Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 131274

Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 131274

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-466-13

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: OBAMA'S ADMINI. WORK WITH SENEGAL

Introduced: 6/18/2013

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 6/18/2013

Agenda Date: 6/18/2013

Agenda Item Number: 11A4SUBSTITUTE

Notes:

THIS IS FINAL VERSION AS ADOPTED; ALSO SEE 131171 & 131248

Title:

RESOLUTION URGING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, WHO IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL IN THE NEAR FUTURE, TO HAVE HIS ADMINISTRATION WORK WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL TO FACILITATE AND ESTABLISH AN AVIATION GATEWAY BETWEEN MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND AIRPORTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL, SO AS TO LINK THESE AIRPORTS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASE PASSENGER AND CARGO TRAFFIC [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NOS. 131171 & 131248]

Indexes:

LEGISLATURE

Sponsors:	Dennis C. Moss, Prime Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	6/18/2013	11A4 SUBSTITUTE AMENDED	Adopted as amended				P
REPORT:	County Attorney Cuevas read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Moss noted that over the years, the Administration had worked on creating a gateway between Miami-Dade County and Africa through West Africa. He also noted the County already had an existing Sister Cities seaport agreement with the Republic of Senegal’s Port of Dakar; and was working to establish a Sister Cities aviation agreement with the Dakar airport. Commissioner Moss said that President Barack Obama was scheduled to visit the Republic of Senegal in the near future, and this resolution urged the President to facilitate discussions with Senegal regarding the aviation gateway proposal. Commissioner Moss requested that upon approval of the foregoing resolution, the 10-day mayoral veto period be waived and that a signed copy be sent to Senegal in advance of the President’s arrival. Commissioner Edmonson recalled that she traveled to Senegal to represent the County in the Sister Cities seaport agreement, and said she was happy to co-sponsor the foregoing resolution. She requested to continue working with Commissioner Moss on the proposed Sister Cities aviation agreement with the Dakar airport, if the item moved forward. Chairwoman Sosa commented on the success of the agreement between Miami-Dade County and Tenerife, Canary Islands, for direct cargo flights between MIA and Tenerife. She said the County Commissioners and all concerned parties were working together to ensure that the gateway agreements between Miami-Dade County and the West African countries were realized. Commissioner Souto referred to some reports he had recently read regarding the resurgence of West Africa’s economy. He said that thanks to their impressive growth, countries in West Africa would qualify for loans with interest rates that were much lower than those which most European countries could obtain. Commissioner Souto noted he was aware that Brazil was actively pursuing marketing opportunities in West Africa, and suggested the County do the same, in order to capitalize on this opportunity, since the County’s airport and seaport were the closest to West Africa, and should be at the center of these operations. Hearing no further comments or questions, the Board members proceeded to vote on this resolution as presented. Following the vote, County Attorney Cuevas advised the Board that only the County Mayor had the authority to waive the veto period, and could not sign it in order to expedite the effective date of this resolution because he was out of town. Chairwoman Sosa asked if the Mayor had delegated authority to Deputy Mayor Alina Hudak to waive the veto period in his absence. Deputy Mayor Hudak noted the only authority delegated to her was what was prescribed in the County Charter, and that according to the Count Attorney, she did not have the delegated authority to waive the veto period. Chairwoman Sosa suggested that the Administration contact Mayor Gimenez as soon as possible to inform him of this matter and to have him sign the waiver of the veto period and this resolution via a faxed electronic signature. County Attorney Cuevas advised that a faxed electronic signature would be appropriate; however, the effective date clause in this resolution needed to be amended to provide for the Mayor to do that. Hearing no objections, the Board by motion duly made, seconded and carried, approved to reconsider this resolution for an amendment. The Board adopted the foregoing proposed resolution as amended to make this resolution effective upon the earlier of: 1) ten days after the date of its adoption, unless vetoed by the Mayor, and if vetoed, it shall become effective only upon an override by this Board; or 2) approval by the County Mayor of this resolution and the filing of this approval with the Clerk of Board. Commissioner Moss asked the County Attorney whether the veto powers given to the Mayor were provided pursuant to the Home Rule Charter or by Ordinance. County Attorney Cuevas replied that the County’s Home Rule Charter allowed for the Mayor to delegate authority to have documents signed on his behalf, but not to waive the veto period.

County Attorney	6/18/2013		Assigned	Jess M. McCarty

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, WHO IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL IN THE NEAR FUTURE, TO HAVE HIS ADMINISTRATION WORK WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL TO FACILITATE AND ESTABLISH AN AVIATION GATEWAY BETWEEN MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND AIRPORTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL, SO AS TO LINK THESE AIRPORTS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASE PASSENGER AND CARGO TRAFFIC

BODY

WHEREAS, Miami International Airport is a global leader in international trade and commerce; and
WHEREAS, the emerging market of the Republic of Senegal could play a key role in enhancing trade from Africa through Miami International Airport; and
WHEREAS, such efforts could promote economic development, as well as increase passenger and cargo traffic between the airports in the Republic of Senegal and Miami International Airport; and
WHEREAS, there is an existing sister seaport agreement between Miami-Dade County's Port Miami and the Republic of Senegal�s Port of Dakar which outlines how both ports may help each other increase cruise and cargo trade opportunities; and
WHEREAS, there is also an existing sister cities agreement between Miami-Dade County and the City of Dakar in the Republic of Senegal which outlines how both communities will create cultural exchanges and trade opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County and the Republic of Senegal, with the assistance of the Foundation for Democracy through its Africa Trade and Development Center, have started discussions to develop a sister airports agreement aimed at creating an aviation gateway to Africa between Miami-Dade County and the Republic of Senegal; and
WHEREAS, President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit the Republic of Senegal in the near future; and
WHEREAS, President Obama and his administration could facilitate economic development and increased passenger and cargo traffic by working with Miami-Dade County and the Republic of Senegal to establish an aviation gateway between Miami International Airport and airports in the Republic of Senegal,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to visit the Republic of Senegal in the near future, to have his administration work with Miami-Dade County and the Republic of Senegal to facilitate and establish an aviation gateway between Miami International Airport and airports in Senegal, so as to link these airports to promote economic development and increased passenger and cargo traffic.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to President Barack Obama, the President of the Republic of Senegal, the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, the United States Secretary of State and the United States Secretary of Transportation.
Section 3. Directs the County's federal lobbyists to advocate for the action 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.