HomeMy Public PortalAbout14-8770 Restore Full Funding to the Miami Dade Library Sponsored by: Mayor Taylor
RESOLUTION NO. 14-8770
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA URGING THE MIAMI-
DADE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO
RESTORE FULL FUNDING TO THE MIAMI-DADE
LIBRARY DISTRICT;PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION
OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the Dade County Home Rule Charter, adopted in 1957 by the electorate,
assigned the authority to provide parks, preserves, playgrounds, recreation areas, libraries,
museums and other recreational and cultural facilities and programs; and
WHEREAS,in 1961,the Florida Legislature adopted an act relating to libraries,providing
for appropriations to the state library board for disbursement as grants to counties, qualifying
therefore, to implement the state policy to encourage the establishment and development of free
library service through the state by grants of money to counties maintaining a free library service;
and
WHEREAS,in 1962,the U.S.Congress passed the Library Service and Construction Act
to provide federal assistance to libraries for the purpose of improving or implementing library
services or undertaking construction projects; and
WHEREAS, in 1963, the Dade County Commission created the Dade County Public
Library Advisory Board detailing its duties, functions and responsibilities; and
WHEREAS,in 1965,Dade County provided for the establishment of free library service,
adopted a special library fund by budget ordinance,and approved an agreement originally between
Dade County and the City of Miami, which had established its library service in 1931, and Coral
Gables, where the City of Miami agreed to furnish library services to unserved areas of Dade
County, and those municipalities which may enter into inter-local agreements with the county to
operate their municipal library services, as part of the county free public library system; and
WHEREAS,in 1965,the Dade County Commission adopted a budget ordinance directing
the tax assessor to assess the millage for the Special library fund for the 1965-66 year of.26 mill
upon all lands in the unincorporated areas of Dade County along with the ten municipalities not
Resolution No. 14-8770
already taxed for library services by their own municipality and to enter into contract for library
services with them, while additional municipalities then also joined the public library system
paying into the special library taxing district; and
WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade County Public Library System (the "MDPLS") has now
grown to include 49 branches with a service are of over 2.5 million residents and over 8 million
annual visitors; and
WHEREAS, the MDPLS, which is funded through ad valorem taxes and through state
grants and Opa-locka property owners pay into the library special taxing district; and
WHEREAS, the impact of reduction of funding in 2010-2013, for critically needed
programs has been eliminated system-wide, and similar reductions in service has been seen
throughout the entire public library system; and
WHEREAS,a healthy public library system is critically important to promote literacy and
cultural awareness,fosters the joy of reading, and lifelong learning,and public surveys conducted
by the Miami-Dade County Mayor's office, as part of the Blue Ribbon Task Force, demonstrate
significant public support for the libraries and a willingness by the public to pay to maintain a
quality level of service; and
WHEREAS,the severe reduction in funding has caused a serious reduction in materials,
staff, resources and the inability to provide updated books an subscriptions with significantly
reduce service hours and resource materials to the Opa-locks Branch, and every library in the
county-side system, thereby significantly reducing circulation and most importantly, access to
learning by children, teens, and adults alike throughout the county over the past four years; and
WHEREAS,the City Commission of the City of Opa-locka urges the Miami-Dade Board
of County Commissioners to restore full funding to the Miami-Dade Library District.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA:
Section 1. The recitals to the preamble are hereby incorporated by reference.
Section 2. The City Commission of the City of Opa-locka,Florida,urges the Miami-Dade
Board of County Commissioners to fully fund the Miami-Dade Public Library System so that the
Resolution No. 14-8770
entire countywide system will return to the level of service achieved in 2008,so that the taxpayers
of Opa-locka, and every other municipality that has joined into this cooperative sharing of
resources,receive full value for their invested tax dollar.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 26`h day of February, 2014.
MYWA TAILOR
MAYOR
Attest:
Jo a Flores
Ci Clerk
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency:
m
fHOLMES ler, Esq.
EN POON MARDER, PA
Att rney
Moved by: COMMISSIONE
Seconded by: COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO
Commission Vote: 5-0
Commissioner Holmes: YES
Commissioner Johnson: YES
Commissioner Santiago: YES
Vice-Mayor Kelley: YES
Mayor Taylor: YES