The agenda for the January 20, 2016 Monroe County Board of County Commissioners is now available on the county website at http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/01202016-137.

The meeting will be held at the Marathon Government Center (2798 Overseas Highway, Marathon), beginning at 9 a.m.

Agenda items include:

• A proposal to explore the use of a relatively new state statute that allows local governments to enact an “Emergency Fire Rescue Services and Facilities” sales surtax of up to one penny. The money raised must be used to reduce property taxes. In Monroe County, a penny surtax would raise approximately $34 million, with tourists paying about 60 percent (about $20.4 million). In 2014, fire rescue services throughout the Keys cost $29 million, which was entirely funded by property taxes. The statute does not say what can be done with any extra revenue raised from the surtax. The proposal suggests looking into the possibility of using it for unmet social services.

• Third opportunity for public input regarding the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s proposed “Vacant Lot Retirement and Hotel Unit Allocation Rule.” This proposed rule allows up to three Keys communities to be granted a combined 300 hotel units in exchange for giving up development rights on private residential property that meets certain environmental criteria. This is done at a 3:1 ratio, with three private lots losing development rights for every one hotel unit awarded. One goal of the program is to reduce state and local government exposure to potential lawsuits from taking claims when the county reaches the state-mandated limit of new building permits that can be issued. The DEO is expected to hold initial public input meetings on this proposed rule later this month.

• Approval of County Commission resolution to support the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s 2016 legislative budget request of $13.5 million to repair unsafe historic pedestrian bridges along the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.