Res No 029-25-16321RESOLUTION NO.029-25-16321
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,
FLORIDA,DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO
MODIFY THE SCOPE OF THE LANDSCAPING MASTER
PLAN SERVICES BY MILLER,LEGG &ASSOCIATES,
INC.TO INCLUDE AN EXPANSION OF TREE CANOPY
COVERAGE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS;AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO COMMENCE PLANTING
TREES IN OR NEAR THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
ABUTTING SINGLE-FAMILY,TWO-FAMILY,AND
TOWNHOUSE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN
LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED BY THE STUDY;PROVIDING
FOR IMPLEMENTATION,CORRECTIONS,AND AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,trees are an essential component of urban environments,providing numerous
environmental,economic,and social benefits,including shade,improved air quality,stormwater
management,carbon sequestration,and enhanced aesthetic and property values;and
WHEREAS,the loss of urban tree canopy due to development,neglect,and extreme
weather events has led to increased temperatures and the exacerbation of the urban heat island
effect,which disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations and contributes to rising energy
costs;and
WHEREAS,deforestation within cities has been linked to increased flooding risks,as
trees and their root systems play a critical role in absorbing and slowing stormwater runoff,
reducing strain on municipal drainage systems and mitigating localized flooding events;and
WHEREAS,the City of South Miami (the “City”)Commission recognizes that a robust
and well-maintained urban tree canopy is critical to the City of South Miami’s long-term
sustainability goals,including resilience to climate change,reduction of urban heat,and improved
public health outcomes;and
WHEREAS,according to the Miami-Dade County Urban Tree Canopy Assessment,the
City has lost approximately one acre of tree canopy per year,underscoring the urgent need for
proactive replanting efforts to restore and expand the urban forest;and
WHEREAS,there are areas in the City that currently lack trees or tree canopy,providing
an opportunity for the City to restore and expand its urban tree canopy through a structured and
strategic tree-planting initiative;and
WHEREAS,on October 1,2025,South Miami Hospital Inc.proffered a contribution of
$85,000 to the Bob Welsh Tree Trust Fund in connection with a final plat application,which funds
must be used within one year to plant trees;and
Res.No.029-25-16321
WHEREAS,on October 15,2024,the City Commission adopted Resolution No.148-24-
16253 selecting Miller,Legg &Associates,Inc.(“Consultant”)for Landscaping Master Plan
Services relating to the development a comprehensive plan for the major roadway corridors
throughout the City,with a focus on sustainability,improving the City’s tree canopy coverage,and
reinforcing a unique identity for the City;and
WHEREAS,consistent with this Resolution,the Consultant’s scope includes identifying
suitable locations to expand tree canopy coverage in certain study areas (the “Study”);and
WHEREAS,the Consultant has agreed to expand the Scope of the study to include
identifying suitable locations for planting trees in and near rights-of-way abutting single-family,
two-family,and townhouse residential properties;and
WHEREAS,in order to increase tree canopy coverage within the City limits,the City
Commission desires to direct the City Manager to expand the Consultant’s scope to include
identifying suitable locations for planting trees in and near rights-of-way abutting single-family,
two-family,any townhouse residential properties;and
WHEREAS,the City Commission desires to authorize the City Manager to proceed with
the tree planting in suitable locations identified by the Study with the $85,000 currently in the Bob
Welsh Tree Trust Fund contributed by South Miami Hospital Inc;and
WHEREAS,the City Commission finds that a phased,well-planned approach to tree
planting will ensure effective implementation,equitable distribution,and long-term sustainability
of the City’s urban forest.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA,AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.Recitals.The above-stated recitals are true and correct and are incorporated
herein by this reference.
Section 2,Expansion of Consultant’s Scope.The City of South Miami Commission
hereby directs the City Manager to expand the Consultant’s scope to include identifying suitable
locations for planting trees in and near rights-of-way abutting single-family,two-family,and any
townhouse residential properties.
Section 3.Authorization and Implementation.The City Manager is hereby
authorized to proceed with planting trees at suitable locations identified in the Study with the
$85,000,currently in the Bob Welsh Tree Trust Fund contributed by South Miami Hospital Inc.,
and to determine and budget for future costs of the tree planting for presentation to the City
Commission after receiving the results of the Study.Once costs are established to meet future
project goals and provided such funds are duly budgeted,the City Manager shall commence
planting additional trees in locations identified in the study.
Res.No.029-25-16321
Section 4.Corrections.Conforming language or technical scrivener-type corrections
may be made by the City Attorney for any conforming amendments to be incorporated into the
final resolution for signature.
Section 5.Effective Date.This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 15th day of April,2025.
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM,
LANGUAGE,LEGALITY AND
EXECUTION THEREOF
WEISS serotamelfman COLE
&BIERMAN,P.L.
CITY ATTORNEY
APPROVED:
4-0
Mayor Javier Fernandez:Yea
Vice Mayor Brian Corey:Yea
Commissioner Lisa Bonich:Yea
Commissioner Steve Calle:Yea
Commissioner Danny Rodriguez:Absent
Agenda Item No:2.
