HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-23-0514City of Miami
Resolution R-23-0514
Legislation
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.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Sabina Covo, Commissioner Christine King
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
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 14954 (Revision: A) Printed On: 7/17/2025
File ID: 14954 Enactment Number: R-23-0514
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:
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 14954 (Revision: A) Printed on: 7/17/2025