On April 17, 2013, the Mayor and City Commission approved Resolution No. 2013-28183, accepting a donation from The Prentice Foundation in the amount of $25,000. As outlined in the Resolution, the funds were intended for the restoration and conservancy of Monument Island and the Flagler Memorial. However, the funding was not utilized.

On December 8, 2021, at the request of Commissioner Samuelian, the Mayor and City Commission approved a referral (C4 Z) to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC) to discuss the use of the funds. At the March 4, 2022 LUSC meeting, the Administration presented the options providing the Sustainability Committee’s recommendation as previously transmitted via LTC#474-2021. Subsequently on April 6, 2022, the Mayor and City Commission discussed options for Monument Island and referred (C4 C) the item to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee. 

On November 16, 2022, Commissioner Meiner referred a discussion of the Marine and Waterfront Protection Authority Board’s recommendation that the City establish a non-motorized Boat Zone in the waters immediately surrounding Monument Island to the Public Safety and Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee (PSNQLC). On February 28, 2023, a PSNQLC motion was passed in support of a FY 2024 capital project for a rip-rap revetment, a non-motorized and swim only zone and restore the ecological function of Monument Island to create a passive use of the island.

The Administration has developed a conceptual scope for an estimated $910,000 FY 2024 Capital Budget request to include design, permitting, and construction of ecological restoration, riprap revetment, and non-motorized vessel/vessel exclusion zone markers surrounding Monument Island.  This passive use of Monument Island would encourage public access but in a way that would reduce the trash and litter left by some boaters.  In addition, preventing boats from beaching on the island would help support the protection of remaining seagrasses and encourage recruitment of new seagrasses, essential for the ecosystem function of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve.  

The Administration acknowledges the recommendation of  the Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee motion to prioritize this proposed FY 2024 capital project for a riprap revetment, a non-motorized and swim-only zone to create a passive use of Monument Island and restore the ecological function. This, along with other Commission and Administration enhancement priorities will be reviewed and decided through the FY 23-24 Budget process.