Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 080289

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 080289

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-673-08

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: USE ETHANOL IN COUNTY GAS STATIONS

Introduced: 1/30/2008

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 6/3/2008

Agenda Date: 6/3/2008

Agenda Item Number: 11A2

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXPLORE USE OF ETHANOL IN COUNTY GAS STATIONS AND PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR UTILIZATION OF ETHANOL

Indexes:

ALTERNATIVE FUEL SOURCES

Sponsors:	Joe A. Martinez, Prime Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	6/3/2008	11A2	Adopted				P

Budget and Finance Committee	5/13/2008	2C	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Jess McCarty read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Sorenson requested the County Administration provide a status report of the fleet inventory and the conversion to E85 fuel at County service stations pursuant to Resolution No. R-327-07. Ms. Wendi Norris, Director, General Services Administration (GSA), noted the County would not need to make any infrastructure changes to use E10 fuel. She pointed out E10 currently cost four cents more than regular unleaded fuel, and explained the County would need separate underground tanks for E85 fuel, which was currently 50 cents more than regular unleaded. Ms. Norris recommended one pump at the Miami-Dade Police Department headquarters be converted to E85 fuel. She noted only flex vehicles could use E85 fuel; however, the majority of the County vehicle fleet could use E10 fuel. She pointed out the County had 940 vehicles that could use E85. In response to Commissioner Sorenson’s question concerning whether the County had already upgraded the fueling equipment at two stations to accommodate E85 fuel, Ms. Norris noted the two stations were capable of converting, but the County Administration had not ordered E85 fuel for them. Commissioner Souto noted food was being used as biofuels, which had resulted in a greater increase in food costs. He cautioned against the County moving hastily to implement the use of ethanol fuel sources. He asked the General Services Administration Director to include in the requested report information on whether the ethanol source being used could be consumed by humans or animals. He explained he was more concerned with humans being fed than the use of ethanol fuel sources. Commissioner Souto noted alternative methods of transportation existed, while alternative food sources did not exist. Commissioner Sosa pointed out the intent of this proposed resolution was to find alternative, environmentally friendly fuel sources. She suggested this proposed resolution be amended to delete Sections 1 and 2 of this proposed resolution and to add language to Section 3 that directed the County Mayor or his designee to explore the possibilities of the use of ethanol by the County fleet and present recommendations to the County Commission, as well as to provide additional time to provide a report to the County Commission. Commissioner Sosa noted her proposed amendments would provide time for the controversy over ethanol and food to end. Following further discussion regarding the 30 day deadline in Section 3 of this proposed resolution, Ms. Norris noted she could provide the report within the deadline. Vice-Chairman Gimenez expressed concern regarding the County’s use and acquisition of ethanol, and the impact of ethanol on food prices. He noted electricity was the best option for powering vehicles. He suggested the County put the infrastructure in place to allow buses run on electricity. Vice-Chairman Gimenez pointed out electrically operated vehicles did not emit harmful gases. He suggested some tracts of land in South Miami-Dade County that were no longer economically viable with the crops previously grown on them could become economically viable by growing a crop that produced ethanol. Hearing no other questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to vote on this proposed resolution, as presented.

County Attorney	1/30/2008		Assigned	Peter S. Tell

County Attorney	1/30/2008		Referred	Budget and Finance Committee	5/13/2008

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXPLORE USE OF ETHANOL IN COUNTY GAS STATIONS AND PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR UTILIZATION OF ETHANOL

BODY
WHEREAS, all consumers in Miami-Dade County have been negatively impacted by rising gasoline prices at the gas pump; and
WHEREAS, rising gasoline prices have substantially contributed to rising food prices; and
WHEREAS, increased utilization of ethanol will decrease consumers' dependence on foreign oil; and
WHEREAS, most, if not all, of the light fleet County vehicles can run on ethanol-10 without any modification or breach of the manufacturer's warranty; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County is home to distributors of ethanol-85 and therefore may quickly implement the results of the report to effectuate the goal of this Resolution,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Hereby directs the Mayor or the Mayor's designee to explore the possibility of having not less than one County-owned/operated gas station provide ethanol and the immediate utilization of ethanol-10 by the County fleet.
Section 2. Hereby directs the Mayor or the Mayor's designee to explore having public-private partnerships to aid in the construction of equipment to distribute ethanol and the purchase of ethanol.
Section 3. Hereby directs the Mayor or the Mayor's designee to submit a report providing the information set forth in Section 1 and Section 2 hereinabove not later than thirty (30) days from the date of passage of this Resolution.