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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR THE COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO SUBMIT A REPORT ON THE COUNTY�S COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES AND THE RESPONSE TO THE JUNE 18, 2010 SEWAGE SPILL AND THE ROLES OF LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES REGARDING PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF SEWAGE SPILLS INTO SURFACE WATERS AND TO RECOMMEND IMPROVED PROCEDURES AND COORDINATION WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE SWIMMERS, BOATERS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL USERS OF BEACHES, CANALS, LAKES, BAYS AND OTHER WATERS AFFECTED BY A SEWAGE SPILL INTO SURFACE WATERS ARE PROVIDED ACTUAL AND PROMPT NOTICE OF THE CONDITIONS AND THE ASSOCIATED RISKS

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WHEREAS, on June 18, 2010, a 72-inch sewage force main located at Northwest 18th Avenue and 157th Street ruptured and spilled approximately 20 million gallons of sewage into the Biscayne Canal, which discharges into Biscayne Bay; and
WHEREAS the Florida Department of Health, the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management and the Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department conferred and exchanged information related to this incident and as a result of such conference, the first Public Advisory was issued on June 19, 2010; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Health stated that it followed basic protocol by issuing a public advisory to the media to avoid swimming and other recreational activities along Biscayne Bay from the Julia Tuttle Causeway, north to the Oleta River State Park and the coastal beaches of Bal Harbour Beach and Haulover Park and asking park officials at the affected sites to notify visitors of the risks; and

WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department also followed basic protocol by notifying the Florida State Warning Point, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management; and

WHEREAS, despite the various government advisories and news releases that were published in the newspaper, listed on several web pages, reported on the radio and television news reports, many swimmers and boaters were not advised or aware of the warnings; and
WHEREAS, this Board desires that there be improved lines of communication and coordination between County departments and other local, State and federal government agencies to ensure that to the greatest extent possible persons in the affected area receive actual and prompt notice of the conditions and associated risks,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board hereby directs the County Mayor or the County Mayor�s designee to submit a report on the County�s communication protocols and procedures and the response to the June 18, 2010 sewage spill and the roles of local, State and federal government agencies regarding public notification of sewage spills into surface waters. The report shall include recommended improvements to communication and notification procedures to ensure that to the greatest extent possible swimmers, boaters and recreational users of lakes, canals, beaches, bays and other surface waters receive actual and prompt notice of the conditions and the associated risks of a release of sewage into surface waters within the specified public advisory areas. The report shall be submitted to this Board within 60 days of this Resolution.