HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-16-0562City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution: R-16-0562
File Number: 1326
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
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
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.
SPONSOR(S): Mayor Francis Suarez
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
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 1326 (Revision:) Printed On: 6/15/2018
File ID: 1326 Enactment Number: R-16-0562
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 11 of the BBCW
project; and
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File ID: 1326
Enactment Number: R-16-0562
b. Urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to include such funding for the planning of
Phase II 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
4ia dez, CiItyAtto i ey 11/7/2016
' 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.
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