Resolution 2019-30888RESOLUTION NO. 2019 - 30888
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ( "FDEP ") TO
DEVELOP A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR MITIGATING CORAL REEF
DISEASES, AND FURTHER URGING THE FDEP AND THE SOUTH
FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ( "SFWMD ") TO
IMPLEMENT ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES TO GREATLY REDUCE
NUTRIENT LOADING FROM ALL HUMAN SOURCES AND PATHWAYS
AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
TRANSMIT THIS RESOLUTION AND THE COMMENTS SET FORTH
HEREIN TO THE FDEP, THE SFWMD, AND TO ALL MUNICIPALITIES
WITHIN MIAMI -DADE, BROWARD, MONROE, PALM BEACH, AND
MARTIN COUNTIES.
WHEREAS, economically and ecologically valuable nearshore coral reef resources are
found in Florida coastal waters from Martin County to the Dry Tortugas in Monroe County, and
comprise the Florida Reef Tract — the only coral reef tract in the continental United States and
third largest coral barrier reef system in the world; and
WHEREAS, the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Tract (the "Southeast Reef Tract ")
stretches from Miami -Dade County (north of Biscayne National Park) to St. Lucie Inlet in Martin
County, and comprises one third of the 360 -mile long Florida Reef Tract; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, the State of Florida established the Southeast Florida Coral Reef
Ecosystem Conservation Area, which consists of the sovereignty submerged lands and state
waters offshore of Broward, Martin, Miami -Dade, and Palm Beach Counties from the St. Lucie
Inlet to the northern boundary of the Biscayne National Park; and
WHEREAS, coastal waters, coral reefs, and the aquatic life the coral reefs support are
essential in sustaining over 71,000 jobs, and contributing over $6 billion to Florida's economy,
while serving approximately 6 million residents, and over 38 million visitors annually; and
WHEREAS, coral reefs are the literal first line of defense for our beaches and coastal
communities, providing invaluable physical impact and flood reduction protection from
increasingly severe and frequent tropical storm events; and
WHEREAS, the highly- accessible Southeast Reef Tract has experienced impacts from
extremely high usage year- round, and from water quality degradation caused by numerous
factors including: prolonged periods of exceptionally warm water temperatures; acidification; and
direct human inputs such as continued operation of ocean outfalls, leaking septic systems, and
regional stormwater discharges; and
WHEREAS, coral disease outbreaks are occurring and quickly spreading along the
entire Florida Reef Tract, and include multiple diseases which have impacted over 21 species of
reef- building stony corals, including several listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered
Species Act and the State Imperiled Species Management Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach (the "City ") recognizes the value of the Florida Reef
Tract and its important contribution to the region's economy and ecology; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to support and advance the protection and restoration of the
Florida Reef Tract; and
WHEREAS, as such, the Mayor and City Commission hereby urge responsible agencies,
including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's ( "FDEP ") Coral Reef
Conservation Program to develop a Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Plan
for the purpose of mitigating reef diseases, and water quality impacts, while maintaining a
healthy and sustainable Southeast Florida Coral Reef Tract; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission further urge the FDEP and the South
Florida Water Management District to develop and implement strategies to reduce nutrient
loading from all human sources and pathways as a matter of urgency, including surface water
management initiatives of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and Central
Everglades Planning Project; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby urge the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ( "FDEP ") to
develop a management plan for mitigating coral reef diseases, and further urging the FDEP and
the South Florida Water Management District ( "SFWMD ") to implement additional strategies to
greatly reduce nutrient loading from all human sources and pathways as a matter of urgency,
and directing the City Clerk to transmit this Resolution and the comments set forth herein to the
FDEP, the SFWMD, and to all municipalities within Miami -Dade, Broward, Monroe, Palm Beach,
and Martin Counties.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this f7 day of , 2019.
ATTEST:
Rafa ` E. Gra ado, City Clerk
Dan Gelber, Mayor
(Co- sponsored by Commissioners John Elizabeth Aleman and Mark Samuelian)
6;
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EX CUTION
City Attorney
MIAMI BEACH
Resolutions - C7 R
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 17, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ( "FDEP ") TO DEVELOPA MANAGEMENT
PLAN FOR MITIGATING CORAL REEF DISEASES, AND FURTHER
URGING THE FDEP AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT
DISTRICT ( "SFWMD ") TO IMPLEMENT ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES TO
GREATLY REDUCE NUTRIENT LOADING FROM ALL HUMAN SOURCES
AND PATHWAYS AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, AND DIRECTING THE CITY
CLERK TO TRANSMIT THIS RESOLUTION AND THE COMMENTS SET
FORTH HEREIN TO THE FDEP, THE SFWMD, AND TO ALL
MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN MIAMI -DADE, BROWARD, MONROE, PALM
BEACH, AND MARTIN COUNTIES.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the resolution.
ANALYSIS
At the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee meeting on June 26, 2018, Commissioners
John Elizabeth Aleman and Mark Samuelian sponsored a resolution urging the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection ( "FDEP ") to develop a management plan for mitigating
coral reef diseases, and further urging the FDEP and the South Florida Water Management
District ( "SFWMD ") to implement additional strategies to greatly reduce nutrient loading from all
human sources and pathways as a matter of urgency, in order to protect the Southeast Florida
Coral Reef Tract.
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends the Mayor and City Commission to approve the Resolution.
Legislative Tracking
Environment and Sustainability
Sponsor
Commissioners John Elizabeth Aleman and Mark Samuelian
Page 400 of 1502
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
a Resolution Coral Reef
Page 401 of 1502