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RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR COLLABORATIVE, MULTI JURISDICTIONAL INPUT ON CONSERVATION MEASURES PROPOSED FOR SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COASTAL WATERS; ESTABLISHING THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA INTERGOVERNMENTAL COASTAL OCEANS TASK FORCE COMPOSED OF ELECTED COUNTY AND COASTAL CITY COMMISSIONERS, APPOINTED OFFICIALS FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM SELECTED STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS; PROVIDING FOR DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE; PROVIDING FOR STAFF SUPPORT; PROVIDING FOR REPORTING AND MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE

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WHEREAS, southeast Florida has long depended upon coastal ocean waters for recreation, fishing, and commerce; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined that coastal ocean waters are under great user pressure, suffer from water quality degradation from human inputs, and climate change impacts; and
WHEREAS, collaborative, multi-agency conservation planning activities have been underway for the coral reefs of southeast Florida through the coordination of the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative ("SEFCRI") since 2004; and
WHEREAS, the vision of SEFCRI is "To develop an effective strategy to preserve and protect southeast Florida�s coral reefs and associated reef resources, emphasizing balance between resource use and protection, in cooperation with all interested parties."; and
WHEREAS, SEFCRI�s program plan for 2010 to 2017 and beyond will develop, prioritize, and implement conservation management alternatives through a publicly vetted, working group process; and
WHEREAS, implementation of some of the alternatives will likely require support from elected officials; and
WHEREAS, elected officials should be involved in the prioritization process in its early stages in order to be fully informed of the environmental and economic consequences of all management strategies,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. The adoption of this and companion resolutions by Broward County, Martin County, and Palm Beach County shall have the effect of creating the Intergovernmental Coastal Oceans Task Force ("ICOTF").
Section 2. The purpose of the ICOTF is to:
(a) Learn about the accomplishments of the Southeast Coral Reef Conservation Initiative (SEFCRI) and Marine and Estuarine Goal Setting for South Florida (MARES);
(b) Review the priorities identified by local, state and federal coral reef managers in southeast Florida in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration�s (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program;
(c) Consider additional issues relating to coastal resource management and user needs;

(d) Produce a final report with recommendations for coastal ocean resources and conservation priorities and strategies.
Section 3. The Task Force shall be composed of elected and appointed officials designated by the government entities identified in Section 4 of this resolution.
Section 4. The Task Force shall be composed of representatives of the following entities:
(a) Four (4) county elected officials, one (1) from each county, appointed by respective county commissions of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties;
(b) Three (3) City elected officials from each county appointed by the respective county League of Cities, with emphasis on achieving appointments providing geographic representation from a City in the north, central, and south regions of each County. In a County with no League of Cities, the County representative on the task force will contact three (3) representative municipalities and request each municipality designate an appointee to the Task Force;
(c) One (1) member from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ("FDEP") which shall be the Secretary or designee;
(d) One (1) commissioner from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ("FWC");
(e) One (1) member from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(f) One (1) recreational fishery representative;
(g) One (1) commercial fishery representative;
(h) One (1) marine industry representative;
(i) One (1) charter dive industry representative;
(j) One (1) representative of a Port Pilot Association (or equivalent);
(k) One (1) representative of commercial port interests;
(l) One (1) representative from an environmental organization;
(m) One (1) representative from an academic institution;
When making appointments, each entity shall consider and balance its appointments to reflect the diverse racial, ethnic, religious, economic, and geographic representation within the County.
Section 5. The Task Force membership will be finalized by the members who serve as direct appointments. These members will be responsible for reviewing nominations for each of the categories (f) through (m) and finalizing the membership through appointment by a majority vote.
Section 6. The Task Force shall meet on a frequency determined by the Task Force for an 18-month period following its initial organizational meeting. The time period may be modified at the discretion of a majority of the ICOTF members. The ICOTF shall, at its organizational meeting, elect a Chair and Vice-Chair, adopt rules of procedure, including provisions for quorum, voting, and consideration of motions and other items, and establish such standing committees as necessary to conduct the work of the ICOTF.
Section 7. Broward County Natural Resources Planning and Management Division shall provide staff support to the Task Force in collaboration with technical staff from partner agencies.

Section 8. Support staff will prepare meeting notices and minutes, maintain records, coordinate or prepare draft reports, and prepare the final report containing the findings and recommendations of the Task Force.
Section 9. The governmental entities adopting this resolution recognize and agree their participation as members of the ICOTF is a voluntary effort. The participating governments further recognize that any final report issued by the ICOTF shall not be construed as imposing any mandates upon the participants or other government entities. It is understood and desired, rather, that the collaborative work of the ICOTF serve as recommendations to each community regarding conservation of coastal ocean resources in southeast Florida.