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RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO PROVIDE MORE CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION STAFFING AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

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WHEREAS, Miami International Airport is the leading economic engine for Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, Miami International Airport is the largest United States gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean, and is one of the leading international passenger and freight airports in the world; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, Miami International Airport was ranked second among United States airports in international passengers and was ranked first among United States airports in international cargo; and
WHEREAS, as such, United States Customs & Border Protection staffing for international passenger and cargo inspections is a critical component of operations at Miami International Airport; and
WHEREAS, the federal government continues to increase inspections of inbound international passengers and impose additional cargo security measures; and
WHEREAS, as inspections and security increase, maintaining sufficient Customs & Border Protection staffing at Miami International Airport is critical for operational efficiency; and
WHEREAS, excessive wait times occur when there is insufficient Customs & Border Protection staffing at Miami International Airport to efficiently process inbound international passengers; and
WHEREAS, costly inspection delays occur when there is insufficient Customs & Border Protection staffing to efficiently process cargo, which is particularly problematic when it negatively impacts time-sensitive cargo and perishables that are flown into Miami International Airport; and
WHEREAS, time-sensitive cargo and perishables flown into Miami International Airport make up a significant part of inbound international cargo into Miami International Airport; and
WHEREAS, insufficient Customs & Border Protection staffing at Miami International Airport leaves a negative impression with tourists who wait in line a long time, impedes business and has a negative impact on South Florida�s regional economy, of which tourism and international trade make up a significant part; and
WHEREAS, insufficient Customs & Border Protection staffing will only get worse as the global economy continues to recover and international passengers and cargo increase; and
WHEREAS, the federal government should take immediate action to eliminate the Customs & Border Protection staffing shortfalls at Miami International Airport; and
WHEREAS, eliminating the Customs & Border Protection staffing shortfalls at Miami International Airport is critical to continuing to keep Miami International Airport�s competitive advantage among U.S. airports for international passengers and cargo; and
WHEREAS, in July 2012, Miami International Airport opened a new Federal Inspection Services facility in the North Terminal at a cost of over $180 million; and
WHEREAS, this new Federal Inspection Services facility features 72 passport control lanes and is able to process over 2,100 passengers per hour provided it is fully staffed by Customs & Border Protection; and
WHEREAS, Miami International Airport temporarily closed the Central Terminal Federal Inspection Services facility to allow Customs & Border Protection staff to concentrate its limited resources to on the North and South Terminal facilities; and
WHEREAS, even with the closure of the Central Terminal Federal Inspection Services facility, Customs & Border Protection functions continue to be understaffed and unable to meet the minimum staffing requirements for the North Terminal Federal Inspection Services; and
WHEREAS, a study of queuing at the North Terminal Federal Inspection Services facility by JRD & Associates concluded that in order for North Terminal to be operationally productive in the processing of inbound passengers within normal wait times, a minimum of 60 to 64 lanes must be staffed at all times; and
WHEREAS, using 64 booths, average processing times are below 45 minutes for all passenger types, including visitors and residents; and
WHEREAS, insufficient Customs & Border Protection staffing at Miami International Airport creates not only a bottleneck for passengers and cargo entering Miami-Dade County, but in a broader sense, creates a bottleneck for tourism, economic development and job creation in Miami-Dade County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the United States Congress and the United States Secretary of Homeland Security to provide more Customs and Border Protection staffing at Miami International Airport.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Section 3. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the legislation and funding set forth in Section 1 above and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2012 federal legislative package to include this item, and to include this item in the 2013 federal legislative package when it is presented to the Board.