2017-29824 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2017-29824
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE
CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2017/18 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA.
WHEREAS, each year, the Mayor and City Commission adopt the City's funding and
legislative priorities that will be pursued by the City's representatives in Washington D.C. during
the annual Congressional session; and
WHEREAS, it is important that the City of Miami Beach work with its representatives in
Washington D.C. to secure funding for City projects, to implement and change legislation that is
in the best interest of the City, and to liaison with federal agencies on issues that impact the
City; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that the City's federal legislative consultant is aware of, and
has a list of, City priorities; and
WHEREAS, the City's legislative consultant has met with the Administration to identify
priorities; and
WHEREAS, the City's proposed priorities are set forth in the attached Exhibit A and
include project, authorization, and policy requests which will continue to evolve as the
Congressional process continues.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH that the Mayor and City Commission hereby
approve and authorize the City's Fiscal Year 2017/18 Federal legislative agenda, as set forth in
Exhibit "A" attached to this Resolution.
PASSED and ADOPTED this ont day of April, 2017.
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F'•ili-% ,"e, Mayor
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Exhibit "A"
Federal Legislative Agenda for Fiscal Year 2017/18 includes, but is not limited to:
• Flood Insurance;
• Coastal Flooding/Sea Level Rise;
• Transportation and Mobility;
• Roadways and Bridges;
• Utility Infrastructure;
• Beach Renourishment;
• Economic Development and Neighborhood Revitalization;
• Education;
• Municipal Bonds;
• Support of Local Funding Programs; and
• Mosquito Borne Illnesses.
Agenda Item C 7 y
Date 11-a6-/7
MIAMIHBE
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Members of the City Commission
FROM: Mayor Philip Levine
DATE: April 26, 2017
SUBJECT: Discussion and Approval of the 2017 Federal Legislative Priorities
Background
The Mayor and City Commission adopt the City's federal legislative and funding priorities each
year. The City's federal consultants then advocate for the priorities in Washington, D.C. during
the annual Congressional session. This year marks the beginning of the 115th Session of
Congress, which is scheduled to run from January 3, 2017 to January 3, 2019.
Legislative Priorities
1. Sea Level Rise & Coastal Erosion
The City of Miami Beach continues to face an existential threat due to the hazards of climate change,
coastal flooding, and rainfall flooding. It is essential that the federal government recognize the
urgency and severity brought on by these conditions. The City continues to request funding for
public and private infrastructure improvements that can mitigate the impact of flooding. The City
further urges the federal government to create an interagency policy committee to develop an
innovative and comprehensive strategy to address these issues in coastal communities. The City
proposes being designated as a"demonstration city"to serve as a nationwide model on how to adapt
to changing environmental conditions as part of a comprehensive federal strategy.
2. Transportation
Local Transit Projects
a) Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) & Smart Parking System(SPS)
• The City seeks to deploy an ITS to help relieve traffic congestion in the City by
automating street lights, so they can adjust to dynamic traffic patterns in real-time.
The City also seeks to install a SPS to reduce the impact of congestion caused by
vehicles attempting to find on-street and garage parking. Installing an ITS and
SPS would also serve to strengthen homeland security by monitoring heavily
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trafficked roadways and city facilities. The City seeks assistance in identifying and
applying for federal grant opportunities to fund these systems.
b) 41St Street Intermodal Facility/Interceptor Garage
i. The City plans to build an intermodal facility near the eastern end of I-195
that would intercept cars and encourage commuters to use public
transportation in an effort to reduce the number of vehicles traveling on
Miami Beach's roadways. The City seeks assistance in identifying and
applying for federal grant opportunities to fund this project.
Regional Transportation Projects
a) Bus Express Rapid Transit
a. The City supports the efforts of the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO)to create a Bus Express Rapid Transit(BERT) network,
which would connect Miami and Miami Beach along the MacArthur Causeway
and the Julia Tuttle Causeway via dedicated bus lanes.
b) Light Rail/Modern Streetcar Project
a. The City supports the efforts of the Miami-Dade MPO to design and build the
Beach Corridor transit connection portion of the Strategic Miami Area Rapid
Transit(SMART) Plan, which would connect Miami and Miami Beach via a light
rail or modern streetcar system.
c) Julia Tuttle Causeway Shared-Use Path
a. The City supports the efforts of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
District Six to create a safe and protected shared-used path for pedestrians and
cyclists along the Julia Tuttle Causeway. The United States Department of
Transportation (USDOT) classifies the causeway as a limited access facility,
which presents some challenges in terms of pedestrian and cyclist use along the
facility. The City seeks assistance in removing the limited access facility
designation from the causeway.
3. Emergency Management
Public Health Disasters
The City supports adding the categories of public health endemics,epidemics,and pandemics as part
of the definition of a "major disaster" under Section 102 (2) of the Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act. The City also seeks to add public health emergencies as a category for
local governments to receive federal assistance by FEMA through its grant and community disaster
loan programs.
