TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING FLORIDA COUNTIES THAT HAVE NOT ALREADY ENACTED ORDINANCES REGULATING SCRAP METALS TO DO SO

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WHEREAS, skyrocketing prices for metals, especially copper, has resulted in a significant increase in the theft of copper, aluminum and other ferrous and nonferrous metals in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, such thefts include copper wire and other metals from light poles which lead to street light outages and endanger the health, safety and welfare of the public particularly the elderly and children; and
WHEREAS, on the evening of September 7, 2011, a woman was hit by a car and fatally injured while crossing N.W. 7th Avenue at 59th Street in a 40-block stretch of N.W. 7th Avenue where street lights were not working because copper wire had been stolen from the light poles; and
WHEREAS, such thefts not only endanger the health and safety of the public, but also are economically burdensome on the people of Miami-Dade County because the County is required to expend funds to replace or repair stolen or vandalized street lights and signs owned by the County; and
WHEREAS, since 2009, the Miami-Dade County Public Works Department has spent thousands of dollars to repair or replace vandalized light poles; and

WHEREAS, thefts of copper wire and other metals also result in increased costs to businesses and homeowners; and
WHEREAS, many unoccupied residential and commercial properties in foreclosure become targets for burglars to steal or vandalize copper and other metals; and
WHEREAS, air conditioning units are particularly susceptible to being vandalized because they contain copper wire; and
WHEREAS, this criminal activity adversely affects the economic recovery in Miami-Dade County by hampering the ability of property owners, banks and mortgage holders to market and sell foreclosed residential and commercial properties; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, over 800 burglaries of residential properties were reported to the Miami-Dade Police Department�s Northside District alone; and
WHEREAS, this criminal activity also has the potential to lead to higher property insurance costs; and
WHEREAS, the theft of copper and other metals sometimes results in its unlawful sale to secondary metals recyclers and scrap metal processors also known as secondary metals recyclers; and
WHEREAS, on April 5, 2011, this Board approved Ordinance No. 11-17, which regulated secondary metals recyclers and scrap metal processors, a copy of which is attached and incorporated by reference; and
WHEREAS, on September 20, 2011, this Board approved Resolution No. 751-11, which urged the Florida Legislature to increase the penalties for the illegal purchase of scrap metals, and which opposed state legislation that would preempt local scrap metal ordinances, a copy of which is attached and incorporated by reference; and
WHEREAS, this Board currently is considering an ordinance that would create a task force to formulate recommendations on enforcing and amending ordinances regulating secondary metals recyclers and scrap metal processors, educating businesses and the community on the effect of such ordinances, and preventing the illegal sale of scrap metal and copper wire, a copy of which is attached and incorporated by reference; and
WHEREAS, scrap metal thefts are on the rise not just in Miami-Dade County, but across the State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, in August, 3,000 pounds of lead bars were stolen from a houseboat being repaired in a Pinellas Park parking lot; and
WHEREAS, also in August, copper thefts occurred on the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee; and
WHEREAS, in July, a man tried to sell brass bars used as roller coaster brake pads at Busch Gardens in Tamps; and
WHEREAS, in August, three thieves stole 200 feet of copper wire from Withlacochee River Electric Cooperative substations in northwest Pasco County; and
WHEREAS, the wire had a value of less than $2,000 but caused about $15,000 in equipment damage and knocked out power to thousands of customers for several hours; and
WHEREAS, scrap metal thefts have plagued utilities, businesses and governmental entities; and
WHEREAS, some Florida counties have passed scrap metal ordinances; and
WHEREAS, a coalition of businesses and local governments also has formed at the state level to combat increasing scrap metal thefts; and
WHEREAS, this Board wishes to discourage the sale and purchase of scrap metal in neighboring and other counties in Florida that was stolen in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, this Board urges counties across the State of Florida to pass scrap metal ordinances,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges those Florida counties that have not already enacted ordinances regulating scrap metals to enact such ordinances.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of this resolution along with the attachments to the Chair of the Boards of County Commissioners in the 66 other Florida counties, with a copy to the Mayor, County Manager or County Administrator in each county.