Res No 134-16-14689RESOLUTION NO.134-16-14689
A Resolution in support of U.S.Senator Bill Nelson's calling for the use of eminent
domain to obtain the necessary land for Everglades restoration.
WHEREAS,on Thursday June 30,2016,FloridaGovernorRickScottdeclaredaState of
EmergencyinresponsetotoxicbluegreenalgaethatclosedbeachesalongFlorida'sTreasureCoast
causedbypollutingnutrientrunofffromLakeOkeechobeedischargedintotheCaloosahatcheeandSt
Lucie Rivers;and
WHEREAS,alsoon Thursday,June30 2016,U.S.SenatorBill Nelson saidhe supported theuse
of eminentdomaintobuysugarfarmers'landinordertosendexcessLakeOkeechobeewatersouthfor
treatment before sending it south intothe Everglades;and
WHEREAS,Florida Crystals Corp.,ownedbyJoseand Alfonso Franjul,Jr.,have repeatedly
spurnedoffersbythestateandfederal government topurchasetheirlandtocreatethemarshesnecessary
fortheremoval of polluting nutrients sothatthewatercouldbesentsouthintothe Everglades.Florida
Crystals Corp.'s refusal tosellhasforcedtheArmyCorps of Engineers tosend nutrient-laden water into
the St.Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1.The Mayor and Commission of theCity of South Miami call upon all elected officials
to support Senator Bill Nelson's proposal touse eminent domain procedures ina "takings"of land owned
bythe sugar cane growers.
Section 2.A copy of this resolution shallbesenttothe Governor,all members of his Cabinet,all
members of the Florida Legislature,all Congressmen andSenators representing Florida andeveryelected
official represented whose governing bodyisamember of theFloridaLeague of Cities.
Section 3.If anysectionclause,sentence,orphrase of this resolution isforanyreasonheld
invalidorunconstitutionalbyacourt of competent jurisdiction,theholdingshallnotaffectthevalidityof
the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section 4.Thisresolutionshallbecomeeffectiveimmediatelyuponadoptionbyvote of theCity
Commission.
PASSED AND ADOPTED thisl 2thday of July 2016.
MAY0R
COMMISSION VOTE:5-0
Mayor Stoddard:Yea
Vice Mayor Welsh:Yea
Commissioner Edmond:Yea
Commissioner Harris:Yea
Commissioner Liebman:Yea