Res No 210-15-14549RESOLUTION NO.210-15-14549
A Resolution of the City of South Miami,Florida,opposing the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's action to permit bear
hunting,and requesting the intervention of the Governor and the
State Legislature.
WHEREAS,theCity of South Miami andits citizens endeavor tobe good stewards
of the environment and its resources,including its wildlife;and
WHEREAS,in 2012,the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FFWC)
removed the Florida black bear from Florida's Endangered and Threatened Species List;and
WHEREAS,in 2015,the FFWC adopted a Bear Management Plan Rule that
included a bear hunt;and
WHEREAS,the 2015 FFWC Rule,byitsvery nature in granting unlimited permits,
created a mechanism that allowed thekilling of more than the stated limitation of bears.
Realistic monitoringmeasures werenotinplacetoensure that the thousands of anticipated
hunters would cease their efforts when reaching the Bear Management Unit limits.
Additionally,theState taxed hunters formore permits than the bears that they were allowed to
kill;and
WHEREAS,the FFWC's decision to allow bear hunting was based on outdated (13
year old)data;and
WHEREAS,this decision created overwhelming opposition from citizens and
environmental groups throughout theState;and
WHEREAS,during the2015hunt,lactating female bears were killed,leaving
orphaned cubs living inthe wild asprey;and
WHEREAS,during the 2015 hunt,actualkillratesfar exceeded approved quotasin
two of the four Bear Management Units (BMUs);and
WHEREAS,future bear hunts willserveto thwart and undo the past efforts of
the FFWC and others to promote this previously endangered or threatened species;and
WHEREAS,the City of South Miami would liketo recognize FFWC Commissioner
Ron Bergeron forhis stance in opposing thebear hunt in Florida and speaking out against the
ruling.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA,THAT:
Section 1.The City of South Miami does hereby urge the FFWC to refrain from
approving future bear hunts.
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Res.No.210-15-14549
Section2.TheCityCommissionfurtherresolvesandrequeststhattheGovernor
oftheState of FloridaandtheStateLegislatureinterveneasmaybeappropriatetoaddressthe
concerns stated herein.
Section 3.TheCityCommissiondoesfurtherdirecttheCityClerktosendcopies
of this Resolution to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission,Governor Rick Scott,Florida
SenatePresidentAndyGardiner,andFloridaSpeakeroftheHouseSteveCrisafulli.
Section 4.Severability.If anysectionclause,sentence,orphrase of thisresolutionis
foranyreasonheldinvalidor unconstitutional byacourtofcompetentjurisdiction,the
holdingshallnotaffectthevalidity of theremainingportions of thisresolution.
Section 5.Effective Date.This resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption byvote of theCity Commission.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 15thday of December ,2015.
READ AND OVED AS TO FORM,
•ALIT1
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APPROVED:
COMMISSION VOTE:5-0
Mayor Stoddard:Yea
Vice Mayor Harris:Yea
Commissioner Edmond:Yea
Commissioner Liebman:Yea
Commissioner Welsh:Yea