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RESOLUTION URGING GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO KEEP THE PORT OF MIAMI TUNNEL PROJECT FULLY FUNDED AND ON SCHEDULE; FURTHER URGING THE GOVERNOR AND HIS ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE THE EVALUATION AND NEGOTIATION PROCESS RELATED TO THE PORT TUNNEL PROJECT PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNOR�S COMMITMENT; IDENTIFYING THE PORT TUNNEL PROJECT AS A CRITICAL PRIORITY FOR THE 2009 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION

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WHEREAS, the Port of Miami and Miami International Airport are the engines that drive the Miami-Dade County economy; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Miami currently generates 180,000 jobs and over $17 billion to our local economy, and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that we are proactive to ensure that the Port of Miami remains a globally competitive cargo destination as it competes with other ports both within and outside the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, one of the challenges the Port of Miami faces is access to the Port through downtown Miami; and
WHEREAS, it was long ago determined that the Port Tunnel was the best way to alleviate Port access concerns; and
WHEREAS, many years of effort have gone into the Port Tunnel Project by the State of Florida, Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami; and
WHEREAS, on July 24, 2007, this Board adopted Resolution No. 889-07 approving a Master Agreement among the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami to provide funding for the Port Tunnel Project in the amount of approximately $1 billion; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami have evidenced their commitment to the Port Tunnel Project by a joint maximum financial contribution of approximately $457.5 million; and
WHEREAS, on April 8, 2008, this Board adopted Ordinance No. 08-39 approving a covenant to budget and appropriate annually from non-ad valorem revenues of the County amounts sufficient to pay any repayment obligations with respect to an irrevocable letter of credit in an amount of $75 million in favor of FDOT for the Port Tunnel Project; and
WHEREAS, on December 12, 2008, FDOT unexpectedly announced that the Port Tunnel Project was being suspended; and
WHEREAS, on December 18, 2008, the Miami-Dade County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Governing Board strongly expressed its disappointment in FDOT�s decision to suspend the Port Tunnel Project and urged the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation to support the Project; and
WHEREAS, on January 18, 2008, Senate President Jeff Atwater and members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation toured the Port of Miami and participated in a presentation on the Port Tunnel Project; and
WHEREAS, Governor Charlie Crist has personally committed to resume the evaluation and negotiation process on the Port Tunnel Project; and
WHEREAS, the Port Tunnel Project would create an estimated 600 jobs for our local community and position the Port of Miami to handle cargo into the future; and
WHEREAS, at a time when governments at all levels look towards passing economic stimulus packages to reinvigorate the economy, keeping the Port Tunnel Project funded and on schedule is a top priority,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Legislature to keep the Port of Miami Tunnel Project fully funded and on schedule.
Section 2. Urges Governor Crist and the Florida Department of Transportation to continue the evaluation and negotiation process on the Port Tunnel Project pursuant to the Governor�s commitment.
Section 3. Identifies the Port Tunnel Project as a Critical Priority for the 2009 state legislative session.
>>Section 4. In the event that after all available means to pursue the Port Tunnel Project are exhausted and the Project is not built, urges Governor Crist, the Florida Legislature and the Florida Department of Transportation to keep all funds earmarked for the Port Tunnel Project in Miami-Dade County to fund transportation projects that do not replace or supplant projects that are already funded for construction, but are instead additional projects.<<
Section [[4]]>>5<<. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, the Senate President, the House Speaker, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation, and the Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation.
Section [[5]]>>6<<. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation set forth in Sections 1>>,<< [[and]] 2 >>and 4<< above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2009 State Legislative Package to include this item as a Critical Priority.

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.