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RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE MAYOR�S EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (FIU) BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO CONDUCT MANGROVE WETLANDS RESTORATION AT THE FIU BISCAYNE BAY CAMPUS THROUGH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY�S BISCAYNE BAY RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $900,000; AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXERCISE THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED THEREIN

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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, Miami-Dade County and the Florida International University (FIU) Board of Trustees have agreed to the terms of an Agreement allowing the County�s Biscayne Bay Restoration and Enhancement Program to conduct mangrove wetlands restoration at the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus; and

WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County has the expertise to conduct the restoration described above and project funding is authorized and available; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board ratifies the Mayor�s execution of an Agreement between Miami-Dade County and the FIU Board of Trustees to conduct mangrove wetlands restoration at the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus through the County�s Biscayne Bay Restoration and Enhancement Program, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the attached Agreement, in substantially the form attached hereto and made part hereof for and on behalf of Miami-Dade County; and authorizes the Mayor or Mayor�s designee to exercise amendments to this Agreement that are reasonably necessary to implement the intent of this Agreement and to exercise the provisions contained herein.

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Date:



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


From:
Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor


Subject:
Resolution Ratifying the Mayor�s Execution of an Agreement between the Florida International University
(FIU) Board of Trustees and Miami-Dade County to Conduct Mangrove Wetlands Restoration at the FIU Biscayne
Bay Campus Through the County�s Biscayne Bay Restoration and Enhancement Program

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (Board) approve the attached resolution ratifying the Mayor�s execution of an Agreement between the Florida International University (FIU) Board of Trustees and Miami-Dade County to conduct mangrove wetlands restoration at the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus through the County�s Biscayne Bay Restoration and Enhancement Program.

Scope
The FIU Biscayne Bay Campus is in Commissioner Heyman�s District 4 at 3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The project costs of approximately $900,000 will be funded from the Biscayne Bay Environmental Enhancement Trust Fund. Resolution No. R-422-12 approved a settlement agreement with petitioners of the Miami Harbor Federal Navigation Project Phase III that authorized transferring a total of $1,310,000 to the Biscayne Bay Environmental Enhancement Trust Fund, of which $400,000 is specified for FIU Biscayne Bay Campus/Oleta River State Park mangrove wetlands restoration. Resolution No. R-560-10 authorized the disbursement of $700,000 from the Biscayne Bay Environmental Enhancement Trust Fund to fund wetlands restoration along the western shoreline of North Biscayne Bay, including FIU property. Because the funds under R-422-12 will be transferred once Seaport dredging construction begins, this project will be phased as funds are available.

Track Record/Monitor
Stephen Blair, the Restoration and Enhancement Section Chief in the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, will monitor the activities performed under this Agreement.

MANAGER'S BACKGROUND
Background
The attached Agreement establishes the parameters under which FIU and the County shall conduct the wetlands restoration project at the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus, which will restore approximately 8 acres of wetlands habitat within the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus. The project involves clearing exotic vegetation, creating tidal channels and tidal pools, and planting mangroves using student participation and community volunteers.

Rapid urbanization and associated coastal development in southeastern Florida have eliminated the majority of low coastal wetlands along northern Biscayne Bay. As part of the Biscayne Bay Restoration and Enhancement Program, Miami-Dade County has successfully restored approximately 600 acres of coastal wetlands since 1985. These restoration activities are typically implemented on public lands and are assisted financially through various local, state, and federal programs.

The objective of this project is two-fold: (1) to restore and enhance the ecological habitats for a wide variety of native wildlife and (2) to provide environmental education to the local community. The restored area will provide additional habitat for wildlife and marine resources, and improve the water quality in and around this portion of Biscayne Bay.

Miami-Dade County will obtain all necessary environmental permits, will coordinate and develop the construction specifications and drawings, will conduct the contractor selection process, will provide project management, will supervise the construction and volunteer efforts, and will coordinate the long-term success monitoring and maintenance of the completed project.

As a contract with a governmental unit for services, the subject Agreement was eligible for execution by the Mayor then ratification by the Board pursuant to Section 2-9 of the Code of Miami-Dade County. Timely execution was needed because preliminary tasks for utility clearances and geotechnical assessments had been negotiated and were pending this Agreement�s execution for work to commence.


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Jack Osterholt, Deputy Mayor