO EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTn'" E DATE. WHEREAS, the City of Crestview has long recognized the significant and abundant natural areas, natural resources and historic ties to the land through natural resource- based activities and industries of northwestern Florida; and WHEREAS, mainstays of northwest Florida' s economy have included such resource based activities as agriculture, hunting, fishing, tourism, timber and military operations, and the City of Crestview seeks to continue those beneficial activities into the future; and WHEREAS, northwest Florida is host to five Air Force and Navy installations, and is critically important to maintenance of our nation' s military readiness, and including a Joint Gulf Range Complex, represents the largest military and test and training complex supporting our Armed Forces; and WHEREAS, northwest Florida is also one of six centers of diversity of plant and animal species, or biological " hot spots" in the nation due to the region' s extensive biodiversity and risk of loss of these natural areas to incompatible development; and WHEREAS, incompatible development of the lands in northwest Florida could restrict use of the low-level flyways and hinder realistic military testing and training; and habitat ftagmentation and loss could threaten northwest Florida' s rich natural environment, thereby diminishing its natural resources and the economy which depends on those resources; and WHEREAS, the failure to conserve landscape- scale natural areas couId lead to the loss of many threatened and endangered plant and animal species and their habitats, thereby diminishing the region' s spectacular biodiversity; and WHEREAS, on November 12, 2003, a Memorandum of Partnership between the U. S. Department of Defense, the State of Florida, and the Florida Chapter of The Nature Conservancy was signed pledging cooperative work to implement measures necessary to protect a land and airspace corridor extending ftom the Apalachicola National Forest to Eglin Air Force Base referred to as the Northwest Florida Greenway, from incompatible development that could threaten the region' s biodiversity or limit the military' s mission; and WHEREAS, the City of Crestview agrees that preservation of the northwest Florida Greenway corridor would serve to promote the sustainability of the military mission for national defense in northwest Florida, protect the lands that will sustain the high biodiversity of the regio~ link protected natural areas, preserve water resources and provide recreatio~ and strengthen the economic mainstays, including agricultural, tourism and military operations.  A c wl NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CRESTVIEW, FLORIDA THAT: 1. The City Council supports efforts, including the Northwest Florida Greenway 1emorandum of Partnership and subsequent agreements and measures, that will protect a land and airspace corridor extending ITom Apalachicola National Forest to Eglin Air Force Base ITom unconstrained, incompatible development. 2. The City Council will work cooperatively to achieve protection of the Northwest Florida Greenway corridor to support the region' s rich biodiversity, the economy and the military' s ability to ensure the preparedness of the nation' s Armed Forces. 3. The City Council detennines that protection of the Northwest Florida Greenway corridor is a high priority, and will support efforts that can help achieve these stated goals. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY THIS 14th DAY OF JUNE, 2004. COUNCn., Attest: ELLIS H. CONNER Council President I r., , 1/ 1) / . f'_ ti f) ; CUA-' d/ '-.::: iO I;. u ': CE F. J City Clerk YOUNfJ APR- 30- 2004 FRI 09: 39 AM ADMINISTRATION I H. R. FAX ~ O, 850 ~ 8977 P, 02 i IeS'o 4~(}~ # 0 r; IJ Resolution 2004- _ b/~ tJ &~ RESOLUTION OF WALTON COUNTY, FLORIDA SUPPORTING CONSERVATION OF THE NORTHWEt_ FLORIDA GREENWAY FROM AP ALACHICOLA NATIONAL FOREST TO EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE WHEREAS, Walton County has long recognized the significant and abundant natural areas, natural resources and historic ties to the land through natural .resource- based activities and i.ndustries of northwestenl Florida; and WHEREAS, .m.ainstays of northwest Florida' s economy bave included such resource- based activities as agriculture, hunting, tishing, touriSln, timber and military operations) and Walton COWlty seeks to continue those beneficial activities into the future; and WHEREAS, nortbwest Florida is host to five Air Force and Navy installations, and is critically importan.t to maintenance of our nation' s military readiness, and including a Joint Gulf Range Complex, represents the largest military and test and training complex supporting our Anned Forces; and WHEREAS, northwest Florida is also one of six centers of diversity of plant and animal species, or biological " bot spots" in the nation due to the region' s extensive biodiversity and risk of loss of these natural areas to incompatible development; and WHEREAS, incompatible developm.ent of the lands in northwest Florida could restrict use of Jaw- level flyways and binder realistic military testing and training; and habitat tiagmentation and Joss could threaten northwest Florida' s rich natural environment, the.reby dhl1inishing its natural resources and.the economy which depends on those resources; and WHEREAS, failure to conserve landscape- scale natural areas could lead to the loss of many threatened and endangered plant and animal species and their habitats, thereby diminishing the region' s spectacular biodiversity; and WJ.IEREAS, on November 12. 2003, a Mco}orandum of Partnership between the U.S. Department of Defense, the State of Florida,and the Florida Chapter of The Nature Conservancy was signed pledging cooperative work to iInplement measures necessary to protect a land and airspace corridor extending fronl the Apalachicola National Forest to Eglin Air Force Base, referred to as the Northwest Florida Greenway. nom incompatibJe development that could threaten the region' s biodiversity or limit the military' s mission; and APR- 30- 2004 FRI 09: 40 AM ADMINISTRATION / H. R. FAX NO. 850 ~ 8977 P. 03 WHEREAS, Walton County agrees tbat preservation of the Northwest Florida Greenway corridor would serve to promote the sustainability of the military mission for national defense in northwest Florida, protect the lands that will sustain dIe high biodiversity of the region, link protected natural areas, preserve water resources and provide recreation, and strengthen the economic mainstays, including agricultural, tourism and military operations; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY the watton County Board of Commissioners, that: The Walton County Board of Commissioners support efforts, including the Northwest Florida Greenway Memorandum of Partnership and subsequent agreements and measures, that will protect a land and airspace corridor extending from Apalachicola National Forest to Eglin Air Force Base trom unconstrained, incom:patible development. TIle Walton Connty Board ofComnUssioners will work cooperatively to achieve protection of the Northwest }."Iorida Greenway corridor through planning, support of land acquisitions, conservation and other such efforts as necessary to support the region'Js rich biodiversity, the economy and the military' s ability to ensure the pre.paredness of the nation' s Anned Forces. TIle Walton County Board of Commissioners determines that protection of the Northwest Florida Greenway corridor is a high priority, and directs its members to support efforts that can bel p acbieve these stated goals. DULY ADOPTED on April 13, 2004 by tbe Walton County Board of Commissioners during Regular Session. APPROVED: Larry D. Jones, Chairman Walton County, Florida ATTEST: Martha Il1g] e, Clerk