96-21903 RESO
RESOLUTION NUMBER
96-21903
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH. FLORIDA, REQUESTING THE 1996 FLORIDA
LEGISLA TURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE
PRESERVATION AND REPAIR OF THE STATE'S BEACHES; TO
RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR FUNDING NON-FEDERAL PROJECTS;
AND TO IDENTIFY A LONG-TERM DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE.
WHEREAS, Florida's beaches are an important part of the quality of life of this
community, providing aesthetic, environmental, hurricane mitigation and recreational
benefits for our residents and tourists; and
WHEREAS, beaches continue to be Florida's number one tourist attraction and are
thus vital to our economic well-being, generating over $9 billion in beach-related sales
annually and contributing to a ripple effect to the Florida economy of over $16 billion; and
WHEREAS, The City of Miami Beach recognizes that severe beach erosion
continues to be a major problem in Florida; and
WHEREAS, federal funding for beach and inlet projects is declining, resulting in
delays in implementing needed erosion projects and putting more pressure on state and
local sources; and
WHEREAS, as a matter of long-standing policy, the Legislature has given priority
to those beach and inlet projects which have substantial federal matching funds; and
WHEREAS. the state legislature has historically demonstrated a commitment to the
preservation of Florida's beaches, and now must recognize the critical environmental and
economic need to maintain or repair our beaches, with or without the financial assistance
of the federal government.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, THAT:
1. The Mayor and City Commission requests that the State Legislature provide
adequate annual funding to carry out a statewide Comprehensive Beach
Management Program to protect Florida's remaining pristine beaches and repair
those that are severely damaged, and consider the Department of Environmental
Protection's 1996-97 budget request of $36.8 million.
2. The Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach requests that since
navigation inlets are a major cause of beach erosion in Florida, that the Legislature,
in its beach management funding strategy, give equal priority to Inlet Sand
Bypassing as it does to traditional beach nourishment projects.
3: The Mayor and the City Commission of the City of Miami Beach requests that in
cases where the federal government has not yet appropriated matching funds for
projects, and where local governments are willing to "loan" the federal share in
order to deal quickly with an urgent erosion problem, the Legislature, as a matter
of policy, will consider such "loans" by local governments to be the equivalent of the
Federal matching funds for the project.
4: The Mayor and the City Commission of the City of Miami Beach requests that the
State Legislature give serious consideration to the identification and dedication of
a fair and stable source of long-term funding to fully implement a statewide Beach
Management Program for preserving and restoring Florida's threatened sandy
beaches.
Passed and Adopted this 6th day of March,
FORM APPROVED
LEGAh DE~T.
By 1IJ 'J-L.
Date ;- :vP-0b
ATTEST:
RDW.f(M.~
CIlY CLERK
lilY Ut MIAMI BEACH
lO
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA 33139
-
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. --LJ 3 - q ~
TO:
Mayor Seymour Gelber and
Members of the City Commission
Jose GarCia_pedrls
City Manager
A RESOLUTION QUESTING THE 1996 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE PRESERVA nON AND
REPAIR OF THE STATE'S BEACHES, TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED
FOR FUNDING NON-FEDERAL PROJECTS, AND TO IDENTIFY A
LONG-TERM DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE.
DATE: March 6, 1996
FROM:
SUBJECT:
ADMINISTRA liON RECOMMENDA liON
The Administration recommends the Commission approve the resolution.
BACKGROUND
Florida's beaches are an important part of the quality of life of this community, providing
aesthetic, environmental, hurricane mitigation and recreational benefits for our residents
and tourists. In addition, our beaches continue to be our number one tourist attraction
and are thus vital to our economic well-being.
Unfortunately, beach erosion continues to be a major problem in Florida. Federal funding
for beach and inlet projects is declining, resulting in delays in implementing needed
erosion projects and putting more pressure on state and local funding sources.
The state legislature has historically demonstrated a commitment to the preservation of
Florida's beaches, and now must recognize the critical environmental and economic
need to maintain or repair our beaches, with or without the financial assistance of the
federal government.
CONCLUSION
The City Commission should hereby request the State Legislature to provide adequate
annual funding to carry out a statewide Comprehensive Beach Management Program to
protect Florida's remaining pristine beaches and repair those that are severely damaged.
AGENDA ITEM C. 'l f5
DATE 3.t:,-9~
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