Predisaster Hazard Mitigation
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The City also supports adding sea-level rise as part of the definition of a"natural disaster hazard"
under Section 203 (c) of the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The City
advocates making grant programs available prior to natural disasters to promote investments in
resilient public and private infrastructure.
Flood Insurance
The City strongly supports the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP),
which is set to expire by September 30, 2017. The City opposes any flood insurance changes
inordinately affecting Miami Beach residents, primary/ secondary home-owners, and real estate
markets under the reauthorization.Furthermore,the City seeks assistance from the Office of Federal
Insurance to gain protections from private insurance rating companies that downgrade the financial
stability ratings of property insurance companies in Florida.
4. Environmental Protection
Miami-Dade County Beach Erosion Control & Hurricane Protection Project
The US Army Corps of Engineers(USACE)is involved in the Miami-Dade County Beach Erosion
Control&Hurricane Protection Project,authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1968.The project is
aimed at mitigating the effects of beach erosion through the renourishment of our beaches. The
project is set to sunset in 2027. The City seeks to extend the period of federal participation beyond
2027 and obtain federal and state funding to help cover the burden of cost sharing for erosion control
efforts.
Beach Renourishment using Foreign Sources
The City supports removing language from Section 935 of the Water Resources Development Act
(WRDA) of 1986 and the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill of 1999, which prevents USACE
from using non-domestic sources of sand on beach renourishment projects.The City also supports an
exemption under Section 935 of the WRDA, explicitly for Southeast Florida from West Palm to
Miami-Dade County or for counties that have exhausted their beach quality sand resources.
Reef Ball Breakwater Project
Section 2038 (b) of the 2007 WRDA reauthorized the National Shoreline Erosion Control
Development and Demonstration Program,which was designed to promote innovative methods to
mitigate coastal erosion.The USACE approved the Reef Ball Breakwater Project for Miami Beach
to address coastal erosion near the 63rd St beach site. USACE completed all permitting for the
project,responded to public input, and is now awaiting implementation guidance for Section 2038
(b) of the 2007 WRDA. The implementation guidance language would clarify whether the local
sponsor(Miami-Dade County) can opt out of the cost-sharing provision.
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The City seeks assistance in finalizing the implementation guidance language for the USACE and
gaining assurance that the local cost-sharing provision is optional and minimal for projects that were
developed and approved via Section 227 of the 1996 WRDA.
Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project
The City seeks to expedite the planning of Phase II of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands
Project. The project was authorized as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to
improve the ecological health of Biscayne Bay by adjusting the distribution of freshwater
entering Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park. The USACE, Florida Department of
Environmental Protection(DEP), and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMF)
are collaborating on this project.
S. Municipal Bonds
The City supports the current tax exemption for municipal bonds and opposes its elimination. The
City further opposes any measure that places an income cap on the tax exemption.
6. Local Funding Programs
The City opposes funding reductions to programs such as the Community Development Block Grant,
HOME Housing Partnerships, Energy Efficiency Block Grant, Urban Area Security Initiative,
Hazard Mitigation, and Pre-Disaster Mitigation programs. The City will monitor, report, and
advocate for full funding of budget allocations, which fund social services and other programs
provided by Miami Beach organizations. The City strongly encourages and supports the direct
allocation of federal funding to local governments, without state and/or county pass through. The
City plans to pursue funding through grants administered from the following agencies: 1)
Department of Commerce, 2) Environmental Protection Agency, and 3)Department of Homeland
Security.
7. Education
The City seeks to identify funds for educational programs through a coordinated grant development
campaign to include funding and legislation.The City will place and emphasis on STEM education
(science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
8. Economic Development
The City seeks grant opportunities from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to
sustain job and community growth in the commercial areas of the City such as Town Center,Ocean
Drive,Washington Avenue,and Lincoln Road.The City opposes the defending or dissolution of the
EDA.
4
Infrastructure Plan
President Trump announced his plan to develop a$1 trillion infrastructure program aimed to
repair,rebuild, and modernize America's physical infrastructure at his first joint address to
Congress. The President stated that his plan will feature a mix of public and private investment
and be driven by two principles: 1) Buy American and 2) Build American. The administration
has not indicated if projects will need to be"shovel ready"to be funded. The President's
infrastructure plan is said to be released after Congress' August recess. City staff has met
internally to identify capital projects that could be funded by way of an infrastructure plan. The
City's federal consultants will continue to express and advocate for the City's infrastructure
needs to the Trump administration and Congress.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission approve the City's 2017 federal
legislative agenda.
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Resolutions -C7 Y
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J.Aguila, City Attorney
DATE: April 26, 2017
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR
2017/18 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
RECOMMENDATION
Pursuant to the request of Mayor Philip Levine, the attached Resolution is submitted for
consideration by the City Commission at the April 26, 2017 Commission meeting.
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Mayor Philip Levine
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
a Federal Legislative Reso F.A. 4.18.2017
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