City Commission Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: April 15, 2025
Submitted by: Daniela Cimo
Submitting Department: City Attorney
Item Type: Resolution
Agenda Section:
Subject:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA,
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO MODIFY THE SCOPE OF THE LANDSCAPING MASTER PLAN
SERVICES BY MILLER, LEGG & ASSOCIATES, INC. TO INCLUDE AN EXPANSION OF TREE CANOPY
COVERAGE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO COMMENCE PLANTING
TREES IN OR NEAR THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY ABUTTING SINGLE-FAMILY, TWO-FAMILY, AND
TOWNHOUSE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED BY THE STUDY; PROVIDING FOR
IMPLEMENTATION, CORRECTIONS, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 3/5 (VICE MAYOR COREY)
Suggested Action:
Attachments:
4AQ0947-CA_Memo-Resolution_Tree_Planting_Initiative.docx
4AX2617-Reso-Tree Planting-Miller Legg.DOCX
Baptist Payment $85K.pdf
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CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO:The Honorable Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Members of the City Commission
FROM:Lillian Arango and Tony Recio, City Attorneys
CC:Genaro “Chip” Iglesias
DATE:April 15, 2025 City Commission Meeting
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO MODIFY THE SCOPE OF THE
LANDSCAPING MASTER PLAN SERVICES BY MILLER,
LEGG & ASSOCIATES, INC. TO INCLUDE AN EXPANSION
OF TREE CANOPY COVERAGE IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO COMMENCE
PLANTING TREES IN OR NEAR THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-
WAY ABUTTING SINGLE-FAMILY, TWO-FAMILY, AND
TOWNHOUSE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN LOCATIONS
IDENTIFIED BY THE STUDY; PROVIDING FOR
IMPLEMENTATION, CORRECTIONS, AND AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
______________________________________________________________________________
This item was prepared and placed on the agenda at the request of Vice Mayor Corey.
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South'*’Miami
THE CITY OF PLEASANT LIVING
7South*MiamiturcmorptfASASTiivisGCashRegisterReceiptReceiptNumberCityofSouthMiamiR30941DESCRIPTIONACCOUNTQTYPAIDPermitTRAK$85,000.00ZTR24-0842Address:6201SUNSETDRAPN:0940250000610$85,000.00PLANNINGMISCPERMITS$85,000.00TREETRUSTFUND11800003430000°$85,000.00TOTALFEESPAIDBYRECEIPT:R30941$85,000.00DatePaid:Tuesday,October15,2024PaidBy:ANCHORMIAMIIRFOWNER,LLCCashier:EALVPayMethod:CHECK1019Printed:Tuesday,October15,202411:49AMlof1
8Holland&Knight701BnckeilAvenue,Suite3300|Miami,FL33131|T3053748500|F3057897799Holland&KnightLLP|www.hklaw.comJamesR.WilliamsJr(305)789-7413James.Williams@hklaw.comOctober15,2024VIAHANDDELIVERYAlfredoRiverolChiefFinancialOfficerFinanceDepartmentCityofSouthMiami6130SunsetDriveSouthMiami,Florida33143Re:SubmittalofVoluntaryContributiontotheBobWelshTreeTrustFundReferenceFinalPlatResolutionNo.144-24-16249(the“FinalPlat”)&TreeRemovalPermitNo.ZTR24-0842(the“TreeRemovalPermit”)BaptistHealthRehabilitationHospitalDearMr.Riverol:Ihopealliswell.Asyouknow,thisfirmrepresentsSouthMiamiHospital,Inc.,(the“Owner"or“SMH”)ofthethree(3)parcelslocatedat6233SunsetDrive,6201SunsetDrive,and7150SW62AvenueintheCityofSouthMiami(the“City”).SMHhasenteredintoajointventurewithAnchorMiamiIRFOwner,LLC(the“Developer”),forthedevelopmentofthePropertywitha3-stoiy,92bedrehabilitationhospitalandstructuredparkinggarage(hereinafterreferredtoas“BaptistHealthRehabilitationHospital”or“Project”).AsstatedattheCityCommissionmeetingonOctober1,2024,theDeveloperisvoluntarilycontributingeighty-fivethousanddollars($85,000.00)totheCity’sBobWelshTreeTrustFundasdiscussedinconnectiontotheFinalPlatandTreeRemovalPermit.Enclosedwiththesubmittalofthisletteristheabovereferencedcheckintheamountofeighty-fivethousanddollars($85,000.00).Asdiscussedindetailinthemeeting,andasapprovedbytheCityCommission,thevoluntarycontributionistospecificallybeusedforthepurchase,transportation,andmaintenanceofadditionalliveoaktreestobeplantedintheCity.Asalsostatedinthemeeting,theCityistodeploytheentireamountofthisvoluntarycontributionwithinone(1)yearofreceivingit.WelookforwardtoseeingallofthebeautifulliveoaktreesthatthisvoluntarycontributionwillallowtheCityofPleasantLivingtopurchaseandplant.Again,thankyoutoalloftheCity’sstafffortheirhardwork,dedication,andperseveranceonthisProject.
9iWelookforwardtocontinuingtoworkwithyouandtherestoftheCity’steam.Shouldyouhaveanyquestionsorrequireanyadditionalinformation,pleasedonothesitatetocontactmeat(305)789-7413orInesMarrero-Prieguesat(305)789-7776.Respectfullysubmitted,HOLLAND&KNIGHTLLPJamesR.WilliamsJr.,Esq.CC:InesMarrero-Priegues,Esq.Genaro“Chip”Iglesias,CityManagerAnthonyL.Recio,CityAttorneySuramyCabrera,DevelopmentServicesDirectorMarcusW.Lightfoot,SeniorPlanner&ZoningAdministrator#511090287vI2