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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO ADD MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO A 2008 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION, THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND THE UNITED STATES PARK SERVICE FOR PROVISION OF COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE SPECIES WITHIN THE EVERGLADES COOPERATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT AREA

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WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference; and

WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes of Section 24-50 of the Code of Miami-Dade County,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board hereby authorizes an amendment to add Miami-Dade County to a 2008 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Park Service for Provision of Cooperative Management of Invasive Species within the Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area in substantially the form attached hereto and made a part hereof; authorizes the Mayor or Mayor�s designee to execute same for and on behalf of Miami-Dade County; and authorizes the Mayor or Mayor�s designee to exercise the provisions contained therein.

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Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Joe A. Martinez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor

Subject: Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to Add Miami-Dade County to a 2008 Memorandum of Understanding between the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Park Service for Provision of Cooperative Management of Invasive Species within the Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (Board) approve the attached resolution authorizing an amendment to add Miami-Dade County to a 2008 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Park Service for Provision of Cooperative Management of Invasive Species within the Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (ECISMA).

Scope
The ECISMA Project Areas under the MOU are primarily within Commission Districts 8 and 9.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
There is no fiscal impact, as the MOU provides that no monies shall be exchanged between the parties to the MOU. The EEL Management Trust Fund will continue to fund EEL management activities, including those activities that are related to the control of invasive exotic species. As of August 31, 2011, the balance of the EEL Trust Fund GF080 is $54,366,271 of which $25,471,930 is reserved for acquisition and $28,894,341 is reserved for land management.

Track Record/Monitor
The EEL Program Manager in the Department of Permitting, Environment and Regulatory Affairs will monitor this agreement.

MANAGER'S BACKGROUND
Background
Natural areas throughout Miami-Dade County, including County Parks and EEL Preserves, are facing increasing threats from invasive exotic species. These invasive species contribute to the loss of native biodiversity and ecosystem functions, can impact important agricultural areas and can create public safety concerns in urban areas. South Florida�s environment is particularly vulnerable to such invasions. Currently, more than 180 non-native animal species have become established in Florida, including carnivorous reptiles such as the Burmese python and the Nile monitor, compromising the long-term survival of native wildlife populations that include threatened and endangered species. Over 1,300 non-native plant species have become established in Florida and at least 67 of those are displacing native species and changing community structures and ecological functions, according to the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. The impacts caused by the worst of the invasive plant species, like Melaleuca, have resulted in widespread and potentially irreversible damage to some of South Florida�s most sensitive ecosystems.

Individual government agencies and non-governmental organizations responsible for land management in South Florida generally lack sufficient financial and staffing resources to develop comprehensive management programs for the overwhelming number and diversity of established or emerging invasive species. For this reason, increased cooperation across jurisdictions is critical to develop successful management programs and protocols that limit the damage caused by invasive exotic plants and animals. By working together, local agencies and organizations have been able to enhance opportunities to effectively implement solutions, like development of region-wide invasive species monitoring programs, rapid response efforts, standardized data management, and public education and outreach programs.

The Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (ECISMA) is a partnership of federal, state, and local government agencies, tribes, individuals and various interest groups that manage invasive species within South Florida. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been executed between five of the formal partners made up of State and Federal Agencies (Attachment B). The MOU seeks to further the objectives of the partnership to integrate coordination, control and management of invasive species at regional, multi-jurisdictional levels and to enhance opportunities for funding that are only available to CISMA-type organizations. Miami-Dade County has been offered an opportunity to become a formal partner and the amendment adds Miami-Dade County to the MOU (Attachment A).

Miami-Dade County has already benefitted from the existence of the ECISMA and the cooperative work under the MOU. Since December 2010, eradication and monitoring events targeting invasive animals like the dangerous African rock python in the Bird Drive Basin, invasive plants like the exotic mangrove Lumnitzera in Matheson Hammock Park, and potentially devastating agricultural pests like laurel wilt have taken place throughout Miami-Dade County, including within County Parks and EEL Preserves. To date, ongoing activities by the Miami-Dade EEL Program and the Natural Areas Management (NAM) Division of the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department have been supplemented and enhanced by a ten-fold investment of resources by other partners at those events. A total of 945 man-hours have been expended at these events, with only 93 hours (less than 10%) being Miami-Dade County EEL and NAM staff.




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Deputy Mayor