HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-07-0200City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution: R-07-0200
City Hall
3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 07-00495 Final Action Date: 4/12/2007
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO DEVELOP AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A "GREENSPACE
UTILITY PROGRAM," TO PROVIDE DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THE
MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF ALL GREENSPACE AREAS WITHIN THE
CITY OF MIAMI BOUNDARIES; DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO
PRESENT SAID ORDINANCE WITHIN 60 DAYS TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR
ITS CONSIDERATION.
WHEREAS, during the past five (5) years, the City of Miami ("City") 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 Florida Statute Section
187.201(9), the State Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has adopted Florida Statute Section 369.255, enabling local
governments to establish a mechanism to provide dedicated funding for the aforementioned activities,
when deemed necessary by a municipality; and
WHEREAS, said 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
City of Miami
Page 1 of 2 File Id: 07-00495 (Version: 2) Printed On: 3/27/2017
File Number: 07-00495 Enactment Number: R-07-0200
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 aquatic zones and create a stewardship grant program for private natural areas;
and
WHEREAS, said Section 369.255 provides that municipalities may create, alone or in cooperation
with other counties or municipalities pursuant to the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act, Florida Statute
Section 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; and
WHEREAS, private natural areas assessed according to Florida Statute Section 193.501 would
qualify for stewardship grants;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE 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 City Manager is directed to develop an ordinance establishing a "Greenspace
Utility Program," to provide dedicated funding for the maintenance and management of all
greenspace areas within the City.
Section 3. The City Administration is directed to present said ordinance within 60 days to the City
Commission for its consideration.
Section 4. 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 2 File Id: 07-00495 (Version: 2) Printed On: 3/27/2017