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RESOLUTION NO. 203-14-14297 A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami, Florida, advocating the legal separation of Florida into two separate states, creating the 51st state in the Union and naming it "South Florida". Whereas, presently, the state of Florida consists of 67 counties in an area of approximately 56 thousand square miles with a population of approximately 19,135,000 people; and Whereas, the new proposed state of South Florida would have 24 counties ("which counties shall herein after be referred to as "South Florida"). These 24 counties are 35% of the total number of counties in the current state of Florida and they would comprise approximately 23,000 square miles in area. Thus, South Florida would be comprised of 39% of the area of the current state of Florida and would have a population of approximately 13,375,000 people which is 67% of the total population of the current state of Florida; and Whereas, presently, the state of Florida collects approximately 22 billion dollars in sales and documentary taxes from all of Florida, of which 69 percent, 15.25 billion dollars, is collected in South Florida; and Whereas, the new state of South Florida will consist of 24 counties with its northern border being Brevard, Orange, Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas and include the other 19 counties south of those five counties; and Whereas, South Florida Water Management District starts in Orange County and includes most of the aforementioned Counties in South Florida; and Whereas, the average elevation of the present state of Florida is approximately 100 feet above sea level. North Florida is approximately 120 feet above sea level while the average elevation of South Florida is less than 50 feet with a very large portion of South Florida averaging less than 15 feet above sea level. Many sections of South Florida are 5 feet or Tess above sea level, including Monroe County and the Gold Coast, consisting of Palm Beach County, Broward County and Miami -Dade County. This area also includes the Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park and the Turkey Point nuclear reactors. These reactors are 42 years old and less than 5 feet above sea level with in excess of 2.5 million pounds of nuclear waste buried on the grounds of the nuclear plant. Whereas, Lake Okeechobee, located in South Florida, is the second largest freshwater lake in the United States and the source of much of the fresh water supplied to South Florida and could be severely compromised by rising sea levels; and and Whereas, climate change is a scientific reality resulting in global warming and rising sea level; Whereas, it is estimated that there will be a 3 to 6 foot sea level rise by the end of this century. In addition, South Florida has very porous rock and, as the level of the sea rises, the pressure will cause water to rise up through the ground and flood the inland areas; and Whereas, South Florida's situation is very precarious and in need of immediate attention. Many of the issues facing South Florida are not political, but are now significant safety issues; and Page 1 of 2 19