7Agenda Item No:7.
City Commission Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: June 19, 2018
Submitted by: Thomas Pepe
Submitting Department: City Attorney
Item Type: Resolution
Agenda Section: RESOLUTION(S)
Subject:
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission for the City of South Miami encouraging Miami-Dade County
Board of County Commissioners to ban plastic straws or restrict their use. 3/5
(Commissioner Welsh)
Suggested Action:
Attachments:
Reso re Plastic Straws v.2#s.docx
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RESOLUTION NO. _________________________1
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A Resolutionof the Mayor and City Commission for the City of South Miami 3
encouraging Miami-Dade CountyBoard of County Commissionersto ban 4
plastic strawsor restrict their use.5
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WHEREAS,the straw in theaverage glass of water served in a restaurantwill be used 7
for just a few minutes, but in the environment, it can last more than several lifetimes; and8
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WHEREAS,wax paper straws wrapped in plastic were successfully used for many 10
decades before the invention of single use plastic straws; and11
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WHEREAS,plastic straws, though small, cause serious harm to our environment for a 13
number of reasons: it easily finds its way into our waterways due to its lightweight nature, it 14
doesn’t biodegrade, but insteadit fragments into smaller pieces which are frequently mistaken 15
for food by marine animals, and it can’t be recycled; and16
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WHEREAS,the harmful effects of the unmitigated use of plastic straws and other plastic 18
products are currently being seen in our environment and, once in the environment, plasticenters 19
our food chain where, increasingly, microplastic particles are turning up in our stomachs, blood 20
and lungs–the effects of which are only beginning to be studied; and21
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WHEREAS,a recent article in National Geographic stated that: “One million seabirds 23
and 100,000 marine mammals are killed annually by plastic in our oceans. Forty-four percent of 24
all seabird species, 22 percent of whales and dolphins, all sea turtle species, and a growing list of 25
fishspecies have been documented with plastic in or around their bodies.”1; and26
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WHEREAS,British Prime Minister, Theresa May, was quoted in a BBC articleon April 28
19, 2018,saying that plastic waste was “one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the 29
world”2; and30
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WHEREAS,the United Kingdomis part of the growing list of countries thathave 32
banned orwill be banning single-use plastics such as plastic straws; and33
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WHEREAS,according to a June 5, 2018 article in The Guardian, current projections 35
show that global plastic production will skyrocket in the next 10-15 years. This year alone, 36
manufacturers will produce an estimated 360m tonnes. With a booming population driving 37
demand, production is expected to reach 500m by 2025 and a staggering 619m tonnes by 20303; 38
and39
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WHEREAS,we are so dependent on plasticin our everyday livesand it will take a 41
movement, a shift in mindset to tackle this problem; and42
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1 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/features/plastic-straw-single-use-plastics-in-hotels-cruises/
2 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-43817287
3 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/05/the-planet-is-on-edge-of-a-global-plastic-calamity 2
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WHEREAS,we each have a part to play in curbing our plastic consumption: 1
individually, we can act as responsible and informed consumers, the private sector can adopt 2
business practices that reflect environmental responsibility, and governments can enact policies 3
that mandate the responsible production and use of plastics; and4
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WHEREAS,it is time for Miami-Dade County to take a first-step towards actionand 6
ban plastic straws.7
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY 9
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA THAT:10
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Section 1.The Mayor and City Commission forthe City of South Miami encourage the 12
Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners to ban the use of plastic straws or require 13
restaurants to discourage the use of plastic strawsand only provide plastic strawsupon request.14
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Section 2.The City Clerkshall send a copy of this resolution to each member of the 16
County Commission, the League of Cities, and each municipality in Miami-Dade County.17
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Section 3.Severability.If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for 19
any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding shall 20
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.21
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Section 4.Effective Date.This resolution shall become effective immediately upon23
adoption by vote of the City Commission.24
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PASSED AND ADOPTED this ____ day of ______________, 2018.26
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ATTEST:APPROVED:28
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________________________________________________30
CITY CLERK MAYOR31
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READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM:COMMISSION VOTE:33
LANGUAGE, LEGALITYAND Mayor Stoddard:34
EXECUTION THEREOF Vice Mayor Harris: 35
Commissioner Welsh:36
Commissioner Liebman:37
________________________Commissioner Gil:38
CITY ATTORNEY39
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