2011-27619 Reso r
RESOLUTION NO. 2011
27619
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING
THE CITY'S FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE
FIRST SESSION OF THE 112 CONGRESS.
WHEREAS, the City must avail itself of all potential sources of funds; nd
WHEREAS, Federal legislation may need to be enacted to protect and enhance the
City's interests; and
WHEREAS, action of Federal executive agencies may be necessary for the same
purposes; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that the City's legislative consultant is aware of, and has
a list of, City priorities; and
WHEREAS, the City's legislative consultant has met with the Mayor, City
Commission, City Attorney, and Administration to identify priorities; and
WHEREAS, the Administration has prioritized funding needs and identified potential
funding sources; and
WHEREAS, the City's numerous Federal -level needs have been assessed and
prioritized to produce the most effective use of its legislative team.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR ND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the re mmended
Federal Legislative Agenda for the first session of the 110 Congress be a proved, as
more specifically set forth in the attached Commission Memorandum.
PASSED and ADOPTED this q{it day of 2fl?rcL , 201 .
11( /• .� _ - '
ayor
ATTEST:
T O t� - APPROVED A
City Clerk FORM & LANG1 AGE
& FOR EXECUTION
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4hbowif" i4 . ttorne r' Date
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COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
A Resolution Approving The City's FY 2011/12 Federal Legislative Agenda.
Key Intended Outcome Supported:
Supports Multiple KIOs
Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.): The quality of the beaches appears'as one
of the most important areas affecting quality of life. More recreational opportunities is ranked S one
of the changes that will make Miami Beach a better place to live. Storm drainage catch basins
cleaning citywide; improving infrastructure was listed number 5 in important safety areas for the City
to address.
Issue:
Shall the City Commission approve the recommended list of Federal Legislative Priorities?
Item Summary /Recommendation:
Each year, the Mayor and City Commission adopt the City's legislative priorities that will be pursued by
the City's representatives in Washington D.C. during the annual Congressional Session. The attached
list of priorities was developed by the Administration in consultation with the City's lobbyists, and by
meetings held on February 22 -23, 2011 between the Mayor and each Commissioner, and the City's
lobbyists.
The proposed priorities include appropriation, authorization, and legislative requests that wer developed
through discussions between the Administration, the Mayor and City Commission, and the ity's federal
lobbyists.
The City has been very successful in securing appropriations for City projects in the past few ars, most
notably in the areas of beach renourishment and transportation. The City has had some s ess with
funding for historic preservation and infrastructure improvements, although competition forthi f nding has
grown significantly. Unfortunately, due to the national political climate, the opportunity to se k earmarks
and appropriations no longer exists. The City's Federal Legislative Agenda has been re rganized to
identify programs and opportunities for City projects that do not require an earmark.
In addition to the Critical Priorities of Beach Renourishment and the Miami Beach Convention Center and
Conference Facility Expansion, the City's Federal Legislative Agenda includes items related to the pending
authorization bills, impacts of the Port of Miami Deep Dredge Project, Programmatic support Regulatory
Reform and Tax Policy, and Education.
Advisory Board Recommendation:
N/A
Financial Information:
Source of Amount Account
Funds:
N/A
OBPI Total
Financial Impact Summary: N/A
City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking:
Kevin Crowder, Economic Development
Sign -Offs:
,�rtmentDirec " ; • # , C a
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KC HF . r JMG
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AGENDA ITEM A [ 13
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DATE 3 ? I I
e, MIAMIBEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Matti H. Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: March 9, 2011 II I
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE WY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2 11/12
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION -
Adopt the Resolution.
ANALYSIS
Each year, the Mayor and City Commission adopt the City's funding and legislativ p orities
that will be ursued by the City's representatives in Washington D.C. during th annual
Y tY P 9 9
Congressional session.
The proposed priorities include appropriation, authorization, and legislative req ets that
were developed through discussions between the Administration, the Mayor arid City
Commission, the City Attorney, and the City's federal lobbyists.
The City has been very successful in securing appropriations for City projects in th past few
years, most notably in the areas of beach renourishment and transportation. Th ity has
had some success with funding for historic preservation and infrastructure impro ments,
although competition for this funding has grown significantly. Unfortunately, d to the
national political climate, the opportunity to seek earmarks and appropriations o longer
exists. The City's Federal Legislative Agenda has been reorganized to identify progra s and
opportunities for City projects that do not require an earmark.
In addition to the Critical Federal Priorities of Beach Renourishment and the Mia ' Beach
Convention Center and Conference Facility Expansion, the City's Federal L.- islative
Agenda includes items related to the pending authorization bills, impacts of the Po f Miami
Deep Dredge Project, Programmatic support, Regulatory Reform and Tax P•Ii y, and
Education. The Health Advisory Committee has requested that the City include P se 2 of
the Hospital Emergency Power Plant Project on the Federal Agenda.
PROPOSED 2011/12 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:
CRITICAL FEDERAL PRIORITIES
• Beach Renourishment
Army Corps of Engineers Renourishment Proiect — For over a decade, t City of
Miami Beach has been seeking implementation of an effective long term s Iution,
through a Federal partnership with the full and united support of our Cong ssionai
Delegation, to preserve the coastline and effectively prevent devastating - oreline
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March 9, 2011
Commission Memorandum - Federal Legislative Priorities
Page2of4
erosion. The current "band -aid" solutions to address erosion are nearin s = n end
and another Hurricane Season is approaching. The lack of action on a I. g -term
solution is no longer acceptable. The plan to relocate sand from South Be. c to the
northern beaches confirms the depletion of the local borrow pits and repre• =nts the
final renourishment action under existing circumstances.
