Res No 059-19-15331RESOLUTION NO: 5 9 -19 -15 3 31
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami
committing to promote the goal of the Sierra Club's "Ready for 100" campaign to
transition the entire City to 100% clean and renewable energy within the City of
South Miami by the year 2040.
WHEREAS, the City of South Miami and the broader South Florida region face
immense risk from the impacts of global climate change, which are projected to include more
extreme temperatures, more intense hurricanes, and rising sea -levels; and
WHEREAS, United Nations International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) researchers
have determined that in order to avoid the worst impacts of runaway global climate change,
warming must be kept to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre -industrial levels; and
WHEREAS, IPCC models show that in order to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius,
drastic action will need to be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, including a
45% decline in GHG emissions from 2010 levels by 2030 and the achievement of Net Zero
emissions by 2050; and
WHEREAS, the City of South Miami recognizes the need to take bold action to address
the threat of climate change and both former and present Mayors and Commissioners of this City
have consistently endorsed, promoted and supported the position that urgent action and proactive
steps must be taken by the City and its residents to address climate change and sea level rise
risks, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move towards ever-increasing reliance on solar and
other clean, renewable energy power sources; and
WHEREAS, previous actions by the City of South Miami Mayor and commission to
address the threat of global climate change include but are not limited to signing on to the U.S.
Conference of Mayors 2005 Climate Protection Agreement, the passage of Resolution No. 23-
09-12832 adopting a goal of carbon neutrality for municipal operations by the year 2030 on
February 3rd, 2009, declaration of support for the Climate Mayors letter to commit to reducing
carbon emissions in response to the U.S's announced withdrawal from the Paris accord in 2017,
and adoption of a mandatory solar panel ordinance for new single-family residential
development in 2017; and
WHEREAS, one hundred percent renewable, zero emission energy sources and energy
efficiency now offer significant job opportunities, as well as greater economic security, lower
electricity costs, and affordable energy solutions for City of South Miami residents; and
WHEREAS, residents of the City of South Miami have recently demonstrated grassroots
initiative to promote renewable energy generation by forming a co-op to use their buying power
to secure discounted prices for solar panels; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 23-09-12832, establishing a carbon neutral
initiative work plan, the Mayor and City Commission resolved that the "City of South Miami
and all of its departments and boards shall coordinate and implement the Carbon Neutral
Initiative, insofar as funds, voluntary efforts, or other resources become available, in particular,
working to partner with efforts of governments, agencies, institutions and other appropriate
public and private organizations in our region, and to track the progress and implementation of
the initiative"; and
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Resolution No. 59-19-15331
WHEREAS, the Sierra Club's "Ready for 100" campaign presents just such an
opportunity for the City and its residents to work in partnership with efforts of governments,
agencies, institutions and other appropriate public and private organizations in our region to
further the Carbon Neutral Initiative's objectives of community -wide greenhouse gas reduction
effort; and
WHEREAS, in a letter to the City's Mayor and the City Manager, dated September 23,d,
2018, the Green Task Force unanimously recommended and endorsed the City's adoption and
commitment to the "Ready for 100" campaign goals and requested that the City's leadership
meet and listen to the Sierra Club's presentation on the "Ready for 100" campaign; and
WHEREAS, the City of South Miami's leadership, staff and Green Task Force
members, in conjunction with the Sierra Club, have conducted two separate public meetings in
the past six months soliciting feedback from South Miami residents on the proposal of the City
committing to achieve 100% clean and renewable energy city-wide and received consistent
positive feedback from the City's residents in favor of such commitment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION .OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1. "Ready for 100 " Commitment.
(a) The City of South Miami adopts a community -wide target of powering the entire City
with 100% clean, renewable energy not later than the end of 2040.
() The City of South Miami hereby commits to begin transitioning the South Miami
community to renewable energy in an equitable, inclusive, and just way.
Lc) The City Commission directs the City of South Miami's Grants and Sustainability
Director to incorporate these targets into the City's Carbon Neutral Initiative efforts
and planning processes and to work with community stakeholders to devise
implementation strategies.
(d,) The City of South Miami, in pursuit of these targets, will seek to build inclusive
community leadership and policy engagement, promote equity in energy and resource
costs and ownership of related technologies, generate sustainable economic and
employment opportunities and mitigate related losses; and provide regional
leadership to address equity in climate and energy.
Le,) The City of South Miami's Green Task Force and/or Grants and Sustainability
Director shall report on progress to the City Commission towards the goals and
targets set forth herein above every two years, beginning in 2020.
Section 2. Severability. 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. Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption by the Mayor and City Commission.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 71" day of May, 2019.
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Resolution No. 59-19-15331
ATTEST:
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM, COMMISSION VOTE: 5-0
Mayor Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Harris:
Commissioner Gil:
Commissioner Liebman
Commissioner Welsh:
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Yea
Yea
Yea
Yea
Yea
Agenda item No:7.
City Commission Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: May 7, 2019
Submitted by: Nkenga Payne
Submitting Department: City Clerk
Item Type: Resolution
Agenda Section:
Subject:
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami committing to promote the goal of
the Sierra Club's "Ready for 100" campaign to transition the entire City to 100% clean and renewable energy
within the City of South Miami by the year 2040. 3/5 (Mayor Stoddard)
Suggested Action:
Attachments:
Ready for_100_Resolution_3-20-19_with_comments_NSC_002_ (1).doc
GTF 2nd Letter re Ready For 100 3-20.pdf
GREEN TASK FORCE
City of South Miami
March 21, 2019
City of South Miami
6130 Sunset Drive
South Miami, FL 33143
Attention: Steven Alexander, City Manager
Dear Mr. City Manager:
On September 23' 2018, the City of South Miami Green Task Force (GTF) sent a letter requesting to move fonvard
with the process of planning and developing plans to commit the City of South Miami to the Sierra Club's national
"Ready For 100" campaign. This campaign was launched in 2016 and works in cities across the United States to
accelerate a just and equitable transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy.
In the time since the original letter was sent, the GTF has helped to coordinate several public/stakeholder meetings with
and solicited feedback from community members regarding the potential commitment, researched implementation
strategies which the City of South Miami could utilize, and developed a draft resolution and action plan for submission
to the City of South Miami City Commission for their consideration.
The GTF's draft resolution is attached. We urge the City of South Miami Board of Commissioners to pass this
resolution and commit the City of South Miami to the goal of achieving 10096 clean and renewable energy community -
wide.
Cordially,
Green Task Force of the City of South Miami
Aracely Alicea Robert L Pellegrini
Pam Lahiff Aldo Rosello
Jennifer K. Llorente Helene Valentine
Gray Read
cc: Dr. Philip K. Stoddard, Mayor - City of South Miami
Mr. Zachariah Cosner, Grants and Sustainability Administrator - City of South Miami
Signature
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