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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item Cover PageAGENDA ITEM COVER PAGE File ID: #1326 Resolution Sponsored by: Mayor Francis Suarez A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO EXPEDITE AND COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE I OF THE BISCAYNE BAY COASTAL WATERS ("BBCW") PROJECT; FURTHER URGING THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO EXPEDITE THE PLANNING OF PHASE 11 OF THE BBCW PROJECT SO THAT SUCH PLANNING OCCURS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND PRIOR TO THE CURRENT SCHEDULED DATE OF 2021; DIRECTING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S STATE AND FEDERAL LOBBYISTS TO ADVOCATE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS SET FORTH IN THIS RESOLUTION AND DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE THIS ITEM IN ITS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND FUTURE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO FORWARD A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS STATED HEREIN. A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO EXPEDITE AND COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE I OF THE BISCAYNE BAY COASTAL WATERS ("BBCW') PROJECT; FURTHER URGING THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO EXPEDITE THE PLANNING OF PHASE II OF THE BBCW PROJECT SO THAT SUCH PLANNING OCCURS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND PRIOR TO THE CURRENT SCHEDULED DATE OF 2021; DIRECTING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S STATE AND FEDERAL LOBBYISTS TO ADVOCATE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS SET FORTH IN THIS RESOLUTION AND DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE THIS ITEM IN ITS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND FUTURE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO FORWARD A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS STATED HEREIN. WHEREAS, the City of Miami's ("City") coastline is bordered by Biscayne Bay; and WHEREAS, the Central and Southern Florida Project Comprehensive Review Study recognized the value of Biscayne Bay and the importance of restoring its estuarine ecosystem; and WHEREAS, the health of Biscayne Bay is intrinsically linked to the economic well-being of the City through nature -based tourism and commercial and recreational boating, watersports, and fishing; and WHEREAS, a study cited by the National Sea Grant College Program of the United States ("U.S.") Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that the economic activities related to Biscayne Bay -related uses contributed to approximately 10.2% of Miami -Dade County's total economy; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency's Science Advisory Board has indicated that ecosystems provide basic life support for human and animal populations and are a source of spiritual, aesthetic, and other human experiences that are valued in many ways by many people; and WHEREAS, the purpose of Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands ("BBCW") project, a critical component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan ("CERP"), as authorized by Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000, is to improve the ecological health of Biscayne Bay by adjusting the quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of freshwater entering -,IV ov . �y City of Miami City Hall IISl1,1 AT1° °"° Legislation 3500 Pan American Drive r'0 Miami, FL 33133 R N N) Resolution www.miamigov.com Enactment Number: R-16-0562 File Number: 1326 Final Action Date:11/17/2016 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO EXPEDITE AND COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE I OF THE BISCAYNE BAY COASTAL WATERS ("BBCW') PROJECT; FURTHER URGING THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO EXPEDITE THE PLANNING OF PHASE II OF THE BBCW PROJECT SO THAT SUCH PLANNING OCCURS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND PRIOR TO THE CURRENT SCHEDULED DATE OF 2021; DIRECTING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S STATE AND FEDERAL LOBBYISTS TO ADVOCATE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS SET FORTH IN THIS RESOLUTION AND DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE THIS ITEM IN ITS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND FUTURE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO FORWARD A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS STATED HEREIN. WHEREAS, the City of Miami's ("City") coastline is bordered by Biscayne Bay; and WHEREAS, the Central and Southern Florida Project Comprehensive Review Study recognized the value of Biscayne Bay and the importance of restoring its estuarine ecosystem; and WHEREAS, the health of Biscayne Bay is intrinsically linked to the economic well-being of the City through nature -based tourism and commercial and recreational boating, watersports, and fishing; and WHEREAS, a study cited by the National Sea Grant College Program of the United States ("U.S.") Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that the economic activities related to Biscayne Bay -related uses contributed to approximately 10.2% of Miami -Dade County's total economy; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency's Science Advisory Board has indicated that ecosystems provide basic life support for human and animal populations and are a source of spiritual, aesthetic, and other human experiences that are valued in many ways by many people; and WHEREAS, the purpose of Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands ("BBCW") project, a critical component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan ("CERP"), as authorized by Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000, is to improve the ecological health of Biscayne Bay by adjusting the quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of freshwater entering Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park through the redistribution of freshwater flow and the expansion and restoration of wetlands will help to restore or enhance freshwater wetlands, tidal wetlands, and near shore bay habitat; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District ("SFWMD") determined that the BBCW project would be planned and completed in two (2) phases; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and SFWMD completed the planning for Phase I of the BBCW project in 2011, however, the planning for Phase II of the project is not scheduled to begin until 2021; and WHEREAS, Phase 11 of the BBCW project is intended to provide water storage and rehydrate more than twenty thousand (20,000) acres of important wetlands that connect the Everglades to Biscayne Bay and Card Sound; and WHEREAS, the City is deeply invested and committed to seeing the BBCW project completed, and in order to do so in a timely manner, Phase 11 of the BBCW project must move forward in advance of the current schedule; and WHEREAS, on June 10, 2014, the BBCW project received congressional authorization in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 making the project eligible for funding during the appropriations process; and WHEREAS, the SFWMD expedited the construction of Phase I of the BBCW project in advance of congressional authorization, completed construction of the Deering Estate Flow -way and portions of the L-31 E Flow -way in fall 2012, and is currently operating these components of the project; and WHEREAS, the full potential benefits of the BBCW project will only be realized once Phase I and 11 of the project are planned and constructed; 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 Commission urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ("FDEP"), and the SFWMD to take all steps necessary to expedite and complete the construction of Phase I of the BBCW project. Section 3. The City Commission further urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the FDEP, and the SFWMD to take all steps necessary to expedite the planning of Phase 11 of the BBCW project so that such planning occurs as soon as possible and prior to the current scheduled date of 2021, including but not limited to the following steps: a. Urging the SFWMD, as local sponsor of the BBCW project, to ask the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to include, in its budget for fiscal year 2017-2018, the fifty percent (50%) federal share of funding for the planning of Phase II of the BBCW project; and b. Urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to include such funding for the planning of Phase 11 of the BBCW project in its budget for fiscal year 2017-2018; and c. Urging the SFWMD to allocate up to three million dollars ($3,000,000.00), or equivalent in-kind services, as approved and required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the planning of Phase II of the BBCW project. Section 4. The City Commission directs the City's state and federal lobbyists to advocate for administrative action that would accomplish the goals set forth in this Resolution and directs the City Administration to include this item in its legislative priorities for the 2017 Legislative Session and future legislative sessions. Section 5. The City Clerk is directed to forward certified copies of this Resolution to the Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, the Governor, the Chair and Members of the Miami -Dade State Legislative Delegation, the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Governing Board and Executive Director of the SFWMD. Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.' APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: 1 i ria i "ndez, Cify Attor iey 11/7/2016 Per Directive, City Clerk's Office transmitted on 12/2/2016. ' 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.