Resolution of the Foreign Source Sand Issue - Miami -Dade County, which c rrently
holds the 50 year contract with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) o beach
renourishment activities, learned from the USACE in the late 1990s that t e borrow
pits off its shores were severely depleted and an alternate source of -a d was
essential. As a result, the USACE began a study to determine whether an asible
sources were available domestically before allowing project sponsors t. seek a
source outside of the United States. Regrettably after 12 years, the USAC: mains
unable to come to a conclusion on this urgent matter.
Implementation of Test Beach Proiect / Reef Balls - The project is 100% f4derally
funded and funds are currently available. The plan is to construct the br akwater
immediately after the beach nourishment project, towards the end of the Summer
2011. The City will monitor progress of this project and advocate f r its full
implementation.
• Miami Beach Convention Center and Conference Facility Expansion
The Miami Beach Convention Center is South Florida's third largest econo i engine,
after Miami International Airport and the Port of Miami. Discussion about enha ments to
the Miami Beach Convention Center have been ongoing for almost ten years, Iminating
with a plan of action that was agreed upon by the City of Miami Beach and i mi -Dade
County, in conjunction with interested stakeholders, to develop a long -term v sion and
master plan for this regional convention facility. The result is a master plan w i h looked
"outside of the box" at possibilities to make the facility competitive in today's onvention
and meeting business climate. The City of Miami Beach is seeking to identify o portunities
for Federal partnership related to:
o Convention Center Access and Infrastructure Improvements with the
Departments of Transportation and Commerce;
o Sustainability, LEED, Renewable Energy and Green Building Compo e is with
the Department of Energy and the EPA;
o Debt and Equity Funding Opportunities through New Market Tax Credi s nd the
Department of Treasury;
o Potential Partnerships through the Proposed Growth Zones.
AUTHORIZATION BILLS
• Support re- authorization of the Transportation Act, to include authorizatio for the
Atlantic Greenway Corridor, Convention Center Access Improvements, and C nvention
Center Hotel Access Improvements.
• Support re- authorization of the Water Resources Development Act, tc nclude
authorization of the Flamingo Neighborhood Stormwater Infrastructure and Right f -Way
improvement project.
• Support reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act with focus on protect' g local
flexibility.
PORT OF MIAMI DEEP DREDGE IMPACTS
• Pursue federal assistance to ensure that the City is not negatively impacted by Miami -
Dade County's plans to relocate or replace any part of the 54 -inch wastewater main from
South Pointe to Virginia Key, including a requirement that the construction of the utility
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March 9, 2011
Commission Memorandum - Federal Legislative Priorities I I
Page 3 of 4
tunnel be underway in 2014; that non -City funding is identified for the construc ' n of the
South Pointe Coast Guard Booster Pump Station if the utility tunnel is not co s ructed;
and that the funding for the required relocation of the utilities be paid for b unding
sources related to the port dredging, rather than paid for by the Miami -Dade ter and
Sewer System.
• The additional cargo traffic that will be accommodated by the Deep Dredg ill also
result in significant increases in the volume of traffic utilizing both the a Arthur
Causeway and Interstate -395. The Florida Department of Transportation has d ntified
an interim solution that will partially mitigate this impact, but a Tong -term solutio ust be
identified and implemented to ensure that the continued economic sustainabili f Miami
Beach is not threatened.
PROGRAMATIC SUPPORT
• Identify potential resources and associated criteria for local development of a t mative
water sources, including funding support for a study of the feasibility of desali i tion in
Miami Beach, as well as funding opportunities for water reclamation activitie .
• Support full funding of the Community Development Block Grant, HOME I- ousing
Partnerships, Energy Efficiency Block Grant, Urban Area Security Initiativ Hazard
Mitigation and Pre - Disaster Mitigation programs.
• Monitor, report and advocate for full funding of budget allocations which fund social
services and other programs provided by Miami Beach organizations.
• Race to the Green and other sustainability initiative support.
• Support funding opportunities for Phase 2 of the Hospital Emergency Power Plant
Project.
• The City strongly encourages and supports the direct allocation of federal fu ding to
local governments, without state and /or county pass- through. The City further feels that
this position should be a key element of the White House's new Urban Policy.
REGULATORY REFORM AND TAX POLICY
• Identify and address issues related to the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program.
• Identify potential application and eligibility of New Market Tax Credits to the Convention
Center Project.
• Municipal Bonds — monitor potential legislation to preserve the ability of citie$ to raise
funding in the bond markets.
• Anchoring and Mooring of Vessels — explore opportunities with the U.S. Co s Guard
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address the issue of boats inapp o riately
anchoring and mooring.
• Open Visas — work with other interested parties to minimize regulatory imped ents to
the ability of foreign tourists to receive visas to visit the United States.
• EPA Discharge Regulations — work with other affected organizations to min ize the
negative impacts of the changes to the EPA's stormwater discharge regulati n .
• Oppose efforts to increase the authorized Truck Weight and Length Limi on the
Interstate Highway System.
• Support establishment of a National Catastrophe Fund.
EDUCATION
• Identify Opportunities to continue the City's After School Program
• Work to identify and apply to additional educational programs such as additiona1 funding
competitions for Race to the Top and Innovation grants.
March 9, 2011
Commission Memorandum - Federal Legislative Priorities
Page 4 of 4
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission review the • roposed
Federal legislative agenda, establish the priorities and adopt the attached Resolution.
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