Res No 267-10-13301RESOLUTION No. 267-10-13301
A Resolution of the Mayor and Commission of the City of
South Miami fully supporting the continued restoration of
America's Everglades and endorsing the National Park
Service's recommendation to bridge an additional 5.5. miles of
the Tamiami Trail; and providing an effective date.
WHEREAS, the South Miami City Commission recognizes that the restoration of
America's Everglades is critical to the long -term sustainability of south Florida's economy,
quality of life and environment; and
WHEREAS, the two -lane Tamiami Trail highway (U.S. 41), constructed in the 1928 to
link Tampa to Miami, acts as a dam, blocking vital water flows from the greater Everglades into
Everglades National Park and Florida Bay; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. National Park Service, the Skyway Coalition,
the South Miami City Commission, and others recognize that in order to protect and enhance the
biological resources of Everglades National Park and Florida Bay and fully restore the
Everglades, an 11 -mile section of the Tamiami Trail bordering Everglades National Park must be
I
ridged to the greatest extent practicable to allow water to freely flow into the Park; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress directed the National Park Service to "immediately
evaluate the feasibility of additional bridge length beyond that to be constructed pursuant to the
Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park Project (16 U.S.C. 410r -8), including a
continuous bridge, or additional bridges or some combination thereof, for the Tamiami Trail to
restore more natural water flow to Everglades National Park (ENP) and Florida Bay and for the
purpose of restoring habitat within the Park and the ecological connectivity between the Park and
the Water Conservation Areas" through the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 1105; Pub.
L. 111 -008, dated March 11, 2009); and
WHEREAS, the National Park Service has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the Tamiami Trail Modification: Next Steps projects, as directed by
Congress, which identifies 5.5 miles of additional bridging as the preferred alternative; and
WHEREAS, the National Park Service's preferred alternative, alternative 6E, will
provide the largest measurable environmental benefits to the Everglades ecosystem and a
significant boost to South Florida's economy; and
WHEREAS, preferred alternative 6E will create key jobs in South Florida's engineering
and construction sectors; and
WHEREAS, preferred alternative 6E will enhance the unique biological resources that
attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world to Everglades National Park
each year; and
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Res. No. 267 -10 -13301
WHEREAS, preferred alternative 6E seamlessly integrates with the one -mile bridge
project currently under construction to restore water flow through the historic River of Grass and
to provide maximal environmental benefits to Everglades National Park, the State of Florida's
Water Conservation Areas and Florida Bay.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and City Commission of South
Miami, Florida that:
SECTION 1. The South Miami City Commission fully supports the continued restoration
of America's Everglades and endorses the National Park Service's preferred alternative 6E, as
described in the May 2010 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Tamiami Trail
Modifications: Next Steps project, which recommends 5.5 miles of additional bridging on the
Tamiami Trail;
SECTION 2. The City Clerk of South Miami will forward a copy of this resolution to
Dan Kimball, Superintendent of Everglades National Park,
SECTION 3. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
DULY PASSED AND ADOPTED on this 7 day of December, 2010.
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND SUFFICIENCY:
ATTORNEY CITY
W:Vvty DocumentsVesolutionAResotution EvergladesSkyway.Stoddard.doc
APPROVED:
COMMISSION VOTE: 4 -0
Mayor Stoddard:
Yea
Vice Mayor Newman:
Yea
Commissioner Beasley:
Yea
Commissioner Palmer
absent
Commissioner Harris:
Yea
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