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File ID: #5847
Resolution
Sponsored by: Mayor Francis Suarez, Commissioner Wifredo Gort,
Commissioner Ken Russell, Commissioner Joe Carollo, Commissioner Manolo
Reyes, Commissioner Keon Hardemon
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE UNITED STATES
COAST GUARD TO CONDUCT A FOCUSED WATERWAY ANALYSIS AND
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REVIEW OF THE SAFETY OF THE GOVERNMENT CUT
JETTIES, FOLLOWING TWO (2) RECENT FATAL BOATING ACCIDENTS
OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY WITHIN THE LAST THIRTY-ONE (31) MONTHS,
ALL OF WHICH INVOLVED BOATS COLLIDING WITH THE NORTH ROCK JETTY AT
GOVERNMENT CUT; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A
COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS STATED HEREIN.
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
Enactment Number: R-19-0188
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 5847 Final Action Date:5/9/2019
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE UNITED STATES
COAST GUARD TO CONDUCT A FOCUSED WATERWAY ANALYSIS AND
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REVIEW OF THE SAFETY OF THE GOVERNMENT CUT
JETTIES, FOLLOWING TWO (2) RECENT FATAL BOATING ACCIDENTS
OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY WITHIN THE LAST THIRTY-ONE (31) MONTHS,
ALL OF WHICH INVOLVED BOATS COLLIDING WITH THE NORTH ROCK JETTY AT
GOVERNMENT CUT; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A
COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS STATED HEREIN.
WHEREAS, on September 25, 2016, a boating accident involving Miami Marlins pitcher
Jose Fernandez, Eduardo Rivero and Emilio Macias in an open console boat occurred at the
north side of the north rock jetty at the Government Cut inlet resulting in the death of all three (3)
men; and
WHEREAS, on September 28, 2016, United States ("U.S.") Senator Marco Rubio asked
the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess the safety of the jetty where
Fernandez' boat crashed; and
WHEREAS, the Coast Guard thereafter conducted a Miami Main Channel Focused
Waterway Analysis and Management System review and concluded in its June 29, 2017
Summary of Findings that current buoys and ranges marking the Miami Main Channel are
sufficient and that adding additional aids to navigation for the jetties would not conform to
navigation standards and could possibly confuse mariners due to existing lighted buoys; and
WHEREAS, on April 20, 2019, another fatal boating accident occurred wherein
Christopher Colgan, Elaine Colgan, and Jennifer Munoz Cadavid were killed and Troy Forte
was seriously injured when their boat crashed upon the very same rocks of the north side of the
north rock jetty at the Government Cut inlet; and
WHEREAS, six (6) fatalities and a seventh (7th) seriously injured boating accident victim,
all occurring within less than thirty-one (31) months in the same north jetty vicinity is sufficient
cause for a renewed review and analysis by the U.S. Coast Guard regarding the navigational
safety of Government Cut and its jetties;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as fully set forth in this Resolution.
Section 2. The Miami City Commission hereby urges the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct a
Focused Waterway Analysis and Management System review of the safety of the Government
Cut jetties following two (2) recent fatal boating accidents all of which involved boats colliding
with the north rock jetty at Government Cut.
Section 3. The Miami City Commission directs the City Clerk to transmit a copy of this
Resolution to Rear Admiral Peter J. Brown, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, U.S.
Coast Guard and Captain Megan Dean, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ndez, ity Attor ey 4/30/2019
If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) 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.