6RESOLUTION
3
4 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
5 OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, URGING THE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT A
6 $2.00 PER DAY CAR RENTAL SURCHARGE TO SAVE TRI -RAIL FROM
7 DEFAULT; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
8
9 WHEREAS, Tri -Rail provides passenger service for the residents of Miami -Dade, Broward and
10 Palm Beach Counties, who account for 30% of the population of the State of Florida; and
11
12 WHEREAS, the population in Miami -Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties has increased
13 10% in ten years, while Tri -Rail ridership has increased by 77 %; and
14
15 WHEREAS, Tri -Rail is recognized as the spine of the Miami -Dade, Broward and Palm Beach
16 Counties transit system, providing passenger commuter service from the Magonia Park Station (four
17 miles north of West Palm Beach) to the Miami International Airport Intermodal Center — a distance of 72
18 miles; and
19
20 WHEREAS, Tri -Rail connects to transit service to all three of Southeast Florida's International
21 Airports; and
22
23 WHEREAS, Tri -Rail riders have connecting service throughout Miami -Dade, Broward and Palm
24 Beach Counties via the three counties bus systems and Metrorail in Miami; and
25
26 WHEREAS, Tri -Rail provides passenger stations in the cities of West Palm Beach, Lake Worth,
27 Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale,
28 Hollywood, Opa -Locka and Hialeah; and
29
30 WHEREAS, these cities future growths are dependent on transit oriented development around its
31 Tri -Rail Station; and
32
33 WHEREAS, two thousand businesses in Miami -Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties
34 participate in the Tri -Rail Employee Discount Program; and
35
36 WHEREAS, 75% of Tri -Rail riders are choice riders, i.e. they do not have to use Tri -Rail, but
37 choose to use Tri -Rail; and
38
39 WHEREAS, almost every Tri -Rail rider takes a motor vehicle off the road, thereby reducing
40 traffic congestion, dependency on foreign oil, and pollutants in the air; and
41
42 WHEREAS, Tri - Rail's success in reducing headways from one hour or more to 20 minutes in
43 the busy morning and afternoon commuting hours has increased operating costs faster than passenger
44 fares can offset; and
45
46 WHEREAS, Tri -Rail implemented a 25% across - the -board rider fare increase to offset increased
47 operating expenses related to double tracking and increasing weekday service from 30 trains to 50 trains;
48 and
49
50 WHEREAS, Miami -Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties have been forced to reduce their
51 voluntary extra subsidies to Tri -Rail on account of declining property tax revenues; and
52
53 WHEREAS, Tri -Rail is in imminent danger of default; and
54
55 WHEREAS, Tri - Rail's default will severely disrupt transportation throughout Miami -Dade,
56 Broward and Palm Beach Counties; and
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
WHEREAS, the State of Florida will be held responsible for repaying a $256 million grant when
Tri -Rail dafaults.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1: That the foregoing "Whereas" clauses are ratified and confirmed as being true
and correct.
Section 2: That the City Commission of the City of South Miami, Miami -Dade County,
Florida, hereby calls upon the Honorable Governor Charlie Crist, Florida Senate President, Jeff Atwater,
and Florida Speaker of the House, Larry Cretulto call a special session of the Florida Legislature to enact
funding mechanisms earmarked for support of Tri -Rail, including a $2.00 per day rental car surcharge,
with the exception that such surcharge shall not apply to a person renting a car as a substitute vehicle,
while such person's motor vehicle is down for maintenance or repair.
Section 3: That the City Clerk is authorized and instructed to provide electronic copies of
this Resolution to the Honorable Governor Charlie Crist, Florida Senate President, Jeff Atwater, and
Florida Speaker of the House, Larry Cretul, the Florida League of Cities, the Miami -Dade County League
of Cities, and each of the several cities, towns and villages of Miami -Dade, Broward and Palm Beach
Counties.
Section 4: This resolution shall be effective immediately.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2010.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
CITY CLERK MAYOR
CITY ATTORNEY
Commission Vote:
Mayor Feliu:
Vice Mayor Beasley:
Commissioner Sellars
Commissioner Palmer:
Commissioner Newman: