HomeMy WebLinkAboutLegislationCity of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
City Hall
3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 07-00495 Final Action Date:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO DEVELOP AN ORDINANCE FOR ESTABLISHING A
GREENSPACE UTILITY PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DEDICATED FUNDING FOR
THE MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF ALL GREENSPACE WITHIN CITY
BOUNDARIES; SAID ORDINANCE WILL BE DEVELOPED BY CITY STAFF
WITHIN 60 DAYS.
WHEREAS, during the past five (5) years, the City of Miami has launched a comprehensive and
aggressive environmental program to clean our streets, our waterways, brown fields, storm drains, and
improve our air and water quality, thus erasing decades of environmental neglect; and,
WHEREAS, in furtherance of this environmental program, Mayor Manuel A. Diaz ("Mayor") was one of
the first United States Mayors to sign the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement (the "Agreement")
committing cities to take actions to reduce global warming pollution by striving to meet or exceed
Kyoto Protocol targets; and,
WHEREAS, the Mayor's commitment to join other mayors throughout the country (today 400 Mayors
representing over 58 million people have signed the Agreement) brought the issue of environmental
policy to the forefront of South Florida priorities; and,
WHEREAS, during the Mayor's 2006 State of the City Address, core steps for environmental policy
were etched out, increasing the level of focus on innovation, and developing a strong foundation for
environmentalism; and,
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has found that the proper management of greenspace areas,
including, without limitation, the urban forest, greenways, private and public forest preserves,
wetlands, and aquatic zones, is essential to the state's environment and economy and to the health
and safety of its residents and visitors; and,
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has also found that the limitation and control of non -indigenous
plants and tree replacement and maintenance are vital to achieving the natural systems and
recreational lands goals and policies of the state pursuant to s. 187.201(9), the State Comprehensive
Plan; and,
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has adopted Section 369.255, Florida Statutes, enabling local
governments to establish a mechanism to provide dedicated funding for the aforementioned activities,
when deemed necessary by a municipality.
WHEREAS, Section 369.255 provides that, in addition to any other funding mechanisms legally
available to municipalities to control invasive, non -indigenous aquatic or upland plants and manage
urban forest resources, a municipality may create one or more green utilities or adopt fees sufficient to
plan, restore, and manage urban forest resources, greenways, forest preserves, wetlands, and other
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 Printed On: 4/3/2007
File Number: 07-00495
aquatic zones and create a stewardship grant program for private natural areas; and,
WHEREAS, Section 369.255 provides that municipalities may create, alone or in cooperation with
other counties or municipalities pursuant to the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act, s. 163.01, one or
more greenspace management districts to fund the planning, management, operation, and
administration of a greenspace management program; and,
WHEREAS, the fees shall be collected on a voluntary basis as set forth by the municipality and
calculated to generate sufficient funds to plan, manage, operate, and administer a greenspace
management program. Private natural areas assessed according to s. 193.501 would qualify for
stewardship grants.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI FLORIDA:
Section 1. The City Manager will direct City Staff to develop an ordinance for establishing one or more
"Greenspace Utilities."
Section 2. City Staff will provide and introduce said ordinance within 60 days of resolution approval.
Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the
Mayor.{1}
Footnotes:
{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.
City of Miami Page 2 of Printed On: 4/3/2007