TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD TO REVISE THE REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY DRAWBRIDGES SO AS TO RESTRICT THE ON SIGNAL OPENINGS OF SAID DRAWBRIDGES; DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO FILE A REQUEST WITH THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD DISTRICT COMMANDER FOR A PERMANENT CHANGE TO THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY DRAWBRIDGES OPERATING REQUIREMENTS CONSISTENT WITH THIS RESOLUTION

BODY
WHEREAS, the United States Coast Guard currently regulates drawbridges over navigable waters, including the Venetian Causeway drawbridges; and
WHEREAS, 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 117.5 provides that, except as otherwise provided in Part 117, drawbridges must open promptly and fully for the passage of a vessel ''on signal'', in other words, whenever a vessel operator contacts the bridge tender, either by radio or by signal with the vessel�s horn to request the opening; and
WHEREAS, 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 117.269 and 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 117.261 requires the opening of the Venetian Causeway drawbridges on signal at all times on weekends, and on weekdays prior to 7:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, the opening of the Venetian Causeway drawbridges on signal causes inconvenience and potential interruptions to the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic; and
WHEREAS, limiting on signal openings may help traffic flow and improve safety conditions for automobile traffic, pedestrians, and bicyclists; and
WHEREAS, input on this matter has been sought from stakeholders, including residents, property owners, and Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, addressing this matter is of a time sensitive nature as Miami-Dade County expects to transition to SunPass and toll-by-plate only along the Venetian Causeway within a year; and
WHEREAS, 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 117.8 provides that anyone may submit a written request to the District Commander for a permanent change to a drawbridge operating requirement; and further provides that the request must include documentation supporting or justifying the requested change; and
WHEREAS, according to 33 Code of Federal Regulations Section 117.8, if the District Commander decides that a change may be needed after evaluating the request, he or she will begin a rulemaking to implement the change, while if the District Commander determines that the requested change is not needed, he or she will respond to the request in writing and provide the reasons for denial of the requested change; and
WHEREAS, this Board desires to urge the United States Coast Guard to revise the regulations pertaining to the Venetian Causeway drawbridges so as to restrict the on signal openings of said drawbridges to prior to 7:00 am and after 7:00 pm not only on weekdays but also on weekends, and to direct the Mayor or designee to file a request with the Commander for the United States Coast Guard Seventh District for a permanent change to the Venetian Causeway drawbridges operating requirements consistent with this resolution,
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 Coast Guard to revise the regulations pertaining to the Venetian Causeway drawbridges so as to restrict the on signal openings of said drawbridges to prior to 7:00 am and after 7:00 pm daily.
Section 2. Directs the Mayor or designee to file a request with the Commander for the United States Coast Guard Seventh District for a permanent change to the Venetian Causeway drawbridges operating requirements consistent with this resolution.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to send a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the Miami-Dade County Congressional Delegation; the Secretary of Homeland Security; the Commandant for the United States Coast Guard and the Commander for the United States Coast Guard Seventh District.
Section 4. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the modification of federal rules as set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2013 federal legislative package to include this item and to include this item in the 2014 federal legislative package when it is presented to the Board.