Res No 228-14-14322RESOLUTION NO.228-14-14322
A Resolution of theCity of SouthMiami ("City")callingfora South Florida
Sea Level Rise and Climate Change Congress that will include local,state,
and federal elected officials meeting to propose constructive solutions tosea
level rise and climate change.
WHEREAS,numerousstudieshaveestablishedthatSouthFloridaiscomprised of some
of the world's mostvulnerableareastotheimpacts of climatechangeasthewarming Earth's
meltingicecapspushthesealevelhigher;and
WHEREAS,scientistsbelievethattherisingsealevelwillthreatensome of theregion's
most vital facilities;and
WHEREAS,South Florida's sealevelroseabout8inchesduringthepastcentury,andis
projectedtoincreasebyasmuchas2feetasearlyas2048andcouldgoupto3feetby2063;and
WHEREAS,South Florida is exceptionally vulnerable to climate change duetoits
unique geology that is built on porous limestone which is slowly filling upasthe sea level rises,
making theland,streets and neighborhoods more likely tofloodand causes sewer systems to
back upinto homes and gardens;and
WHEREAS,the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development lists Miami
asthe number-one most vulnerable cityworldwideinterms of property damage,withmorethan
$416 billioninassetsatrisktostorm-relatedfloodingandsea-levelrise;and
WHEREAS,risingsealevelwillalsofloodland,streetsand neighborhoods;and
WHEREAS,there is little land in South Florida that is more than six feet above sea
level.Manycondosandapartmentblocksareattheedge of thesea;and
WHEREAS,of the total of 4.2 million US citizens who live at an elevation of four feet
orless,2.4 million of them livein South Florida;and
WHEREAS,38.01billion dollars'worth of property,71 thousand homes,and73
hazardouswastesiteslocatedinMiami-DadeCountysitlowerthan3feetabovesealevel,
leavingthemexposedtoincreasinglydangerousfloodingandextremeweatherevents;and
WHEREAS,southeastFlorida'sroads,bridgesandbusinessesalreadyarefacing
flooding because of higher sea levels,and the water is only expected torise higher during the
next 50 years;and
WHEREAS,risingsealevel threatens all of SouthFlorida'spopularcoastalareasand
couldalterthe freshwater supplythatfeedsourcitiesand agriculture;and
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Res.No.228-14-14322
WHEREAS,three major sewage plants in South Florida could be reduced to shrinking
islandsinlessthan50yearsduetoclimate change;and
WHEREAS,potential threats include more saltwater seeping in and fouling drinking
watersupplies,andstronger,morefrequent hurricanes;and
WHEREAS,evenareasand resources thatarefarfromthecoast,suchasFlorida's
Biscayne Aquifer,are already experiencing saltwater intrusion,which is exacerbated by sea-level
rise;and
WHEREAS,withsealevelrise of only3-9inches,southeastFloridacouldlose70
percent ofits drainage capacity inthe28 control structures that protect the region from flooding
and saltwater intrusion;and
WHEREAS,futurewarmingwillonlyincreasetherisk of morefrequentandsevere
impactstothe area's economy,infrastructure,andcommunities;and
WHEREAS,aSoutheastRegionalClimateCompactexiststoaddressclimatechangein
Miami-Dade,Monroe,Broward,and Palm Beach counties;and
WHEREAS,in moments of crisisspecial congresses have been convened to address
serious problems;and
WHEREAS,too many elected officials not only refuse to address climate change,they
won't even acknowledge itasa legitimate threat;and
WHEREAS,South Florida's coastal communities need all levels of government—local
elected officials,state elected officials,andthe state's full Congressional delegation—to
mobilize resources for wide-ranging adaptation and mitigation measures.By acting as leaders on
climate action,Florida's decision-makers cannotonly protect the state's vulnerable citizens
fromthe dangers of climate change—they caninspire communities across the United States to
follow suit;and
WHEREAS,we need comprehensive action now;and
WHEREAS,wecallforaSouthFloridaSeaLevelRiseand Climate Change Congress to
addresstheseissues specifically includingthe mobilization of resources for wide-ranging
adaptation and mitigation measures.ThisspecialCongresswouldincludealllocal,state,federal
elected officials inthefour Southeast Florida counties (Miami-Dade,Monroe,Broward,and
Palm Beach).;and
WHEREAS,the southeast Floridaclimatechangeplanseekstohelplocal communities
takearegionalapproachtopreparingforeverythingfromsealevelrisetoprotectingdrinking
water supplies;and
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Res.No.228-14-14322
WHEREAS,wecallforaSouthFloridaSeaLevelRiseandClimateChangeCongress
be held in the Fall of 2015.
NOW THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA:
Section1.TheMayorandtheCity Commission herebycallforaSouthFloridaSea
LevelRiseandClimateChange Congress tobeheldintheFallof 2015 thatwillincludelocal,
state,andfederalelectedofficialsmeetingtoproposeconstructivesolutionstosealevelriseand
climate change.We,theCity Commission fortheCityofSouthMiami,encourage sucha
conferencetobeheldwhichshouldnecessarilyinclude:alllocalelectedofficials of allthe108
municipalities of Miami-Dade,Monroe,Broward,andPalmBeach counties;theMayorof
MiamiDadeCountyandalllocalelectedofficialsatthecountylevelinMiami-Dade,Monroe,
Broward,and Palm Beach counties;the Governor of Florida andall elected Florida Legislature
representatives inthe Miami-Dade,Monroe,Broward,andPalmBeachcounties;allmembersof
theU.S.CongressionaldelegationthatrepresentsMiami-Dade,Monroe,Broward,andPalm
Beach counties;the President of the United States;andthe 2016 leading Presidential candidates
inbothpoliticalparties.WecallforaSouthFloridaSeaLevelRiseandClimateChange
Congresstoaddresstheseissuesspecificallyincludingthemobilization of resourcesforwide-
rangingadaptationandmitigationmeasures.ThisspecialCongresswouldincludealllocal,state,
federal elected officials inthefour Southeast Florida counties (Miami-Dade,Monroe,Broward,
and Palm Beach).
Section 2.The City Clerk is hereby instructed to forward this resolution toall of the
elected officials listed in Section 1,above.
Section 3.Severability.If any section clause,sentence,or phrase of this resolution isfor
any reason held invalid or unconstitutional bya court of competent jurisdiction,the holding shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section 4.Effective Date.This resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption by vote of the City Commission.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6^day of November,2014.
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APPROVED:
pft&W
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:5-0
Mayor Stoddard:Yea
Vice Mayor Harris:Yea
Commissioner Edmond:Yea
Commissioner Liebman:Yea
Commissioner Welsh:Yea