M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Members of the Town Council
From: Mayor Peggy R. Bell
Date: December 10, 2014
Re: Calling for a Seal Level Rise and Climate Change Congress
REQUEST
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, CALLING FOR A SOUTH FLORIDA SEA LEVEL RISE AND CLIMATE CHANGE CONGRESS THAT WILL INCLUDE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS MEETING TO PROPOSE CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Scientists believe that the rising sea level will threaten some of the region's most vital facilities, will flood land, streets and neighborhoods and could even cause sewer systems to back up into houses and gardens. There is little land in South Florida that is more than 6 feet above sea level and 2.4 million US citizens live at an elevation of 4 feet or less in South Florida. South Florida's communities need all levels of government to mobilize resources for wide-ranging adaptation and mitigation measures. The proposed resolution would support the City of South Miami and others in calling for a Sea Level Rise and Climate Change Congress to address issues including mobilization of resources for adaptation and mitigation measures to meet in the Fall of 2015.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Town Council adopt the resolution to assist and support this call for action.