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RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNITED STATES SPACE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE BEACON COUNCIL�S EFFORTS IN FURTHERANCE THEREOF; DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE BEACON COUNCIL AND COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PREPARATION OF THE COUNTY�S SUBMISSIONS TO UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE DURING COMPETITION AND EVALUATION, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT OF AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE, AND TO PROVIDE A REPORT

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WHEREAS, on August 29, 2019, United States President Donald J. Trump announced the establishment of the United States Space Command (�SPACECOM�) as the newest of 11 unified commands within the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, in his remarks announcing the formation of SPACECOM, President Trump said that �[o]ur adversaries are weaponizing earth�s orbits with new technology targeting American satellites that are critical to both battlefield operations and our way of life at home� and that �[o]ur freedom to operate in space is also essential to detecting and destroying any missile launched against the United States�; and
WHEREAS, at the same time, President Trump also announced that the United States Space Force (�USSF�) would thereafter be established as the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, on December 20, 2019, the USSF was established with the enactment of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act within the United States Department of the Air Force (�Air Force�); and
WHEREAS, the mission of the USSF is to organize, train, and equip space forces to protect the United States and its allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to each of the unified commands of the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, USSF responsibilities include developing military space professionals, acquiring military space systems, maturing the military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces; and
WHEREAS, on May 15, 2020, the Air Force and the United States Secretary of Defense announced the launch of a revised approach to determine and select the permanent location of SPACECOM headquarters; and
WHEREAS, to meet the minimum eligibility criteria for nomination and consideration as a prospective SPACECOM headquarters site, the applicant community must: (1) be one of the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the United States of America, based on the United States Census Bureau�s 2019 population estimates; (2) be within 25 miles or less of a military base to ensure that locations can support service members and their families; and (3) have a livability index score of 50 points out of 100 or higher as determined by the American Association of Retired Persons Public Policy Institute (�Institute�); and
WHEREAS, the livability index measures factors such as housing affordability, great neighborhoods, safe and convenient transportation, clean air and water, quality health services, civic and social involvement, and inclusive opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County is ideally positioned for nomination and consideration as a prospective SPACECOM headquarters site; and
WHEREAS, it is the home of United States Southern Command, United States Special Operations Command South, and Homestead Air Reserve Base; is the seventh largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States; and has a livability index score meeting or exceeding the established standards; and
WHEREAS, for a community to be nominated, the Air Force announced that it was requiring endorsement by the governor of its state; and
WHEREAS, on June 9, 2020, Miami-Dade County submitted to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis its nomination to host SPACECOM headquarters, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis subsequently endorsed the County�s nomination to the Air Force as one of eight communities in Florida that should serve as the site of SPACECOM�s headquarters, and the only such community in South Florida; and
WHEREAS, following the nomination and endorsement process, the Air Force has advised that it will provide nominees with detailed questionnaires that will be used to score nominees and determine the candidate locations during the evaluation phase of the process; and
WHEREAS, the Air Force anticipates announcing the candidate locations in November 2020, undertaking site visits, and making the final decision for the preferred and reasonable alternative locations for the new SPACECOM in early 2021; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County is currently preparing for the next phase of the competition in collaboration with the Beacon Council, Inc. (�Beacon Council�), the official economic development agency for Miami-Dade County and its local and regional partners; and
WHEREAS, the Air Force had advised all candidate communities that they will be evaluated based on the following four criteria: mission related (40 points); infrastructure capacity (30 points); community support (15 points); and costs to the Air Force (15 points); and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the SPACECOM headquarters will become home to approximately 1,400 military and civilian personnel, and create additional jobs for contractors in new industries, thereby potentially resulting in a significant economic boom for the region that houses the headquarters; and
WHEREAS, this Board desires to vigorously pursue Miami-Dade County�s selection as a candidate location and, ultimately, the preferred location for the SPACECOM headquarters,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Approves the foregoing recitals and incorporates them herein by reference.
Section 2. Supports the establishment of SPACECOM headquarters in Miami-Dade County.
Section 3. Supports the Beacon Council in the effort to have Miami-Dade County be selected as the preferred location for the SPACECOM headquarters.
Section 4. Directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to continue to work closely with the Beacon Council and collaborate with the science and engineering departments of local colleges and universities, municipalities within Miami-Dade County, neighboring counties, and strategic, local industries and companies to prepare Miami-Dade County�s submissions to the Air Force for the next phase of the competition and evaluation, including but not limited to, the development of an incentive package.
Section 5. Directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to submit a report to the Board within 90 days of the effective date of this resolution regarding the status and progress of the competition and evaluative process. This Board further directs the County Mayor or Mayor�s designee to place the completed report on an agenda of this Board pursuant to Ordinance No. 14-65.