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Res No 029-17-14830RESOLUTION NO.029-17-1 4830 A Resolution of the City of South Miami,Florida,supporting efforts in the Florida Legislature to purchase 60,000 acres of land south of Lake Okeechobee in the Everglades Agricultural Area to initiate project planning for water storage and treatment as outlines in the Comprehensive Everglades and Restoration Plan to send clean water to Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys and alleviate harmful water discharges to the St.Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries WHEREAS,Florida is home to America's Everglades,which isa world renowned and globally unique ecosystem,International Biosphere Reserve,World Heritage Site,and RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance;and WHEREAS,one-third of all Floridians,nearly eight million people,depend on aquifer water recharged bythe Everglades for their daily water supply for their homes and businesses;and WHEREAS,over the past century,development,population growth,excessive drainage of wetlands,and alterations in water quality and flow have diverted the "River of Grass"that once flowed tothe Southern Everglades,leaving Everglades National Park and Florida Bay starved for clean,freshwater;and WHEREAS,when Lake Okeechobee levels becomes too high,and without asafe outlet to flow the water south,polluted water is discharged totheSt.Lucieand Caloosahatchee Rivers,causing detrimental impacts tothe ecology and economy of these estuary communities;and WHEREAS,ecological and human health conditions associated with Lake Okeechobee discharges—including algaeblooms,fishkills,human respiratory impacts— resulted in Governor Scott declaring astate of emergency infour Florida counties that lasted 242 days through 2016. WHEREAS,the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)was authorized bythe United StatesCongressin2000to improve thequantity,quality, timing,and distribution of water flow throughout the Greater Everglades ecosystem and torestoresome of thenatural habitat thathasbeenlostto development;and WHEREAS,CERP includes creation of a 360,000 acre-feet EAA Storage Reservoirasameans of providingstoragesouth of LakeOkeechobeetohelpcleanexcess lake water andbringmore of itsouthintothe parched Everglades whereitis desperately needed,instead of being discharged,untreated,into the St.Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers;and WHEREAS,the Integrated Delivery Schedule (IDS),which provides atimeline fortheimplementation of CERPprojects,hasEAAReservoirplanningbeginningin 2021;and Res.No.029-17-14830 WHEREAS,intheface of Florida's ongoing water crisis,Senate President Joe Negron has developedaplantoacquirelandandexpediteprojectplanningtodeliver desperately needed freshwater to Everglades NationalParkandbringrelieftothe coastal estuaries;and WHEREAS,SenateBill 10 (introduced by Senator RobBradley)andHouseBill 761(introducedby Representative ThadAltaian)outlinesaplantouseLegacyFlorida fundsalready dedicated toEverglades restoration topurchase60,000acres of landfrom willingsellersintheEAAandexpediteplanning of theCERPEAAReservoirproject. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA,THAT: Section 1. by reference. The above recitals are true and correct andare incorporated herein Section 2.TheCity Commission hereby supportsSenate Bill 10and House Bill761inthe Florida Legislature in 2017 forthe acquisition of land south of Lake Okeechobee inthe Everglades Agricultural Area toachievetheCERP project purposes of storage,treatment,and conveyance of freshwater southto Everglades National Parkand Florida Bay and relieving harmful discharges totheSt.Lucieand Caloosahatchee Rivers. Section 3.If any section clause,sentence,or phrase of this resolution isfor any reason held invalid or unconstitutional bya court of competent jurisdiction,the holding shallnot affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. Section 4.This resolution shalltake effect immediately upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of February ,2017. ATTEST:APPROVED: MAYOR COMMISSION VOTE Mayor Stoddard: Vice Mayor Welsh: Commissioner Edmond: Commissioner Harris: Commissioner Liebman: CITY CLE: READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM, LANGUAGEJt^OALITY, AND EXECUTION THEREX Page 2 of2 5-0 Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea