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Resolution: R-09-0078
File Number: 09-00062a
City Hall
3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date: 2/12/2009
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI COMMISSION URGING GOVERNOR
CHARLIE CRIST TO CONVENE A TASKFORCE TO EXPLORE EFFECTIVE MEANS
TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES FROM SEXUAL VIOLENCE; DIRECTING THE
CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS
DESIGNATED HEREIN.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami seeks to protect members of our community from sexual
violence; and
WHEREAS, an encampment of individuals convicted of sexual offenses has arisen under the
Julia Tuttle Causeway bridge and in other outdoor locations in Miami -Dade County ("County") due to
the inability of such offenders to find permissible housing under residence restriction ordinances
promulgated by the County, the City of Miami ("City"), other municipalities in the County and the State
of Florida ("State"); and
WHEREAS, the homelessness of sexual offenders and predators threatens the safety of the
public by leading some offenders to abscond, thereby obstructing the ability of law enforcement to
track those offenders still under supervision; and
WHEREAS, homelessness and the resulting instability can exacerbate the potential for
re -offense and interfere with both community reentry and treatment programs in which offenders are
enrolled; and
WHEREAS, various sexual offenders have been living intermittently, and possibly
continuously, under the Julia Tuttle Causeway bridge since at least April, 2007; and
WHEREAS, the number of offenders living under the bridge has increased dramatically during
that time, in part because many have been directed to reside there by their probation officers who
cannot find permissible housing for these offenders anywhere in the County; and
WHEREAS, the public safety crisis created by the housing situation is not unique to the City,
to other municipalities in the County, or to the County as a whole, but exists in other areas of the
State as well; and
WHEREAS, the proliferation of local residence restrictions in other counties and municipalities
makes cooperation among various counties and municipalities necessary in order to address the
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File Number: 09-00062a
issue; and
Enactment Number: R-09-0078
WHEREAS, the involvement of the Department of Corrections, local and state law
enforcement agencies, and other government entities in tracking offenders who are still under
supervision and protecting the public makes cooperation among various state and local agencies
necessary in order to address this public safety crisis;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted
by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The Miami City Commission urges Governor Charlie Crist to convene a Statewide
Taskforce to examine effective means to protect our communities from sexual violence.
Section 3. The Statewide Taskforce should identify public safety concerns arising from the
inability of many sexual offenders and predators to find permissible housing under the patchwork of
State, County, and City residence restrictions.
Section 4. The Statewide Taskforce should include representation from law enforcement,
probation, corrections, experts in the treatment and management of persons convicted of sex
offenses, researchers, victim advocates, human rights advocates, and State and local policymakers.
Section 5. The Statewide Taskforce should work collaboratively to seek solutions that remedy
this counter-productive public safety and housing crisis in a way that will better protect the public from
sexual violence by minimizing offender instability that can lead to recidivism and facilitating the
effective monitoring and supervision of offenders still under supervision.
Section 6. The Statewide Taskforce shall be convened for its first meeting within 120 days
after this Resolution's adoption and signature of the Mayor.
Section 7. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to Governor Charlie
Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, House Speaker Larry Cretul and the members of the Florida
Legislature.
Section 8. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of
the Mayor.{1 }
Footnotes:
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File Number: 09-00062a
EnactmentNnmber: R-09-0078
{1 } If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten calendar
days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall
become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
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