M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Roger Coriat, Council Member, Seat 3
Date: July 18, 2018
Re: Supporting the City of South Miami’s Resolution No. 117-18-15150
REQUESTT
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI’S RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO BAN PLASTIC STRAWS OR RESTRICT THEIR USE; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Body…
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
In June 2018, the City of South Miami approved Resolution No. 117-18-15150 to ban or restrict the use of plastic straws. The Town of Cutler Bay requests to support this resolution encouraging the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners to ban or restrict straws in an effort to protect the environment and our natural resources.
The proposed Resolution is consistent with the Town’s recently adopted Green Master Plan committing to “protect, conserve and enhance coastal wetlands and living marine resources within the coastal area of the Town of Cutler Bay” (Attachment A: Green Master Plan pg.10). Additionally, the proposed Resolution compliments Town Ordinance 17-04 prohibiting the sale or use of expanded polystyrene food service articles by Town contractors adopted on May 17, 2017.
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, plastic straws are not biodegradable, instead they photo degrade - breaking down into smaller pieces making it easier to be ingested by marine animals and other wildlife. These smaller pieces are making its way into our storm water drainage systems, wetlands, canal banks, and the environmentally sensitive Biscayne Bay.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Town Council approve the attached Resolution supporting the City of South Miami’s Resolution to ban plastic straws or restrict their use.