HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item Cover PageAGENDA ITEM COVER PAGE
File ID: #14954
Resolution
Sponsored by: Commissioner Sabina Covo, Commissioner Christine King
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO UNDERTAKE AND EXECUTE THE
NECESSARY APPLICATIONS WITH AGENCIES OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, THE
STATE OF FLORIDA, INCLUDING THE FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT
("FIND") COMMISSION, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO LIMIT THE
IMPACT OF POTENTIALLY HARMFUL HUMAN ACTIVITY AROUND THE NESTING
ROOKERY ON CITY OF MIAMI OWNED MANGROVE ISLAND, FOLIO 01-3217-000-
0040, IN NORTHERN BISCAYNE BAY AQUATIC PRESERVE.
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
Enactment Number: R-23-0514
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 14954 Final Action Date:11/16/2023
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING AND
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO UNDERTAKE AND EXECUTE THE
NECESSARY APPLICATIONS WITH AGENCIES OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, THE
STATE OF FLORIDA, INCLUDING THE FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT
("FIND") COMMISSION, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO LIMIT THE
IMPACT OF POTENTIALLY HARMFUL HUMAN ACTIVITY AROUND THE NESTING
ROOKERY ON CITY OF MIAMI OWNED MANGROVE ISLAND, FOLIO 01-3217-000-
0040, IN NORTHERN BISCAYNE BAY AQUATIC PRESERVE.
WHEREAS, the southernmost island of the Morningside Picnic Islands located in
the City of Miami ("City"), described as Folio No. 01-3217-000-0040 ("Property"), further
described as a Rectangular Tract in Biscayne Bay, 500 feet in width and 1000 feet in
length lying in Sections 17 and 18 per Deed #24164 from the Board of Trustees of the
Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida, has been identified as a critical
bird nesting rookery; and
WHEREAS, established by Florida Statute, aquatic preserves are submerged
lands of exceptional beauty that are to be maintained in their natural or existing
conditions; and
WHEREAS, the intent was to forever set aside submerged lands with exceptional
biological, aesthetic, and scientific values as sanctuaries, called aquatic preserves, for
the benefit of future generations; and
WHEREAS, a new established nesting rookery on Mangrove Island on the
Property in the Northern Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve was surveyed and confirmed
by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission; and, the City of Miami ("City") unanimously
adopted Resolution No. 23-0312, to work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
to protect the rookery on July 13, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the nesting rookery on Mangrove Island is one of only two (2) active
nesting rookeries in the Northern Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve; and
WHEREAS, the conservation of this sensitive species requires consideration of
local population trends, especially those that may represent a special genetic haplotype;
and
WHEREAS, although the Brown Pelican responded well to conservation efforts,
the species continues to face threats including climate change and habitat loss and is
also vulnerable to starvation during sharp declines in food fish and fish kills, and are
injured or killed by fishing line and hooks, and when they ingest plastics and other
pollution; and
WHEREAS, disturbance by boaters and or human activity around nesting
colonies can cause nest abandonment; and
WHEREAS, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has placed no
trespassing signage on the rookery, and citizens with boats and watercraft continue to speed
close to the rookery and boats are docking on the rookery for the purpose of fishing; and
WHEREAS, Section 327.40, Florida Statutes, provides that no person or
municipality, county, or other governmental entity shall place any uniform waterway
marker in, on, or over the waters or shores of the State of Florida without a permit from
the Division of Law Enforcement of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission;
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 and authorized to undertake and execute the
necessary applications with agencies of Miami -Dade County, the State of Florida, including the
Florida Inland Navigation District ("FIND") commission, and the United States of America to take
all appropriate steps necessary to limit the impact of potentially harmful human activity around
the nesting rookery on City owned mangrove island, Folio 01-3217-000-0040, in Northern
Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, further described as a Rectangular Tract in Biscayne Bay, 500
feet in width and 1000 feet in length lying in Sections 17 and 18 per Deed #24164 from the
Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida.
Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ndez, ity (tor ey 11/6/2023
ndez, ity Attor ey 1/19/2024