Please place on the September 13, 2017 City Commission Agenda, a referral to the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee to discuss updating Chapter 46, Article V of the City Code covering Turtle Nesting Protection.

Visitors and residents are often surprised to learn that more than 100,000 sea turtles – many of them threatened or endangered – nest on Florida beaches from March through October with close to 90% of sea turtle nesting in the U.S. occurring annually in our state. Over the course of this sea turtle season, our City has unfortunately witnessed many sea turtle disorientations that occur when hatchlings attempt to make their way to the ocean after emerging from their eggs. There are several reasons why disorientations occur and appear unusually high in our City, including light pollution from upland properties; this is of increased concern particularly as more nests are being left in place rather than relocated to a safer location in order to reduce the potential risk caused to embryos when the eggs are moved.

Chapter 46, Article V of the City Code outlines turtle nesting protection provisions such as requirements to use turtle-friendly light fixtures along the beachfront. Code Compliance conducts regular nighttime inspections to identify non-compliant properties and to educate or issue violations in accordance with this ordinance. However, the ordinance was adopted in 2006 and could be updated to reflect changing conditions and practices, as well as to be more precise and to facilitate enforcement. Miami-Dade County’s Sea Turtle Conservation Program and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff have offered to review the ordinance and provide their recommendations. I would, therefore, ask that the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee consider updating and amending our City Code accordingly.

Please contact my office at extension 6437 for additional information.