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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR TO INCORPORATE INTO THE PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACES DEPARTMENT�S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 FEE SCHEDULE A FEE WAIVER ALLOWING QUALIFIED DISABLED VETERANS TO LAUNCH BOATS AT COUNTY-OWNED-AND-OPERATED MARINAS WITHOUT A CHARGE; PROVIDING A DEFINITION OF �QUALIFYING DISABLED VETERAN� FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESOLUTION; DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS BENEFIT IN MARKETING MATERIALS AND LIST THIS BENEFIT IN ANY PRICE LIST DISPLAYED TO THE PUBLIC; AND REQUIRING A REPORT

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WHEREAS, for more than 200 years, individuals from all walks of life have taken up arms and sworn an oath to support and defend the principles upon which our country was founded; and
WHEREAS, throughout our history, courageous men and women have donned the uniform of our Armed Forces and built a noble tradition of faithful and dedicated service to our nation; and
WHEREAS, the commitment of our soldiers, sailors, Air Force members, Marines, and Coast Guard members has preserved our freedoms and saved millions around the world from tyranny; and
WHEREAS, we can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to those heroic men and women who served, and this is particularly the case for those who are wounded in battle; and
WHEREAS, one way that the County can provide a small token of appreciation to disabled veterans is to remove any potential barriers to access the beautiful waters surrounding the County; and
WHEREAS, Florida State Parks and the National Park Service offer programs for free entrance to parks for veterans who have service-connected disabilities; and
WHEREAS, currently under Implementing Order 4-119 there are various fees associated with launching boats at County marinas; and
WHEREAS, this Board would like to recognize the sacrifice of the veterans living in our community who have incurred a disability connected to military service,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. The County Mayor is directed to incorporate into the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department�s proposed Fiscal Year 2022-2023 fee schedule a fee waiver allowing Qualifying Disabled Veterans to launch boats at County-owned-and-operated marinas without a charge.
Section 2. For the purposes of this resolution, a �Qualifying Disabled Veteran� is an individual who (1) served in the U.S. Armed Forces (i.e., the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corp Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve); (2) was not punitively discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, in the case of enlisted personnel, or dismissed in the case of commissioned officers; and (3) has a service-connected disability or a disability that was aggravated by active duty, or is receiving compensation in accordance with the laws provided by the United States Department of Veteran�s Affairs.
Section 3. The County Mayor is directed to include information concerning the benefit set forth in section 1 of this Resolution in relevant marketing materials and to further list said benefit in any price list displayed to the public.
Section 4. The County Mayor shall provide a written report to this Board within 60 days of the effective date of this resolution, which shall be placed on an agenda of the full Board without committee review pursuant to Ordinance 14-65 regarding how the changes outlined in section 1 shall be effectuated, how Qualifying Disabled Veterans will be able to avail themselves of the fee waiver including what will be required to demonstrate eligibility, and how Qualifying Disabled Veterans will be made aware of the program.