Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLegislationFile Number: 16-00509 City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Final Action Date: A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE MIAMI TIGER BEETLE AS A THREATENED SPECIES AND URGING THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION AND THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO DESIGNATE THE SAME; SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE RICHMOND PINE ROCKLANDS; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS STATED HEREIN. WHEREAS, before a plant or animal species can receive the protection provided by the Endangered Species Act ("ESA"), it must first be added to the federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants, a process referred to as "listing"; and WHEREAS, a species is added to the list when it is determined to be endangered or threatened because of any of the following factors: the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; disease or predation; the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and/or other natural or manmade factors affecting its survival; and WHEREAS, the area bounded to the south by Southwest 152nd Street, to the north by Southwest 184th Street, to the east by Southwest 117th Avenue, and to the west by Southwest 137th Avenue, Miami, Florida, located adjacent to Zoo Miami, is one of Miami -Dade County's last remaining tracts of pine rockland, and is known as the Richmond Tract ("Richmond Tract"); and WHEREAS, pine rockland habitats have diminished greatly in Miami -Dade County due to development; and WHEREAS, pine rockland habitats support various rare plants, animals, and insects that are exclusive to said areas; and WHEREAS, one of the rare insects of pine rockland habitats is the Miami Tiger Beetle ("Tiger Beetle"); and WHEREAS, the Tiger Beetle was believed to be extinct until a survey detected the species at the Richmond Tract in 2007; and WHEREAS, on June 29, 2015, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission received a request from, inter alia, the Center for Biological Diversity to evaluate the Tiger Beetle's status for listing as a state -designated threatened species; and WHEREAS, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is undergoing a similar process that includes public comment; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is concerned that the rare Tiger Beetle could become extinct City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File Id: 16-00509 (Version: 1) Printed On: 4/28/2016 City of Miami * ixnaee eeatca � Legislation Resolution File Number: 16-00509 City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Final Action Date: A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE MIAMI TIGER BEETLE AS A THREATENED SPECIES AND URGING THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION AND THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO DESIGNATE THE SAME; SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE RICHMOND PINE ROCKLANDS; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS STATED HEREIN. WHEREAS, before a plant or animal species can receive the protection provided by the Endangered Species Act ("ESA"), it must first be added to the federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants, a process referred to as "listing"; and WHEREAS, a species is added to the list when it is determined to be endangered or threatened because of any of the following factors: the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; disease or predation; the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and/or other natural or manmade factors affecting its survival; and WHEREAS, the area bounded to the south by Southwest 152nd Street, to the north by Southwest 184th Street, to the east by Southwest 117th Avenue, and to the west by Southwest 137th Avenue, Miami, Florida, located adjacent to Zoo Miami, is one of Miami -Dade County's last remaining tracts of pine rockland, and is known as the Richmond Tract ("Richmond Tract"); and WHEREAS, pine rockland habitats have diminished greatly in Miami -Dade County due to development; and WHEREAS, pine rockland habitats support various rare plants, animals, and insects that are exclusive to said areas; and WHEREAS, one of the rare insects of pine rockland habitats is the Miami Tiger Beetle ("Tiger Beetle"); and WHEREAS, the Tiger Beetle was believed to be extinct until a survey detected the species at the Richmond Tract in 2007; and WHEREAS, on June 29, 2015, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission received a request from, inter alia, the Center for Biological Diversity to evaluate the Tiger Beetle's status for listing as a state -designated threatened species; and WHEREAS, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is undergoing a similar process that includes public comment; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is concerned that the rare Tiger Beetle could become extinct City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File Id: 16-00509 (Version: 1) Printed On: 4/28/2016 File Number.' 16-00509 if preventative measures are not taken to conserve the same; 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 Mayor and City Commission hereby express their support for the listing of the Tiger Beetle and the protection of the Richmond Tract under the Endangered Species Act by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Section 3. The Mayor and City Commission hereby express their support for the listing of the Tiger Beetle as a state -designated threatened species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Section 4. The Mayor and City Commission hereby express their support to preserve the Richmond Tract and all other pine rocklands in Miami -Dade County, including designating the Richmond Tract as a "Critically Endangered Habitat" under the ESA. Section 5. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives that represent Miami -Dade County, Florida; the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; Members of the Miami -Dade County Legislative Delegation; the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission; and all elected municipal and county officials in Miami -Dade County, Florida. Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.{2} APP�ROVED.AS TO LEGAL FO VIf,TORIA RENDEZ CITY ATTORNEY Footnotes: ND CORRECTNESS: {1} The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all requirements that may be imposed by the City Attorney, including but not limited to those prescribed by applicable City Charter and Code provisions. City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File Id: 16-00509 (version: I) Printed On: 4/28/2016