Resolution 2022-32236 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-32236
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO
CONFER WITH THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S PARKS, RECREATION,
AND OPEN SPACES DEPARTMENT ("PROS") TO EXPLORE THE
FEASIBILITY OF USING THE "OCEAN CLEANER" TECHNOLOGY TO
CLEAN UP SARGASSUM SEAWEED IN REGIONAL WATERS IN AN
EFFICIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY MANNER; AND
FURTHER, REQUESTING THAT THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REPORT
BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS, EITHER
VIA LETTER TO COMMISSION OR PLACEMENT OF A DISCUSSION
ITEM AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION MEETING,
REGARDING THE POTENTIAL USE OF THE "OCEAN CLEANER"
TECHNOLOGY AND ANY RELATED REGULATORY AND
JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES, IN VIEW OF THE COUNTY'S
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF BEACHES.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach (the "City") is comprised of a number of
islands with approximately 70 miles of shoreline along numerous canals and waterways,
the Atlantic Ocean, and Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, all of which support a wide
variety of flora and fauna; and
WHEREAS, the City hosts approximately 15 million visitors each year, and is
considered one of the world's most popular tourist destinations because of its beaches,
crystal-clear blue water, and amazing tropical environment; and
WHEREAS, the City, as well as the entirety of Miami-Dade County (the "County"),
are battling massive amounts of sargassum seaweed, a type of floating algae, being
deposited onto its beaches; and
WHEREAS, the massive amounts of seaweed, combined with accompanying
intoxicating odor, create an unsightly appearance and unsanitary conditions, and prevent
beachgoers from enjoying the sandy beaches and the ocean, adversely affecting the
tourism industry of both the County and the City; and
WHEREAS, the government of Mexico has contracted services of the "Ocean
Cleaner," a start-up created to battle excessive sargassum invasion on the coasts of the
Caribbean; and
WHEREAS, the "Ocean Cleaner" technology uses customized floating
barriers offshore, which is then then collected by specialized boats and repurposed or
recycled in an eco-friendly manner; and
WHEREAS, with the fine mesh in its barrier design, marine life is not adversely
affected, and the system can harvest more than 550 tons of sargassum weeds per 8-hour
day, preventing harmful emissions of hydrogen sulfide that would have been released
into the atmosphere; and
WHEREAS, the "Ocean Cleaner" currently offers tailor-made services to
determine the best solutions according to the estimated algae quantities, the currents, the
type of seabed, the immediate environment, the coral reefs, the laws and permits in force
in each of region plagued by the sargassum seaweed; and
WHEREAS, the County's Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department
("PROS") is responsible for maintenance of beaches throughout the County, including
beaches within the geographic limits of the City; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission desire to direct the City
Administration to confer with the County's PROS to explore the feasibility of using the
"Ocean Cleaner" technology to clean up sargassum seaweed in our waters in an efficient
and environmentally-friendly manner, and to report back to the Mayor and City
Commission with its findings.
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 direct the City Administration to confer with the Miami-Dade County's
Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department ("PROS") to explore the feasibility of
using the "Ocean Cleaner" technology to clean up sargassum seaweed in regional waters
in an efficient and environmentally-friendly manner; and further, request that the City
Administration report back to the City Commission within ninety (90) days, either via Letter
To Commission or placement of a discussion item at a regularly scheduled City
Commission meeting, regarding the potential use of the "Ocean Cleaner" technology and
any related regulatory and jurisdictional issues, in view of the County's responsibility for
the maintenance of beaches.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this o?' day of , 2022.
ATTEST:
JUL 2 5 202? Dan Gelber, Mayor
1 APPROVED AS TO
FORM &LANGUAGE
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk &FOR EXECUTION
(Sponsored by Commissioner Alex J. Fernandez) 4 7- 12- 2Z
,B FA City Attorney Date
•
3 IINCORilkATEDI
Resolutions - C7 AA
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney
DATE: July 20, 2022
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING THE CITYADMINISTRATION TO CONFER
WITH THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN
SPACES DEPARTMENT ("PROS") TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF
USING THE "OCEAN CLEANER" TECHNOLOGY TO CLEAN UP
SARGASSUM SEAWEED IN REGIONAL WATERS IN AN EFFICIENT AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY MANNER; AND FURTHER, REQUESTING
THAT THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REPORT BACK TO THE CITY
COMMISSION WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS, EITHER VIA LETTER TO
COMMISSION OR PLACEMENT OF A DISCUSSION ITEM AT A
REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION MEETING, REGARDING
THE POTENTIAL USE OF THE "OCEAN CLEANER" TECHNOLOGY AND
ANY RELATED REGULATORY AND JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES, IN VIEW
OF THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF
BEACHES.
ANALYSIS
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Alex Fernandez, the above-referenced Resolution is
submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission at the July 20, 2022
Commission meeting.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
N/A
Is this a "Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item. pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
No No
Legislative Tracking
Page 565 of 1502
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Commissioner Alex Fernandez
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
D Resolution
Page 566 of 1502