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RESOLUTION DIRECTING COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE BOARD REGARDING THE SOUTH FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE AND FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE TRUST FUNDS

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WHEREAS, the South Florida Environmental Task Force, which is comprised of representatives from several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the �US EPA�), the United States Department of Transportation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Miami-Dade Police Department (the �MDPD�) and the City of Miami Police Department, was established to improve the investigation of environmental crimes by centralizing resources and information among the member agencies; and
WHEREAS, environmental crimes include, but are not limited to, illegal transportation and dumping of hazardous materials, waste and/or containers; illegal dump sites; residences containing biohazardous materials; and improper storage and/or disposal of chemicals at or by clinics, dental laboratories or medical facilities; and
WHEREAS, in early 2000, the Miami area office of the US EPA�s Criminal Investigation Division requested that the MDPD�s Environmental Investigations Unit (the �MDPD EIU�) assume responsibility for the administration of the South Florida Environmental Task Force; and
WHEREAS, accordingly, the Board approved Resolution Nos. R-129-00 and R-130-00, which among other things, established the South Florida Environmental Task Force Trust Fund (the �SFETF Trust Fund�) for the receipt of court ordered payments and governmental and privately donated funds for the purpose of investigating environmental criminal activity within Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, by letter dated June 8, 2000, the Miami area office of the US EPA�s Criminal Investigation Division requested that the MDPD�s Environmental Investigations Unit (the �MDPD EIU�) assume responsibility for the administration of the Florida Environmental Task Force, a statewide task force established to address environmental crimes, including violations of federal and state laws; and
WHEREAS, in response the Board approved Resolution No. R-870-00, which among other things, established and maintained the Florida Environmental Task Force Trust Fund (the �FETF Trust Fund� and together with the SFETF Trust Fund, the �Environmental Trust Funds�) for the receipt of court ordered payments and governmental and privately donated funds for the investigation of environmental criminal activity within the State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Board authorized the disbursements of funds from the FETF Trust Fund to fund staffing, equipment, training and investigative expenses required to support overall Florida Environmental Task Force operations; and
WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General (the �OIG�) issued a Final Audit Report dated August 24, 2010 regarding the administration of the Environmental Trust Funds (the �OIG Report�); and
WHEREAS, in response to the OIG Report, among other things, MDPD (i) implemented improved administrative procedures and financial controls over the disbursement of the Environmental Trust Funds and the inventory of equipment and property purchased with Environmental Trust Funds; (ii) stated that it would no longer accept monies for deposit in the Environmental Trust Funds; (iii) ensured that all future FETF Trust Fund expenditures would be fairly distributed among Florida Environmental Trust Fund agency members and in compliance with approved expenditure categories; and (iv) affirmed that it will work with partner agencies to coordinate and facilitate a smooth transition of the management and administration of the FETF Trust Fund; and
WHEREAS, this Board desires to direct the County Mayor or the County Mayor�s designee to prepare and submit a written report to the Board regarding the Environmental Trust Funds, including at a minimum, the remaining balances of the Environmental Trust Funds and the status of the transition of the management and administration of the FETF Trust Fund,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are incorporated in this resolution and are approved.
Section 2. This Board directs the County Mayor or the County Mayor�s designee to prepare and submit a written report to the Board regarding the Environmental Trust Funds, including at a minimum, the remaining balances of the Environmental Trust Funds and the status of the transition of management and administration of the FETF Trust Fund. Such report shall be submitted to the Board no later than sixty (60) days from the effective date of this resolution.