HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-14-01 IR LagoonRESOLUTION NO. R-14-01
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, URGING STATE LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNOR SCOTT TO
RECOGNIZE THE EXTREME IMPORTANCE OF THE FRAGILE INDIAN
RIVER LAGOON, A DESIGNATED ESTUARY OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE,
TO THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA; REQUESTING THAT THE STATE
RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE
HEALTH OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE
FUNDING FOR TESTING TO FIND THE SOURCES OF POLLUTION AND
CREATE METHODS TO RESTORE THE LAGOON'S HEALTH TO PREVENT
ANY FURTHER LOSS OF DYING MARINE LIFE AND DEMISE OF ONE OF
FLORIDA'S MOST TREASURED ECOSYSTEMS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon is a 156 mile long estuary, designated as an
Estuary of National Significance in April 1990 by the Department of Environmental Protection,
and was once teeming with marine life, providing $3.7 billion to the coastal economy of the
Treasure Coast region, and is a precious ecosystem for the entire State of Florida, bordering
five Florida counties and 40% of Florida's coastline; and
WHEREAS, in the past few years the Indian River Lagoon has lost hundreds of
thousands of acres of seagrass beds, the foundation of its ecosystem, and marine life is dying in
unprecedented numbers, including manatees, dolphins, sea turtles and birds, as well as oyster
reefs and wetlands; and
WHEREAS, stormwater and fresh water runoff carrying nutrients and effluent into the
brackish lagoon are seen as the root cause of the pollution, though more testing is needed to
find the answers; and
WHEREAS, saving our Lagoon has become a rallying cry for the City of Sebastian and
many other government and private groups which have come together at the municipal, county,
and state level, including the Treasure Coast and Space Coast communities which border the
Indian River Lagoon, in a united effort to work diligently to find causes and solutions; and
WHEREAS; in 2013, State Legislators proposed $2M in funding for testing along the
length of the Indian River to find the sources of pollution, and funding was vetoed by Governor
Scott because the purpose, lagoon testing by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute scientists,
was deemed by the Governor to lack statewide significance and would not provide a significant
return for the investment; and
WHEREAS, without needed funding provided at the state and federal levels, the local
agencies and private organizations cannot move forward to find answers and it is time for all of
us to take action to save our Indian River Lagoon for future generations before it is too late.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA as follows:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Sebastian strongly urges the State of Florida
Legislature and Governor Scott to provide funding in 2014 to be designated to finding the
sources of the pollution and developing and implementing a viable plan for successfully
restoring the health of the entire length of the Indian River Lagoon.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.
The foregoing Resolution was moved for adoption by Coy
seconded by Gillmor , and upon, being put to a vote, the vote was as
follows:
Mayor Bob McPartlan aye
Vice Mayor Jim Hill aye
Council Member Jerome Adams aye
Council Member Andrea Coy aye
Council Member Richard Gillmor aye
The Mayor thereupon declared this Resolution duly passed and adopted this 22nd day
of January 2014.
CITY OF SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA
By:
y
Bob McPartlan, Mayor
ATT
Sally A. Mai , MMC
City Clerk
Approved as to Form and Content for
Rel" ce by the City of Sebastian Only:
Robert A. Ginsburg, City Attorney
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