HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 94-12
RESOLUTION NO. 94-12
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA
ENDORSING THE SAVE OUR EVERGLADES INITIATIVE.
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WHEREAS, Florida's Everglades ecosystem is unique in the world; and
WHEREAS, the health of the Everglades has declined due to abuses from
drainage, water diversion and pollution; and
WHEREAS, the multimillion dollar tourist industry of the State of Florida, which
has a direct impact on jobs, the economy, and sales tax revenue for Florida relies in part on
clean marine water, healthy reefs and abundant fish life; and
WHEREAS, the sugarcane industry has caused great harm to the Everglades with
its polluted farm runoff threatening the integrity of the Everglades ecosystem on which our
communities and livelihoods ultimately depend; and
WHEREAS, the "Everglades Forever Act" requires the Sugar Industry to pay less
than 25 % of cleanup costs, charges the taxpayers of Florida at least $400 million to Clean
Sugar's pollution, provides ten years to implement clean-up measures which will still leave
Sugar's water five times more polluted than the Everglades can tolerate, and puts offfmal clean-
up at least 20 years; and
WHEREAS, Ocoee and Orange County residents pay to clean the water running
off their property, they should not have to pay to clean Sugar's water; and
WHEREAS, the Save Our Everglades Committee has launched a petition drive
to put a referendum on the 1994 ballot letting voters decide if they want the sugar industry to
pay a one penny per pound pollution abatement fee on raw sugar produced in the Everglades;
and
WHEREAS, this fee, which would raise $35 million per year (indexed for
inflation), and be in effect for 25 years, would go to a trust fund to pay for water quality
remedies and related Everglades/Florida Bay restoration; and
WHEREAS, the trust will be able to quickly address Everglades/Florida Bay
water quality issues with hard dollars, while ensuring that the sugar industry pays its fair share
of cleanup costs; and
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WHEREAS, the Save Our Everglades referendum is a fair, reasonable and
equitable solution to the problems facing the Everglades and Florida Bay, and will save
taxpayers millions of dollars, while ensuring a continuous flow of money for restoration
purposes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY
COMMISSION OF OCOEE, FLORIDA, hereby:
Section 1. Restates its support for the equitable principle that polluters must
pay to clean up the pollution that they have caused.
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Section 2.
This resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
ADOPTED this '1TH dayofJuN~ ,1994.
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA
(SEAL)
By:
FOR USE AND RELIANCE ONLY BY
THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
this 9. I day of June, 1994.
FOLEY & LARDNER
IJ I If ';1
(Ju.,( ~ /~~--,I::h./
City Attorney
APPROVED BY THE OCOEE CITY
COMMISSION AT A MEETING
HELD ON THE DATE INDICATED
ABOVE.
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