2014-28693 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2014-28693
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE U.S. ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE GREAT LAKES AND DOCK
COMPANY TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO LIMIT THE
IMPACTS OF THE PORT OF MIAMI DEEP DREDGE PROJECT ON
LOCAL NATURAL RESOURCES BY MEETING AND, WHERE
POSSIBLE, EXCEEDING THE CONDITIONS OF THEIR FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES PERMIT AND TO ADHERE TO
THE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR CONSTRUCTION,
DREDGE AND FILL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ADJACENT TO
CORAL REEFS.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach ("City") -is recognized as a world-class
destination whose tourism-based economy is highly dependent on its natural resources;
and
WHEREAS, the City's natural resources, including our beaches, are a significant
source of revenue for the state and the local economy, as more than 7 million people
visit Miami Beach each year; and -
WHEREAS, the City's geographic location and low-lying topography make it
inherently vulnerable to storm surge and other climate change impacts; and
WHEREAS, these natural resources, specifically offshore coral reefs, help to
attenuate wave action, to reduce beach erosion rates, and to maintain wide beaches;
and
WHEREAS, the offshore coral reef tract also acts as the City's first line of
defense against hurricanes and storm surge; and
WHEREAS, natural resources, such as seagrass and coral reefs, provide habitat
for marine species that draw boaters and divers, as well as support the commercial and
recreational fishing industries; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Miami shipping channels are within or adjacent to the
Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve (an Outstanding Florida Water) and the Bill Sadowski
Critical Wildlife Area; and
WHEREAS, this area has been designated as an Essential Manatee Habitat by
Miami-Dade County and an Essential Fish Habitat— Habitat of Particular Concern by the
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; and
WHEREAS, over one dozen threatened, endangered, or protected marine
species are known to inhabit or migrate through the proposed dredge work area
including: Acopora cervicornis (staghorn coral); Johnson's seagrass; Green,
Leatherback, and Loggerhead Sea Turtles; West Indian Manatees; and various marine
mammals including Tursiops truncates (bottlenose dolphin) and Globicephala
macrorhynchus( short-finned pilot whales); and
WHEREAS, it is in the City's best interest to protect the natural resources and
marine habitats that are adjacent to its shores; and
WHEREAS, the scope of work for the Port of Miami Deep Dredge Project has the
potential to stress or damage these natural resources by increasing turbidity in the water
column, leading to sediment accumulation to seagrass and coral stress due to
sedimentation, and to cause other direct and indirect impacts; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Great Lakes and Dock
Company can limit these impacts to local natural resources by adhering to the Best
Management Practices and other conditions required by the Florida Department of
Environmental Resources Permit and exceeding the conditions, where possible.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Great Lakes and
Dock Company to take all necessary actions to limit the impacts of the Port of Miami
Deep Dredge Project on local natural resources by meeting and, where possible,
exceeding the conditions of their Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Environmental Resources Permit and to adhere to the Best Management Practices for
Construction, Dredge and Fill and Other Activities Adjacent to Coral Reefs.
PASSED and ADOPTED this day of ��� , 2014.
ATTEST:
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City Attorney bate
/\A1A/\A1BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
RAULJ. AGUILA, CITY ATTORNEY COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: MAYOR PHILIP LEVINE
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION
CITY MANAGER JIMMY MORALES
FROM: CITY ATTORNEY RAUL J. AGUIL
DATE: July 23, 2014
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE U.S. ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE GREAT LAKES AND DOCK
COMPANY TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO LIMIT THE
IMPACTS OF THE PORT OF MIAMI DEEP DREDGE PROJECT ON
LOCAL NATURAL RESOURCES BY MEETING AND, WHERE
POSSIBLE, EXCEEDING THE CONDITIONS OF THEIR FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES PERMIT AND TO ADHERE TO THE
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR CONSTRUCTION, DREDGE
AND FILL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ADJACENT TO CORAL REEFS.
Pursuant to the request of Mayor Philip Levine, the attached Resolution is submitted for
consideration by the City Commission.
RJA/DT/da
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