Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 083582

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 083582

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-83-09

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: DIESEL CONVERSATIONS NOW IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Introduced: 12/11/2008

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 1/22/2009

Agenda Date: 1/22/2009

Agenda Item Number: 11A5

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR MODIFYING COUNTY VEHICLES THAT CURRENTLY USE DIESEL FUEL TO ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO USE OTHER AVAILABLE FUEL SOURCES SUCH AS BIO-DIESEL OR VEGETABLE OIL [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 082611]

Indexes:

FUEL

Sponsors:	Barbara J. Jordan, Prime Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, 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	1/22/2009	11A5	Adopted				P

County Attorney	12/12/2008		Assigned	Peter S. Tell		12/12/2008

Governmental Operations and Environment Committee	12/9/2008	3H AMENDED	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation with committee amendment(s)
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Joni Armstrong-Coffey read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Jordan, sponsor of the foregoing resolution, explained that the intent of this proposal was to ensure the County became more environmentally friendly. She noted bio-diesel fuels were cleaner fuels that contained no petroleum, and should be explored as an alternative fuel. She also noted that County vehicles, currently using diesel fuel, could easily be converted to use bio-diesel fuels with little modification. Commissioner Martinez asked that this resolution include language providing that Algae-based fuels be included as an alternative bio-diesel fuel. Commissioner Jordan stated she would accept Commissioner Martinez suggestion as an amendment. Commissioner Gimenez noted he previously proposed a resolution asking the County Mayor or Manager to implement a plan to modify the County’s vehicular fleet to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which burned cleaner and 97% was produced in the United States. He asked that Commissioner Jordan consider amending this proposed resolution to instruct the Administration to explore the use of CNG in conjunction with bio-diesel fuels in order to determine the best alternative. Commissioner Jordan stated she co-sponsored the resolution proposed by Commissioner Gimenez and felt that both alternatives were excellent and could be implemented. She advised that bio-diesel fuels were currently being produced in two areas within the State of Florida. Commissioner Martinez indicated that a study was already conducted on the feasibility of modifying County vehicles to use CNG, and a pilot project was launched around 1987, during which time a test vehicle exploded when it was rear-ended. He noted this information should be available. Commissioner Gimenez noted Honda was currently manufacturing a vehicle that used CNG, which meant the technology had improved since that study was completed. Commissioner Diaz asked that this resolution be amended to cover emerging developments in fuel technologies. Chairwoman Seijas said she felt more comfortable with the language provided in the background documents pertaining to this resolution, which provides that the plan be presented to the Board before implementation; and that she had always been uncomfortable with the Board approving the implementation of plans without a financial analysis to determine the financial impact. Responding to Assistant County Attorney Armstrong-Coffey’s inquiry whether the proposed amendment(s) included the use of CNG, Commissioner Jordan noted a separate item was already prepared that addressed the use of CNG separately. There being no further discussion, the Board forwarded the forgoing proposed resolution to the County Commission with a favorable recommendation, with committee amendment(s) to include the following language: “…algae-based fuels and any other new technology type fuels.”

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR MODIFYING COUNTY VEHICLES THAT CURRENTLY USE DIESEL FUEL TO ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO USE OTHER AVAILABLE FUEL SOURCES SUCH AS BIO-DIESEL OR VEGETABLE OIL

BODY

WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County owns and operates numerous vehicles that are equipped with engines that use diesel fuel as their fuel source; and
WHEREAS, there are now commercially available alternatives to diesel fuel which require little or no modification to the vehicle being used in order to substitute the alternate fuel; and
WHEREAS, many of the commercially available alternative fuels are based upon vegetable oil or animal fat oils that are a renewable resource and do not rely upon petroleum for their bases; and
WHEREAS, these alternative fuels oftentimes result in less dangerous emissions and reduce the reliance on foreign petroleum products; and
WHEREAS, conversion of some or all of the County's fleet of diesel vehicles can provide benefits both in terms of cost and efficiency and protection of the environment,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the County Mayor is directed to prepare an implementation plan for converting County vehicles that utilize diesel fuel to be able to use other types of fuel such as vegetable oil>>,<< [[or]] bio-diesel>>, algae-based fuels or any other new technology type fuel<<. The implementation plan shall be designed to minimize costs while taking advantage of reduced emissions, reduced reliance on foreign petroleum products and potential commercial availability of alternative fuels. The implementation plan should be presented to this Board of County Commissioners within ninety (90) days of the date of this resolution.

1 Words stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] shall be deleted. Words underscored and/or >>double arrowed<< constitute the amendment proposed. Remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged.