LTC 566-2019 VILLAGE OF BAL HARBOUR RESOLUTION NO. 2019-1253 MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
No. 566-2019
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael E. Granado, City Cle
DATE: October 23, 2019 /
SUBJECT: VILLAGE OF BAL HARBOUR RESOLUTION NO. 2019-1253
Attached for your information is Resolution No. 2019-1253, adopted by the Mayor and the Village
Council of the Village of Bal Harbour on September 17, 2019.
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF BAL HARBOUR
VILLAGE, FLORIDA; EXPRESSING THE VILLAGE'S OPPOSITION TO
OFFSHORE DRILLING ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SEISMIC AIRGUN
BLASTING; PROVIDING DIRECTION TO VILLAGE OFFICIALS;
PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
The Village of Bal Harbour Clerk has requested that a copy of this resolution be provided to the
Miami Beach Mayor and Commissioners. •
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at 305.673.7411.
REG/Ic
Attachment
F:\CLER\$ALL\LILIA\LTC's-Transmittal's\Bal Harbour\Resolution 2019-1253 Village of Bal Harbour.docx
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-1253
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF BAL
HARBOUR VILLAGE, FLORIDA; EXPRESSING THE VILLAGE'S
OPPOSITION TO OFFSHORE DRILLING ACTIVITIES,
INCLUDING SEISMIC AIRGUN BLASTING; PROVIDING
DIRECTION TO VILLAGE OFFICIALS; PROVIDING FOR
IMPLEMENTATION;AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the United States government has expressed interest in opening the
Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas development and
exploration, including risky methods such as seismic airgun blasting; and
WHEREAS, seismic airguns fire intense blasts of compressed air, one of the loudest
manmade sounds in the ocean, every 10-12 seconds for days, weeks, or months on end;
and
WHEREAS, seismic airgun noise has been shown to harm and injure dolphins,
whales, endangered sea turtles,fish, and other marine life; and
WHEREAS, exploratory and commercial drilling, extraction, and transportation of
offshore oil and gas resources pose a significant risk of oil spills and chronic leakage; and
WHEREAS, eventual offshore drilling may require significant onshore infrastructure,
such as pipelines or refineries, which would harm the character of the coast; and
WHEREAS, offshore drilling activities pose threats to treasured vacation
destinations on Florida's Coasts, which are of intrinsic economic value for numerous
industries, provide essential nursery habitats for recreational and commercially important
fisheries, and act as natural buffers from storm surge and hurricanes; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Bal Harbour recognizes that the tourism and fishing
industries, which depend on a healthy and vibrant coastal environment, both serve as
major economic drivers benefiting the current and future residents, property owners, and
visitors to Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Bal Harbour endeavors to be a good steward of the state
and region's environment and its resources; and
WHEREAS, exploration and development of oil and gas resources off the coast of
Florida will not effectively address the long-term energy needs of our country; and
Bal Harbour Village Resolution No. 2019-1253 1
WHEREAS, the Village of Bal Harbour finds that it would be more economically
and ecologically responsible to pursue non-polluting sources of renewable energy such
as solar and wind, that pose-{ess risk to the coastal environment and economic health
before using uncertain methods of seismic airgun blasting for offshore oil and gas.
deposits; and
WHEREAS, this Council finds that expressing opposition to offshore drilling
activities, including seismic airgun blasting, is in the best interest of the Village.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF BAL
HARBOUR VILLAGE, FLORIDA,AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals Adopted. That the above stated recitals are hereby adopted
and confirmed.
Section 2. Finding. That offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration, including
seismic airgun blasting, will put Florida's environment, beaches, marine resources, and
local economies at risk.
Section 3. Council Opposition to Federal Action. That it opposes offshore oil
drilling and seismic airgun blasting off Florida's coast and urges the federal government
not to pursue such practices off Florida's coast. The Village Council further urges the State
Administration and Florida Legislature to oppose any such federal actions.
Section 4. Distribution. That the Village Clerk is directed to distribute this
Resolution to Governor DeSantis, the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate,
the Florida League of Cities, the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida City-County
Management Association, Board of County Commissioners for Miami-Dade County, the
Miami-Dade County League of Cities,the Miami-Dade County Legislative Delegation, and
each of the municipalities in Miami-Dade County.
Section 5. Implementation. That the appropriate Village officials are hereby
authorized to execute all necessary documents and to take all actions necessary to
effectuate the intent of this Resolution.
Bal Harbour Village Resolution No. 2019-1253 2
Section 6. Effective Date. That this Resolution shall take effect immediately
upon the adoption hereof.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of September, 2019.
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M 'or 5abriel Groisman
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Dwight S. Danie, Village Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
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Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L.
Village Attorney
Bal Harbour Village Resolution No. 2019-1253 3