Res No 084-18-15117RESOLUTION NO. 084-18-15117
A Resolution for the City of South Miami to join the Seawall
Coalition and support its mission.
WHEREAS, flooding during king tides is already a costly nuisance and a problem
that if unaddressed will grow worse as sea levels continue to rise, and
WHEREAS, sea level rise has risen 8 inches since 1950 and its speed has increased
threefold in recent years, with scientific projections forecasting another 8 inches of sea level
rise in the next 20 years, and
WHEREAS, sea level rise of just 4 inches in the last 10 years has increased flooding
state-wide by 400%, and
WHEREAS, sea level rise poses a unique threat to all Florida given the limestone
bedrock beneath much of the state which allows rising sea water to infiltrate sewage
systems, compromise septic systems, and threaten groundwater supplies via salt water
intrusion, and
WHEREAS, proactively investing to prevent flooding is a wiser use of resources
than spending on flooding recovery, as exemplified by FEMA research showing that $1 of
spent on disaster prevention saves $4 in recovery costs, and
WHEREAS, national coordination and support are necessary for coastal towns to
fully address the challenge of sea level rise and flooding, and the Seawall Coalition provides
a platform advocating for national solutions to sea level rise and flooding that invest in and
protect our coastal communities, and
WHEREAS, the Seawall Coalition, https://seawallcoalition.org, is a forum for best
practices and support in developing local and state-level responses to sea level rise and
flooding that will enhance the City's sea level rise effort, and
WHEREAS, sea level rise and flooding are important issues that our residents
deserve to understand, and the Seawall Coalition provides opportunities and tools to
communicate with residents on sea level rise challenges and solutions, and
WHEREAS, joining the Seawall Coalition will aid the City's efforts to protect
against flooding without requiring any financial support or dues from the City Commission,
and
WHEREAS, the City of South Miami came a storm surge warning for the first time
during Hurricane Irma; and
WHEREAS, sewer upgrades South Miami will need because of sea level rise are
currently estimated in the range of $78 million; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that joining the Seawall Coalition will
Res. No. 084-18-15117
promote the welfare of City residents and ensure the prosperity of the City economy by
accelerating solutions to sea level rise and flooding.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, THAT:
Section 1. The City Commission recognizes the need to advance national solutions
to sea level rise and associated flooding and will work as a member of the Seawall Coalition
to safeguard the welfare of the City's residents.
Section 2. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for any
reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1 st th day of_M_a:.....,y'---___ , 2018.
ATTEST:
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Page 20[2
APPROVED:
J/I/PdU
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Philip Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Walter Harris:
Commissioner Luis Gil:
5-0
Yea
Yea
Yea
Commissioner Josh Liebman: Yea
Commissioner Robert Welsh: Yea