TITLE
RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COASTAL OCEAN TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS; ENDORSING THE COASTAL OCEAN FORUM PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS; AND URGING THE MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION DEMONSTRATING THEIR SUPPORT OF SAME

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WHEREAS, coastal marine resources are public resources that provide recreational benefits to users and income to local economies; and
WHEREAS, coastal marine resources are highly valued and require conservation management to protect; and
WHEREAS, the Southeast Florida Coastal Ocean Task Force (�COTF�) was established in 2012 through enabling resolutions of the Boards of County Commissioners of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin Counties to coordinate protection of habitats and marine communities at the regional level; and
WHEREAS, the COTF formed an intergovernmental body comprised of one County Commissioner from each member county, elected officials representing municipalities in each county, representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (�FDEP�), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (�FWC�), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (�NOAA�); and stakeholders representing recreational fishers, commercial ports, the dive charter industry, and the marine industry; and
WHEREAS, the COTF met monthly over a period of 30 months, studied the challenges and technical issues affecting coastal marine resources in southeast Florida and finalized its recommendations as part of the Southeast Florida COTF Final Recommendations Report (�COTF Final Report�), attached hereto as Exhibit �A�; and
WHEREAS, the COTF Final Report includes three (3) overarching recommendations relating to interagency coordination, implementation, and protection of coastal resources from any oil exploration off the Florida coast, with additional recommendations focusing on water quality, beaches, fisheries, coral reefs, estuaries, socioeconomics, the management of marine debris, and implementation strategies involving technical investigations, policy, planning and projects; and
WHEREAS, the COTF disbanded after developing recommendations and several members formed the Coastal Ocean Forum (�COF�) with the purpose of implementing the COTF�s recommendations; and
WHEREAS, the COF intends to advance several priority recommendations each year; and
WHEREAS, in May 2016, the COF established priority recommendations, attached hereto as Exhibit �B�; and
WHEREAS, the COTF Final Report may be presented for approval and advancement by local governments within the five county planning area of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe and Martin Counties, and the COTF Final Report consists of viable and worthy goals for the conservation of southeast Florida�s coastal waters,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Endorses in concept the Coastal Ocean Task Force Final Report (�COTF Final Report�), attached as Exhibit �A�, and commits to work with local, regional, state, and federal governments, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations to improve the coastal ecosystem to benefit human use, ecosystem health and economic sustainability. This board further acknowledges that the overarching goals adopted by the COTF relate to interagency coordination, implementation, and protection of coastal resources from any oil exploration off the Florida coast, with additional recommendations focusing on water quality, beaches, fisheries, coral reefs, estuaries, socioeconomics, the management of marine debris, and implementation strategies involving technical investigations, policy, planning and projects.
Section 2. Urges the municipalities within Miami-Dade County to adopt a resolution demonstrating their commitment to support the COTF Final Report, attached as Exhibit �A�.
Section 3. Endorses in concept the Southeast Coastal Ocean Forum (�COF�) priority recommendations, attached as Exhibit �B�.
Section 4. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of this resolution to the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; the Executive Director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; the mayor, county manager, or commissioner chairperson, as applicable, for Broward County, Palm Beach County, Monroe County, and Martin County; and the mayor, city manager, or commissioner chairperson, as applicable, for each municipality within Miami-Dade County.