2007-26440 Reso
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-26440
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 110TH CONGRESS.
WHEREAS, the City must avail itself of all potential sources of funds; and
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, 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 AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the recommended
Federal Legislative Agenda for the first session of the 110th Congress be approved, as
more specifically set forth in the attached Commission Memorandum.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 17th
,2007.
. ATTEST:, ..
Mayor
David Dermer
. ,
h~'if~~
City Clerk
Robert Parcher
T:\AGENDA\2003\FEB2603\REGULAR\FEDERAl PRIORITIES RESO.DOC
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
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COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
A Resolution approving the Cily's Legislalive Agenda for the firsl session of the 110 Congress.
Key Intended Outcome Supported:
I Supports Multiple KIOs.
Issue:
Shalllhe Cily Commission approve the recommended lisl of Federal Legislalive Priorilies?
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 priorilies was developed by the Administration in consultation
with the City's lobbyists, and by meetings held on January 2-3, 2007 between the Mayor and
each Commissioner and the City's lobbyists.
The recommended 2007-08 agenda includes legislative and funding requests, including
infrastructure, beach renourishment, housing, transportation, and the national heritage area,
and retaining local authority in polential telecommunications legislation.
Advisory Board Recommendation:
I nfa
Financial Information:
Source of Amount Account Approved
Funds: 1
D 2
3
4
OBPI Total
Financial Impact Summary:
City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking:
I Kevin Crowder
Si n-Offs:
Department Director
City Manager
V,
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MIAMIBEACH
AGENDA ITEM
DATE
R1C.
/-11-07
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.......
MIAMIBEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
FROM:
Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez ~ ~
January 17, 2007 0
TO:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE CITY'S FEDERAL
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR FIRST SESSION OF THE 110TH CONGRESS.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution.
ANALYSIS
Each year, the Mayor and City Commission adopt the Cily's funding and legislative
priorities that will be pursued by the City's representalives in Washington D.C. during the
annual Congressional session.
The proposed priorities include appropriation, authorization, and legislative requests that
were developed through discussions between the Administration, the Mayor and City
Commission, and the City's federal lobbyists.
Status of 2006-2007 Appropriations
During the 2006-2007 Congressional Session, the City's representatives were
successful in obtaining earmarks in either the House or Senate appropriations bills for
the following projects:
Senate Energy & Water
House Transportation
House Amendments to TEA-LU
Erosion Control Project
Atlantic Greenway Corridor
West Avenue Bridge
$3,000,000
$500,000
$620,000
Unfortunately, Congress has not acted on the bills that contain these appropriations. The
Federal Government is operating under a Continuing Resolution that keeps funding at
the same level as lasl year, which is due to expire in February. It appears thai the
incoming leadership of the House and Senate has decided to extend the Continuing
Resolution through the end of lhe fiscal year and eliminate most, if not all, earmarks.
Addilionally, it is likely that a moratorium on earmarks will be imposed until earmark
reform has been implemented. The Cily will pursue continuation funding of the projecls
funded in the 2006 bills as part of the Continuing Resolution.
January 17, 2007 Commission Memorandum
Federal Legislative Priorities
Page 2 of 3
Elimination of earmarks from the pending appropriations bills will impact two of the
appropriations listed above. However, the $620,000 for the West Avenue Bridge is not
included in an appropriations bill; it is part of amendments that are being made to the
Transportation Equity Act (TEA-LU), in which the bridge project was already authorized
for the amount of $800,000.
Priorities for the 2007-2008 Conoressional Session
The City has been very successful in securing appropriations for City projects in the past
few years, most notably in the areas of beach renourishment and transportation. The
City has had some success with funding for historic preservation and infrastructure
improvements, although competition for this funding has grown significantly.
Generally, there are a number of areas that are 'earmarked' by Congress each year
during the appropriations process, and the City has identified a priority funding project
for each of these areas. Unfortunately, some of these areas will most likely be included
in the same appropriations bill. The City can realistically expect to have only one project
funded per appropriations bill at the most; however, it is extremely unlikely that the City
would receive an appropriation in every bill in which one is requested.
Following the meetings with the federal lobbyists on January 2-3, 2007, below is the
proposed Federal Legislative Agenda for 2007-08:
Appropriation Aoenda
Social & Economic Requests
National Heritage Area
After School Program
Homeless Program
City Center Housing
fnterior/EPA
Justice
Labor/HHS
Transportation/HUD
$1,000,000
$1,950,000
$2,000,000
$5,000,000
Infrastructure Requests
Atlantic Greenway Corridor
West Avenue Bridge
Stormwater Infrastructure
Erosion Control Project
Beach Renourishment
Transportation/HUD
Transportation/HUD
Interior/EPA
Energy and Water
Energy and Water
$2,500,000
$3,200,000
$9,000,000
$3,000,000
$7,500,000
Authorization Aoenda
National Heritage Area
Congressional authorization for the Department of
Interior to delermine the feasibilily of designation of
Miami Beach as a National Heritage Area.
Wesl Avenue Bridge
Reinlroduce H.R. 5689 to amend TEA-LU increasing
the aulhorization for lhe project.
January 17, 2007 Commission Memorandum
Federaf Legislative Priorities
Page 3 of 3
Everglades Restoration
Support an increase of the authorized funding for the
"Tamiami Trail Sky Bridge" project, to enhance
restoration of the Everglades' water flow.
Leqislative Aqenda
Telecommunications
Maintain and enhance local government franchise
authority, with specific focus on right-of-way, build-out
requirements, and fees.
Wireless Internet
Maintain and enhance the ability of local governments
to provide wireless internet access, and further ensure
that local governments that already provide this service
are protected in any proposed legislation.
Insurance
Support creation of a National Catastrophe Fund.
Aqencies. Grant Support and Research
CDBG & HOME Increase funding levels of HUD's CDBG and HOME
programs.
Homeland Security Support efforts to secure the placement of a regional
Department of Homeland Security facility in Miami-
Dade County.
FEMA Grants Support increased funding of the Hazard Mitigation and
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Programs.
Urban Area Security Initiative Support full funding of the UASI Program.
Disaster Authority Maintain local authority over the initial response to a
disaster.
Renewable Energy Research innovative programs and funding
opportunities for potential renewable energy initiatives
in Miami Beach.
Conclusion
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission review the
proposed legislative agenda, establish the priorities and adopt the attached Resolution.
JMG:HF:kc
Attachmenl
T:\AGENDA\2006~an11 06\Regular\Federal Legislative Agenda memo.doc