Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 181500

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 181500

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-732-18

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: COMBAT THE SPREAD OF LAUREL WILT

Introduced: 6/15/2018

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 7/10/2018

Agenda Date: 7/10/2018

Agenda Item Number: 11A5

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING COUNTY POLICY TO FUND PROACTIVE MEASURES, INCLUDING TREE REPLACEMENT, TO COMBAT THE SPREAD OF LAUREL WILT IN THE COUNTY; DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO INCLUDE A PLAN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH POLICY AS PART OF THE COUNTY MAYOR’S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019 COUNTY BUDGET AND ANY SUBSEQUENT COUNTY BUDGETS AS NEEDED; DIRECTING COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE A STATUS REPORT [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 181322]

Indexes:	BUDGET
	TREE
	LAUREL WILT DISEASE

Sponsors:	Daniella Levine Cava, Prime Sponsor
	Jean Monestime, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
	Sen. Javier D. Souto, 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	7/10/2018	11A5	Adopted				P

County Attorney	6/15/2018		Assigned	Lauren E. Morse		6/15/2018

Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee	6/13/2018	2A AMENDED	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation with committee amendment(s)				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Monica Rizo-Perez read the title of the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. She advised the prime sponsor, Commissioner Levine Cava, proffered an amendment to the foregoing proposed resolution to add a third line in section three, handwritten page four of the resolution, which would read as follows: “The County Mayor, County Mayors Designee is directed to include a plan for the implementation of such policy as part of the County Mayor’s Proposed Fiscal year 2018-19 County Budget. New language, in an amount no less than that allocated in the 2015-2016 County Budget and any subsequent County Budgets as needed.” Commissioner Levine Cava thanked the Committee for their support to restore funding to address the issue of the Laurel Wilt Disease that affected avocado tree harvests and the effort to protect the county’s multi-million dollar avocado growers and industry. She anticipated the previous amount of $150,000 would be restored for the next budget; and requested the item be waived to the next scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting of June 19, 2018. It was moved by Commissioner Levine Cava that the foregoing proposed resolution be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners as amended. This motion was seconded by Chairman Souto, followed by discussion. Chairman Souto spoke about a prior resolution adopted by the Board to get Miami-Dade County involved in a study of humans, plants, and animal genetics. He emphasized the importance of combating insects that negatively affected agriculture and stressed the need to quickly find a cure. A discussion ensued between Commissioner Diaz and Commissioner Levine Cava regarding the budget for this resolution; the need for the funding, since most residents in District 8 were retirees and experienced financial hardships; and the importance of the funding to address the issue and prevent the disease from spreading to other properties. Mr. Charles LaPradd, Agricultural Manager for Miami-Dade County, explained how the replanting program would be implemented; that State funding would be available for the replanting program; and that residents would be encouraged to replant young avocado trees that were not attracted to the beetle and remove the dying avocado trees. He also confirmed Commissioner Diaz’ concern that hurricane weather conditions and high winds contributed to the expansion of the beetle disease. In response to Commissioner Levine Cava’s comment regarding State funding being used for tree replanting, Mr. LaPradd explained the amount of State funding was $150,000 but the budget language changed to reflect the state funding could only be used for removal. He further clarified the State Removal Program was administered by the Florida Avocado Committee and the rules were set by the Florida Department Agricultural and Florida Avocado Committee. Additional discussion ensued regarding the removal and replacement of avocado trees where it was noted the State funding was strictly for removal and funding for replanting would be a County budget item. Concerns were also expressed over there being no limitation on who could apply for the funding which would benefit commercial businesses and not residents. Commissioner Levine Cava requested Mr. LaPradd to proceed with an extensive publicity campaign that informed the community at large of the funding available and encouraged those residents who were experiencing a hardship to apply for the funding. Commissioner Monestime’s commented on concerns he received from residents on possible diseased mango trees, to which Mr. LaPradd responded there were several diseases that affected mango trees although none were detrimental enough to kill them; that fungal issues could cause dark spotting, depending on how much it rained; however, fungal issues would not cause worms. He stated he would look into the concerns raised and asked Commissioner Monestime to provide him with the addresses so the trees could be inspected. There being no further comments or questions, the Committee proceeded to vote to forward the foregoing proposed resolution as amended to the Board of County Commissioners.

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING COUNTY POLICY TO FUND PROACTIVE MEASURES, INCLUDING TREE REPLACEMENT,�TO COMBAT THE SPREAD OF LAUREL WILT IN THE COUNTY; DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO INCLUDE A PLAN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH POLICY AS PART OF THE COUNTY MAYOR�S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019 COUNTY BUDGET AND ANY SUBSEQUENT COUNTY BUDGETS AS NEEDED; DIRECTING COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO PROVIDE A STATUS REPORT [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 181322]

BODY
WHEREAS, laurel wilt is a disease acutely lethal to avocado trees and several key native tree species; and
WHEREAS, laurel wilt has been identified in avocado trees throughout the County; and
WHEREAS, the spread of laurel wilt was accelerated following Hurricane Irma; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance No. 16-77, Miami-Dade County declared laurel wilt to be a public nuisance; and
WHEREAS, avocado production in Miami-Dade is a $50 million per year industry employing 2000 people; and
WHEREAS, stopping the spread of this disease has been an important goal for Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, as part of its Fiscal Year 2015-2016, and 2016-2017 Budgets, the County allocated funds to combat the spread of laurel wilt; and
WHEREAS, the County�s Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Budget does not include any programmed funds to combat the spread of laurel wilt; and
WHEREAS, the Florida legislature has allocated funding in the 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 budgets; and
WHEREAS, Governor Scott exercised the line item veto on funding approved in 2016-2017; and
WHEREAS, the spread of laurel wilt is threatening the economic viability of the County�s avocado industry, a crucial part of the agricultural economic output of the County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. This Board ratifies and adopts the foregoing recitals as if fully set forth herein.
Section 2. This Board hereby establishes its policy to fund proactive measures to combat the spread of laurel wilt, through education, avocado tree replacement, and other means.
Section 3. The County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee is directed to include a plan for the implementation of such policy as part of the County Mayor�s proposed Fiscal Year 2018-2019 County Budget >>in an amount no less than that allocated in the 2015-2016 County Budget<<1 and any subsequent County Budgets as needed. The plan set forth in the County Mayor�s proposed budget shall, at a minimum, include details of the fiscal impact of implementing such a plan and the funding sources identified to fund the implementation.

1 Committee amendments are indicated as follows: Words stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] are deleted, words underscored and/or >>double arrowed<< are added.