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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE BOARD WITHIN 120 DAYS STUDYING THE FEASIBILITY, COST, AND MEANS OF IMPLEMENTING A DESIGNATED PARKING PROGRAM FOR VETERANS IN COUNTY FACILITIES

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WHEREAS, according to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the veteran population in Miami-Dade County was 60,168 in the years between 2009 and 2013; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate for this community to express its appreciation for their service to those individuals who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and thereby demonstrated a commitment to protecting and defending freedom and liberty in the United States; and
WHEREAS, one way in which that appreciation may be demonstrated, and which will also provide a convenience and privilege to veterans, is to designate convenient parking spaces (i.e., parking spaces close to entry points) in facilities generally open to the public; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County owns and operates parking lots and facilities throughout the County in diverse facilities at no charge or, in some instances, in exchange for a modest parking fee; and
WHEREAS, other local governments throughout Miami-Dade County own and operate similar parking lots and facilities; and
WHEREAS, in addition to governmental parking lots, throughout Miami-Dade County, parking lots and facilities operated by private entities abound in places frequented by the public (e.g., grocery stores, shopping centers/malls, and office buildings), including veterans; and
WHEREAS, in addition to providing designated parking at County facilities, it would be optimal to extend similar parking privileges in parking facilities owned and operated by either other local governments or the private sector; and
WHEREAS, in creating preferential parking for veterans, Miami-Dade County would be following the lead of other communities and private entities throughout the United States who have established designated parking for veterans,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are incorporated herein and adopted by this Board as true and correct.
Section 2. The County Mayor or designee is directed to, within 120 days of the effective date of this Resolution, prepare a written report to the Board studying the feasibility, cost, and means of implementing a designated parking program for veterans at facilities owned and operated by Miami-Dade County. In addition, the report shall consider means of encouraging the public and private sectors to include designated veterans� parking for new and existing structures other than those used for single-family, duplex, townhouse, or multifamily uses. Said report shall also consider and develop eligibility criteria for veterans, fees that should be charged to offset costs imposed by the program, and means of enforcement to prevent the abuse of the designated parking program by non-eligible persons. In developing said eligibility criteria, the County Mayor or designee is directed to consult with the Military Affairs Board. The County Mayor or designee shall provide the report to this Board within 120 days of the effective date of this resolution and shall place the completed report on an agenda of the Board pursuant to Ordinance No. 14-65.