Res No 118-16-14673RESOLUTION NO.118-16-14673
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami,
Florida,supporting the Miami-Dade County resolution urging the United States
Army Corps of Engineers,the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
and the South Florida Water Management District to expedite Phase II of the
Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project.
WHEREAS,the beaches throughout Miami-Dade CountyandtheState of Florida arevital
tothequality of lifefor residents and tourists alike;and
WHEREAS,itisimportanttopreservethequality of sandthatisplacedonthepublic
beachesthatprovideasource of recreation andrelaxationforbothadultsandchildren;and
WHEREAS,on April 19,2016,the Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution
No.R-325-16 (the "County Resolution"),attached hereto as Exhibit "A";and
WHEREAS,the Biscayne BayCoastal Wetlands (BBCW)project isa critical
component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan(CERP),as authorized by
Congress in 2000 which is intended to restore natural coastal wetlands and marine habitats in
Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park;and
WHEREAS,the BBCW project will provide increased water storage inthe wetlands
east of the coastal ridge which is expected to protect against saltwater intrusion and thereby
increase resiliency against sea level rise in southern Miami-Dade County;and
WHEREAS,the City Commission findsthatthe adoption of this Resolution isinthebest
interest and welfare of the residents of theCity;and
NOW,THEREFORE,BE RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1.The above recitals aretrueand correct andare incorporated herein bythis
reference.
Section 2.The City Commission supports the County Resolution No.R-325-16,which
urgesthe United StatesArmyCorps of Engineers,Florida Department of Environmental
Protection,andthe South Florida Water Management District to expedite the planning of PhaseII
of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Projectasoutlinedinthe County Resolution (Exhibit "A").
Section 3.TheCityClerkisherebydirectedto transmit acopy of this Resolution tothe
UnitedStatesArmyCorps of Engineers,theSecretary of theFloridaDepartment of Environmental
Protection,the South Florida Water Management District Board Members,and municipalities in
Miami-Dade County.
Section 4.If any section clause,sentence,orphrase of this resolution isforany reason
heldinvalidor unconstitutional byacourt of competent jurisdiction,the holding shallnotaffect
the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Res.No.118-16-14673
Section 5.This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSEDANDADOPTED this2J_st day of June ,2016.
1ST:APPROVED:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Welsh:
Commissioner Harris:
Commissioner Edmond:
Commissioner Liebman:
4-0
Yea
Yea
Yea
Yea
absent
TO FORM,
Page 2 of 2
EXHIBIT "A"
Resolution-ExhibitA-SupportingBCCResolution R-325-16 (Page1of5)
Approved Mavor AgendaItemNo.11(a)(10)
Veto 4-19-16
Override
RESOLUTION MO.R-325 -16
RESOLUTION URGING THE U.S.ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS,THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMMTAL PROTECTIONAND THE SOUTH
FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO EXPEDITE
PHASE II 0F THE BISCAYNEBAYCOASTALWETLANDS
PROJECT SO THAT PLANNING FOR PHASE II MAY
COMMENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO TAKE ALL
NECESSARY ACTIONS TO COIvJPLEtfE PHASE I OF THE
BISCAYNE BAY COASTAL WETLANDS PROJECT
WHEREAS,Miami-Dade County isthe only county inthe tiation that is home totwo
national parks,Biscayne Niational Parkand Everglades National Park;and
WHEREAS,thehealthof Biscayne Bay andthe Everglades is intrinsically linked to the
economic well-being of Miami-Dade County through nature-based tourism and commercial and
recreationalfishing;and
WHEREAS,restoration ofthe greater Everglades'ecosystem is important for continued
cleanwater supply,environmental and public health,andthe economic viability of Miami-Dade
County;and
WHEREAS,theBiscayneBay Coastal Wetlands(BBCW)project,acriticalcomponent
ofthe Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP),as authorized by Congress in 2000,
isintendedtorestorenaturalcoastal wetlands habitat byredistributing freshwater flow through
more natural '*-$heet flows,"and reconnecting coastal wetlands and marine habitats in Biscayne
Bay arid Biscayne National Jade;and
Resolution -ExhibitA-SupportingBCCResolutionR-325-16(Page2of5)
Agenda ItemNo.11(A)(10)
PageNo>2
WHEREAS*the BBCW projectis the only CERP project thatis dedicated to .restoring
Biscayne Bay andBiscayne National Park,bothpf which arevitaltothe ecological and
economichealth ofMiami-Dade County;and
WHEREAS,theBBCWprojectwill provide increased water storage inthe wetlands east
ofthecoastalridge,whichisexpectedtoprotectagainstsaltwaterintrusionandtherebyincrease
resiliency againstsealevelriseinsouthern Miami-Dade County;and
WHEREAS,bothPhase land PhaseIIofthe BBCW projectmustbe completed inorder
toachievethefull project benefits asenvisionedin CHRP;and
WHEREAS,although thereisaplanin place forthe completion of Phase I ofthe BBCW
project,theplanningforPhaseII of theBBCWprojectisnotscheduledtobeginuntil2021,and
actual construction of Phase II would occur even later intime;and
WHEREAS,PhaseIIofthe BBCW projectis intended toprovidewaterstorageand
rehydrate significant wetlandareas between the Princeton and Mo\vry Canals as wellasthe
ModelLandswetland area,which Contains morethan 20^000 acres of important wetlands that
connectthe Everglades toBiscayne Bay andCardSound;and
