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Home My WebLink AboutR-25-0018City of Miami Resolution R-25-0018 Legislation City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com File Number: 17076 Final Action Date: 1/23/2025 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR WATER SAFETY EDUCATION AND INSTRUCTION SERVICES AS PART OF THE ZERO DROWNINGS MIAMI- DADE PROGRAM FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND FOR TWO (2) ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR TERMS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AGREEMENTS, AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. SPONSOR(S): Mayor Francis X. Suarez, Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner Damian Pardo, Commissioner Joe Carollo, Commissioner Manolo Reyes, Commissioner Christine King WHEREAS, all too often, the local news in Miami -Dade County reports on the accidental drowning of a toddler or young child; and WHEREAS, such a tragedy can take place in a matter of seconds while a caretaker's attention is diverted elsewhere —in the time it takes to answer a phone call or a knock at the door; and WHEREAS, accidental drownings can happen in the family swimming pool, or in a natural body of water, such as the ocean, or a lake or canal; and WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"), drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, claiming an estimated 236,000 lives each year; and WHEREAS, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance reports that, on average, 3,500 to 4,000 people lose their lives to drowning each year in the United States; and WHEREAS, the CDC reports that more children ages one to four years old die from drowning than any other cause of death in the United States; and WHEREAS, the CDC reports that for children ages five to fourteen years old, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States; and WHEREAS, from 2018 to 2020, Florida had the highest rate of unintentional drowning deaths in the United States for children age zero to nine years old, according to the Florida Department of Health; and WHEREAS, the CDC reports that for every child under age 18 who dies from drowning, another seven receive emergency department care for non -fatal drowning; and City of Miami Page 1 of 4 File ID: 17076 (Revision: A) Printed On: 8/12/2025 File ID: 17076 Enactment Number: R-25-0018 WHEREAS, even if a young child has a non -fatal drowning experience, they can still be left with severe brain damage and other long-term disabilities; and WHEREAS, the American Red Cross and the CDC stress the importance of drowning prevention efforts, including pool alarms, pool fencing, supervision, use of flotation devices, and swimming lessons; and WHEREAS, formal swimming lessons have the potential to make dramatic reductions in the risk of drowning in preschool and kindergarten age children; and WHEREAS, the American Red Cross Scientific Review Council reports that it has been demonstrated that children aged two to four years old can acquire the motor skills for swimming and that most children aged four and a half years old are developmentally ready to do so; and WHEREAS, according to the archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicines, participation in formal swimming lessons is associated with an eighty-eight percent (88%) reduction in the risk of drowning for children; and WHEREAS, on May 13, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners of Miami -Dade County, pursuant to Resolution No. R-455-24, approved the Zero Drownings Miami -Dade program ("Program"), with a collaborative of representatives in Miami -Dade County, including Miami -Dade County Parks Recreation Open Spaces and other Miami -Dade County departments, The Children's Trust, Miami -Dade County Public Schools ("MDCPS"), American Red Cross, and The Miami Foundation ("Collaborative Group"); and WHEREAS, the resulting legislation culminated in the approval of a three-year trial program with the goal of increasing water safety for certain young children in Miami -Dade County; and WHEREAS, as part of the Program, Miami -Dade County would expand its current swim program and work with the Collaborative Group to coordinate and facilitate free swim lessons for cohorts of four -year -old and kindergarten -aged children at nearby public or private water safety swim providers; and WHEREAS, The City of Miami has various programs that offer swim safety lessons; and WHEREAS, for example, in 2023 to 2024, the City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department provided swim lessons to over 2,500 children, with most lessons taking place during the summer months, and a smaller percentage of lessons taking place during the school year, outside of school hours; and WHEREAS, more water safety programs are needed in the City of Miami, and formally joining the Program is advantageous to City of Miami residents, and WHEREAS, if approved to join the Program, the City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department will provide access to aquatic facilities at Charles Hadley Park and Shenandoah Park during the initial period with the intent of expanding to Curtis Park, Virrick Park, West End Park, and additional City aquatic facilities during the 2025-2026 & 2026-2027 academic year, and City of Miami Page 2 of 4 File ID: 17076 (Revision: A) Printed on: 8/12/2025 File ID: 17076 Enactment Number: R-25-0018 WHEREAS, participating children would include those participating in Miami -Dade County's Head Start program, certain children in The Trust funded Thrive-By-5 private child care centers, and MDCPS kindergarten classrooms; and WHEREAS, the children would be transported to nearby water safety swim providers to receive essential drowning prevention instructions, during a 10-day, 30-minute group class; and WHEREAS, providing the lesson during school hours has the advantage of ensuring the swim facility is open and available and makes it more likely the child will complete the Program; and WHEREAS, each partner in the Collaborative Group will play a critical role to the initiative during the three-year trial Program, as outlined below: • Miami Foundation: serve as the pro-bono fiscal agent. Donation of fiscal agent services will be evaluated after the trial Program; • Children's Trust: provide funding for the Program, up to $100,000.00 per year would be used to reimburse the City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department for staffing costs, with additional funding of which is slated to support transportation costs, swim lesson costs, marketing and communications support and other Program funding needs; • Miami -Dade County: coordinate the inclusion of the Program into the Head Start program, including obtaining necessary waiver, releases, and permission slips from parents, and facilitating transportation to the swim lessons; operate and coordinate the Program and the use of county and municipal and private pools; ensure swim providers are certified according to state law and background screened; direct payments from the fiscal agent to swim providers and for transportation costs; provide funding for County administrative staff; • MDCPS: coordinate the inclusion of the Program into its kindergarten classrooms and facilitate transportation services during the school day, including obtaining necessary waiver, releases, and permission slips from parents; and • The American Red Cross: assist with swim guidelines and curriculum; and WHEREAS, Miami -Dade County currently estimates that during year one (which will run roughly from April of 2024 through fiscal year 2024-2025), it is anticipated that the Program will be provided to 4,400 children being served at twelve swim sites, and WHEREAS, during year two (fiscal year 2025 to 2026), Miami -Dade County anticipates that the Program will be provided to 10,000 participating children at twenty (20) swim sites; and WHEREAS, during year three (fiscal year 2026 to 2027), Miami -Dade County anticipates that the Program will be fully implemented county -wide with a target goal of 20,000 participating children per year at thirty (30) swim sites; and WHEREAS, it is the aim of the Collaborative Group to continue the Program beyond the three-year trial term; and City of Miami Page 3 of 4 File ID: 17076 (Revision: A) Printed on: 8/12/2025 File ID: 17076 Enactment Number: R-25-0018 WHEREAS, the City of Miami Commission wishes to increase water safety for children in the City of Miami and supports the goal of the Collaborative Group and the implementation of the Zero Drownings Miami -Dade Program; 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 authorized' to negotiate and execute an agreement with Miami -Dade County for water safety education and instruction services as part of the Zero Drownings Miami -Dade Program for the current fiscal year with an option to extend for two additional one year terms. Section 3. The City Manager is further authorized to negotiate and execute any and all necessary documents, including agreements, amendments, renewals, and extensions as needed as a part of the Zero Drownings Miami -Dade Program, all in forms acceptable to the City Attorney. Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: rge ng lll, City ttor -y 4/1/2025 1 The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all legal requirements that may be imposed, including but not limited to those prescribed by applicable City Charter and City Code provisions. City of Miami Page 4 of 4 File ID: 17076 (Revision: A) Printed on: 8/12/2025