Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 111538

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 111538

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-939-11

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: OPPOSING IMPOSITION OF TOLLS TO ACCESS THE PORT OF MIAMI

Introduced: 7/12/2011

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 11/3/2011

Agenda Date: 11/3/2011

Agenda Item Number: 11A10

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE IMPOSITION OF TOLLS TO ACCESS THE PORT OF MIAMI; DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO BRING TO THE BOARD AN ALTERNATIVE FUNDING PLAN; DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO IDENTIFY AN ALTERNATIVE FUNDING PLAN FOR THE PORT OF MIAMI TUNNEL THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE TOLLS

Indexes:	TOLL FEES
	PORT OF MIAMI

Sponsors:	Rebeca Sosa, Prime Sponsor
	Barbara J. Jordan, 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	11/3/2011	11A10	Adopted				P

Economic Development & Social Services Committee	9/14/2011	2C	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Terrence Smith read the foregoing proposed resolution. Chairwoman Sosa relinquished the Chair to Vice Chairman Monestime. Commissioner Sosa, the sponsor, provided an overview of the intent of this proposed resolution. It was moved by Commissioner Sosa that the Committee forward this proposed resolution. Commissioner Bell seconded this motion for discussion. Commissioner Moss stated that tolling might be the alternative to take care of operational expenses for the Port of Miami Tunnel. Mr. Juan Kuryla, Seaport Deputy Director, informed the Committee members that the cruise lines, at the Port, shared Commissioner Sosa’s position opposing the imposition of tolls to access the Port of Miami. He indicated that the Department would proceed with identifying alternative funding for the Port Tunnel. A discussion ensued between Vice Chairman Monestime and Mr. Kuryla regarding any type of charge to use the Port Tunnel. Mr. Kuryla informed the Committee members that if a toll were imposed for the Port Tunnel, Miami-Dade County would be the only port in the nation that charged a toll to access its Port. Hearing no objection, the Committee proceeded to vote on this proposed resolution as presented.

County Attorney	7/12/2011		Assigned	Jess M. McCarty	7/18/2011

County Attorney	7/12/2011		Referred	Economic Development & Social Services Committee	9/14/2011

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE IMPOSITION OF TOLLS TO ACCESS THE PORT OF MIAMI; DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO BRING TO THE BOARD AN ALTERNATIVE FUNDING PLAN; DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO IDENTIFY AN ALTERNATIVE FUNDING PLAN FOR THE PORT OF MIAMI TUNNEL THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE TOLLS

BODY

WHEREAS, as the Cargo Gateway of the Americas, the Port of Miami is a vital contributor to the local, state and national economies; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Miami is Miami-Dade County�s second largest economic engine behind Miami International Airport; and
WHEREAS, during fiscal year 2010, more than 4.1 million passengers traveled through the Port, and more than 7.3 million tons and 847,249 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo moved through the Port; and
WHEREAS, commercial trade and cruise business at the Port of Miami supports approximately 180,000 jobs and has an economic impact in the region of approximately $18 billion; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Miami Tunnel Project currently being constructed will greatly improve access to the Port and make it more economically competitive; and
WHEREAS, the Port of Miami currently can be accessed without the payment of tolls; and
WHEREAS, keeping the Port of Miami free from tolls would best position the Port of Miami to be competitive with other seaports and to foster economic development and jobs for our local economy; and
WHEREAS, other competing seaports do not have tolls; and
WHEREAS, imposing tolls at the Port of Miami would place the Port at a competitive disadvantage to other ports; and
WHEREAS, imposing tolls would be detrimental to retaining current cruise and cargo business at the Port of Miami, and could discourage new cargo and cruise line business from locating at the Port; and
WHEREAS, according to the Seaport Department, the Port already has committed to providing $43.5 million in funding for the Tunnel, and may be required to budget as much as $143.5 million depending on the use of contingency reserves for the Tunnel Project; and
WHEREAS, this Board opposes the imposition of tolls to access the Port of Miami via either the Tunnel or the Port Bridge,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Opposes the imposition of tolls to access the Port of Miami and sets as policy of this Board that tolls should not be imposed to access the Port of Miami via either the Tunnel or the Port Bridge.
Section 2. Directs the Mayor or designee to bring to this Board an alternative funding plan for the Tunnel that does not include tolls within 120 days of the effective date of this resolution.