WHEREAS,inaddition,PhaseI of the BBCW project has not been completed,and
thereforethe potential benefits of that portion of the BBCW project have not yet been fully
realized;and
WHEREAS,Miami-Dade County is deeply invested and committed to seeing the
BBCW project completed,andinordertodoma timely jrianner,PhaseII of the BBCW project
must .move forwardin advance of the current schedule;aiid
4
Resolution-ExhibitA-SupportingBCCResolution R-325-16 (Page3 of 5)
Agenda Item No.11(A)(ID)
Page No.3
WHEREAS,to tins end,Miami-Dade County has continued to contribute substantial
resources towards the goals of CERP and the BBCW project,including land acquisition,*
teeifticaldate,and staffing resources to those project delivery teams;and
WHEREAS,in order to expedite Phase II ofthe BBCW project,the South Florida Water
Management District,asthe local sponsor for this project,would need to ask the U.S,Army
Corps of Engineers to include,inits budget for fiscal year 20174018,the 50 percent federal
share of funding for the planning of Phase II of the BBCW project,andsucha request bythe
South Florida Water Management Districtmayneedtobemadeasearlyas mid-May 2016in
order to meetbudgetarydeadlines;and
WHEREAS,as such*this Board wishes torequestthatthe U.S.ArmyCorps of
Engineers include the above-mentioned funding inits budgetfor fiscal year 2Q17-2018;and
WHEREAS,this Board also Wishes to request that:(1)the Florida Department of
Environmental ProtectionandtheSouth Florida Water Management District move/forward with
planning forPhaseIIoftheBBCWproject on an expedited schedule,andtake all necessary
steps to doso,includingtheallocationofupto$3milliondollars,or equivalent in-kind services,
as approved and required by the U/Sv Aimy Corps of Engineers,forsuch planning efforts;and
(2)the U.S.Army Corps,Florida Department of Environmental Protection,and the South
Florida Water fyianagement District take all necessary steps to complete Phase Iofthe BBCW
project,
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARDOF COXJNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTYVELORIDA,thatthisBoardhereby:
Section 1.UrgestheU.S Arniy Corps of Engineers*theFloridaDepartment of
EnvironmentalProtectionandtheSouthFlorida Water ManagementDistricttotakeallsteps
Resolution-ExhibitA-SupportingBCCResolution R-325-16 (Page4of5)
Agenda Item No.11(A)(10)
Page No.4
necessary to expedite the planning of Phase IIofthe BBCW project,sothat such planning occurs
assoon as possible,andinany event,soonerthanthecurrentscheduleof 2021,includingbutnot
limited to;
(a)Urging the South Florida Water Management District,as local sponsor of the BBCW
project,toask the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers to include,inits budget for fiscal
year2017-2018,the50percent federal share of fundingfortheplanning of PhaseII
oftheBBCWproject.
(b)UrgingtheU.S.ArmyCorps of Engineers toincludesuchfundingforthe planning of
Phase II of theBBCWprojectinitsbudgetforfiscalyear 2017-2018,and
(c)UrgingtheSouthFloridaWater Management Districttoallocateupto$3million
dollars,orequivalent in-kind services,as approved andrequiredbytheU,S.Army
CorpsofEngineersforthe planning of Phase II of theBBCW project.
Section2,UrgestheU.S Army Corps of Engineers,the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection andthe South Florida Water Management District to take all steps
necessary tocompletePhaseIoftheBBCWproject.
Section3.Directs the Clerk ofthe Board to transmit certified copies ofthis
resolution tothe Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation;the Assistant Secretary of
theArmyforCivilWorks,theGovernor,the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State
Legislative Delegation,the Secretary ofthe Department of Environmental Protection,andthe
Governing Board and Executive Director oftheSouthHorida Water Management District.
Section 4.Directs the County's state and federal lobbyists to advocate for
administrative action that would accomphsh the goals setforth herein and as described in Section
1 above,and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item
<e
Resolution -ExhibitA -Supporting BCCResolution R-325-16 (Page 5of5)
Agenda Item No,11(A)(10)
PageNo.5
inthe 2017 State Legislative Padcage and the 2016 and 2017 Federal Legislative Packages when
they arepresentedtothe Board.
The Prime Sponsor ofthe foregoing resolution is Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava,It
was offered by Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava ,whomovedits adoption-The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Barbara J*Jordan and upon being putto a vote,
the vote was as follows:
Jean Monestiine,Chairman aye
Esteban L.Bqyo,Jr.,Vice Chairman aye
BrunoA.Baireiro aye Daniella Levine Cava aye
Jose "Pepe"Diaz absent Audrey M.Edmonson aye
Sally A.Heyman absent Barbara J,Jordan aye
Dennis C;Moss aye RebecaSosa aye
Sen.JavierD.Souto aye Xavier L.Suarez absent
Juan C.Zapata aye
The Chairperson thereupon declared the resolution duly passed and adopted this 19th day
of April,2016.This resolution shall become effective upon the earlier of (1)10 days after the
date of its adoption unless vetoed by the County Mayor,and if vetoed,shall become effective
only upon an override by this Board,or(2)approval bythe County Mayor ofthis Resolution and
thefiling ofthis approval withtheClerk of the Board.
ApprovedbyCountyAttorneyas
toformandlegal sufficiency,
Abbie Schwaderer Raurell
MIAMWDADE COUNTY,FLORIDA
BY ITS BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
HARVEYRUVIN,CLERK
By:t Christopher Affrippa
DeputyClerk
n