_Add-on AAdd-on A) 10/07/14 City Commission meeting
Sponsored by Vice Mayor Harris
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RESOLUTION NO. __________________ 1
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A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami, 3
Florida, advocating the legal separation of Florida into two separate states, creating 4
the 51st state in the Union and naming it “South Florida”. 5
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Whereas, presently, the state of Florida consists of 67 counties in an area of approximately 56 7
thousand square miles with a population of approximately 19,135,000 people; and 8
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Whereas, the new proposed state of South Florida would have 24 counties (“which counties shall 10
herein after be referred to as “South Florida”). These 24 counties are 35% of the total number of counties 11
in the current state of Florida and they would comprise approximately 23,000 square miles in area. Thus, 12
South Florida would be comprised of 39% of the area of the current state of Florida and would have a 13
population of approximately 13,375,000 people which is 67% of the total population of the current state 14
of Florida; and 15
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Whereas, presently, the state of Florida collects approximately 22 billion dollars in sales and 17
documentary taxes from all of Florida, of which 69 percent, 15.25 billion dollars, is collected in South 18
Florida; and 19
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Whereas, the new state of South Florida will consist of 24 counties with its northern border being 21
Brevard, Orange, Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas and include the other 19 counties south of those five 22
counties; and 23
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Whereas, South Florida Water Management District starts in Orange County and includes most 25
of the aforementioned Counties in South Florida; and 26
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Whereas, the average elevation of the present state of Florida is approximately 100 feet above 28
sea level. North Florida is approximately 120 feet above sea level while the average elevation of South 29
Florida is less than 50 feet with a very large portion of South Florida averaging less than 15 feet above sea 30
level. Many sections of South Florida are 5 feet or less above sea level, including Monroe County and the 31
Gold Coast, consisting of Palm Beach County, Broward County and Miami-Dade County. This area also 32
includes the Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park and the 33
Turkey Point nuclear reactors. These reactors are 42 years old and less than 5 feet above sea level with in 34
excess of 2.5 million pounds of nuclear waste buried on the grounds of the nuclear plant. 35
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Whereas, Lake Okeechobee, located in South Florida, is the second largest freshwater lake in the 37
United States and the source of much of the fresh water supplied to South Florida and could be severely 38
compromised by rising sea levels; and 39
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Whereas, climate change is a scientific reality resulting in global warming and rising sea level; 41
and 42
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Whereas, it is estimated that there will be a 3 to 6 foot sea level rise by the end of this century. 44
In addition, South Florida has very porous rock and, as the level of the sea rises, the pressure will cause 45
water to rise up through the ground and flood the inland areas; and 46
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Whereas, South Florida’s situation is very precarious and in need of immediate attention. Many 48
of the issues facing South Florida are not political, but are now significant safety issues; and 49
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Add-on A) 10/07/14 City Commission meeting
Sponsored by Vice Mayor Harris
Page 2 of 2
Whereas, presently, in order to address the concerns of South Florida, it is necessary to travel to 1
Tallahassee in North Florida. Often South Florida issues do not receive the support of Tallahassee. This 2
is despite the fact that South Florida generates more than 69% of the state’s revenue and contains 67% of 3
the state’s population; and 4
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Whereas, the creation of the 51st state, South Florida, is a necessity for the very survival of the 6
entire southern region of the current state of Florida. 7
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NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY 9
COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA: 10
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Section 1. The recitals contained in this resolution are adopted and made a part hereof by 12
reference and they reflect the exigency that now exists and the need for immediate action. 13
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Section 2. The Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami, Florida, hereby 15
advocate the legal separation of Florida into two separate states, creating the 51st state in the Union, and 16
naming it “South Florida”. It is understood that this is only the first step in a very complicated process 17
and it will ultimately require the approval of the electorate of the entire state as well as Congressional 18
approval. 19
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Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to all municipalities in 21
Miami-Dade County, the members of the governing bodies of all 24 counties that are in the proposed 22
South Florida region, and their respective league of cities. 23
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Section 4. Severability. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for any 25
reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall not affect the 26
validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. 27
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Section 5. Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption by 29
vote of the City Commission. 30
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PASSED AND ADOPTED this ____ day of _____________, 2014. 32
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ATTEST: APPROVED: 35
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_____________________ ______________________ 38
CITY CLERK MAYOR 39
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READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM, COMMISSION VOTE: 41
LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND Mayor Stoddard: 42
EXECUTION THEREOF Vice Mayor Harris: 43
Commissioner Edmond: 44
_____________________________ Commissioner Liebman: 45
CITY ATTORNEY Commissioner Welsh: 46