LTC 120-2015 City of South Miami Resolution -
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER 4 Y �_` I_` ,1;` !,_l'_. WE
NO. LTC# 120-2015 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Member of the City ommission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager /I
DATE: March 23, 2015
SUBJECT: CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI RESO UTION
Attached for your information is Resolution No. 045-15-14384, adopted by the Mayor and
Commission of the City of South Miami on March 17, 2015.
A Resolution Of The City Of South Miami Requesting That The Miami-Dade
County League Of Cities Form A Committee To Investigate The Possibility Of
The Creation Of South Florida As The 51st State.
The Clerk of the City of South Miami 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.
JLM/REG
Attachment
F:\CLER\$ALL\CILIA\LTC's-Transmittal's\Resolution 045-15-14384.docx
RESOLUTION NO. 045-1 5-1 4384
A Resolution of the City of South Miami requesting that the Miami-
Dade County League of Cities form a committee to investigate the
• possibility of the creation of South Florida as the 51St state.
WHEREAS, the City of South Miami ("City") passed a resolution on October 7, 2014,
advocating the legal separation of Florida into two separate states, creating the 51st state in the Union
and naming it"South Florida"; and
WHEREAS, the new proposed state of South Florida would have 24 counties ("which
counties shall herein after be referred to as "South Florida"). These 24 counties are 35%of the total
number of counties in the current state of Florida and they would comprise approximately 23,000
square miles in area. Thus, South Florida would be comprised of 39%of the area of the current state
of Florida and would have a population of approximately 13,375,000 people which is 67% of the
total population of the current state of Florida;and
WHEREAS, presently, the state of Florida collects approximately 22 billion dollars in sales
and documentary taxes from all of Florida, of which 69 percent, 15.25 billion dollars, is collected in
South Florida; and
WHEREAS, the new state of South Florida will consist of 24 counties with its northern
border being Brevard, Orange, Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas and include the other 19 counties
south of those five counties;and
WHEREAS, South Florida Water Management District starts in Orange County and includes
most of the aforementioned Counties in South Florida; and
WHEREAS, the average elevation of the present state of Florida is approximately 100 feet
above sea level. North Florida is approximately 120 feet above sea level while the average elevation
of South Florida is less than 50 feet with a very large portion of South Florida averaging less than 15
feet above sea level. Many sections of South Florida are 5 feet or less above sea level, including
Monroe County and the Gold Coast, consisting of Palm Beach County, Broward County and Miami-
Dade County. This area also includes the Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve,
Biscayne National Park and the Turkey Point nuclear reactors. These reactors are 42 years old and
less than 5 feet above sea level with in excess of 2.5 million pounds of nuclear waste buried on the
grounds of the nuclear plant.
WHEREAS, Lake Okeechobee, located in South Florida, is the second largest freshwater
lake in the United States and the source of much of the fresh water supplied to South Florida and
could be severely compromised by rising sea levels;and
WHEREAS, climate change is a scientific reality resulting in global warming and rising sea
level;and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that there will be a 3 to 6 foot sea level rise by the end of this
century. In addition, South Florida has very porous rock and, as the level of the sea rises, the
pressure will cause water to rise up through the ground and flood the inland areas; and
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Res. No. 045-15-14384
WHEREAS, South Florida's situation is very precarious and in need of immediate attention.
Many of the issues facing South Florida are not political,but are now significant safety issues; and
WHEREAS, presently, in order to address the concerns of South Florida, it is necessary to
travel to Tallahassee in North Florida. Often South Florida issues do not receive the support of
Tallahassee. This is despite the fact that South Florida generates more than 69% of the state's
revenue and contains 67%of the state's population; and
WHEREAS,the creation of the 51st state, South Florida, is a necessity for the very survival
of the entire southern region of the current state of Florida and this cannot be accomplished by one
municipality alone;and
WHEREAS,the formation of a committee will enable broader range of ideas to be put forth,
allow for people who represent a variety of groups to be involved, and spread the workload among
the municipalities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA,THAT:
Section 1. The City of South Miami hereby requests that the Miami-Dade County
League of Cities form a committee to investigate the possibility of the creation of South Florida as
the 51st state.
Section 2. The City Clerk is directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Miami-
Dade County League of Cities, and to the Clerk of all the municipalities in Miami-Dade County for
transmission to their elected officials.
Section 3. Severability. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for
any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction,the holding shall not
affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section 4. Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption by vote of the City Commission.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1 7 thday of March ,2015.
A N EST: APPROVED:
f
CLERK W ; • Y 4R
READ • !4 APPR' D AS ': FORM, COMMISSION VOTE: 3-2
G ' , GALIT :ND Mayor Stoddard: Yea
E ' • THEREO' Vice Mayor Harris: Yea
i, &' mmner/ , ; Commissioner Liebman: Nay
CI Y • T•RNE'w Commissioner Welsh: Yea
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