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RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE COUNTY MAYOR AND/OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE ACTION TO REQUEST THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) TO RECOGNIZE THE MIAMI/FT. LAUDERDALE URBAN AREAS SECURITY INITIATIVE (UASI) AS A TIER I FUNDING RECIPIENT WITHIN THE UASI PROGRAM

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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,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board approves the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee�s action to request the U.S. DHS to recognize the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale UASI as a Tier I funding recipient within the UASI program for and on behalf of Miami-Dade County, Florida.

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DATE:


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


FROM: Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor

SUBJECT:
Tier I Status for Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Urban Areas Security Initiative

..Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board approve the attached resolution supporting the County Mayor and/or County Mayor�s Designee action to request the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to recognize the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) as a Tier I funding recipient within the UASI program.

Scope
The Tier I status of the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale UASI impacts countywide services.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The recognition of the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale UASI as a Tier I funding recipient within the UASI program would have a positive impact on the allocation of UASI funding. Miami-Dade County would not incur any costs.

Track Record/Monitor
The UASI funding is monitored by the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Urban Area Work Group. The funding allocated to Miami-Dade County under this federal program is monitored by the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department.

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The U.S. DHS allocates funding under the UASI program by calculating risk factors of designated urban areas across the United States and assigns a tier designation, either I or II. The tier status determines the amount of funding allocated to each UASI. UASI�s which are recognized with a Tier I status are allocated a substantially greater amount of federal funding under this vital homeland security program. The Miami/Ft. Lauderdale UASI is designated as Tier II. The Miami/Ft. Lauderdale UASI has been working diligently to secure a review of the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale UASI by U.S. DHS and subsequent Tier I designation. This designation may be authorized by the Secretary of the U.S. DHS.

With the guidance of the Miami-Dade County Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and contracted lobbyists, a well coordinated legislative advocacy trip was recently made to Washington, D.C. The local delegation included over 25 representatives from the four counties comprising the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale UASI; Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach. Meetings were conducted with Congressional offices from South Florida, ranking officials on the House and Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Committees, as well as officials from the U.S. DHS. As a result of this trip, the U.S. DHS is considering a review of the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale UASI Tier II status and members of the South Florida Congressional Delegation are working together on a letter to U.S. DHS Secretary Napolitano, supporting the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale UASI�s efforts.

The support of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners would be significant in this effort to secure the Tier I status for the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale UASI and resulting increase in federal funds. This support would communicate the Board�s commitment to secure the resources this UASI needs and deserves to safeguard the citizens, visitors and infrastructure of this large and complex four county urban area.


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Genaro �Chip� Iglesias
Chief of Staff/Deputy Mayor