LTC 239-2003
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No.cJ3~-~3
m
To:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Date: October 7,2003
From:
Jorge M. Gonzalez. .L.... /'
City Manager A ~ C
MPO VOTE ON~AY LINK RESOLUTION
Subject:
The Mayor and City Commission members received a letter from Mr. Frank Del Vecchio
expressing concerns with the recent MPO action taken on the City of Miami Beach Bay
Link Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) Resolution.
Mr. Del Vecchio's letter regarding the City of Miami Beach LPA vote by the MPO raised
three questions as follows:
1. Mr. Del Vecchio expressed concern that the MPO Resolution did not incorporate
any of the conditions established by the City of Miami Beach and referred to the
conditions as requests.
City Analysis:
The Resolution approved by the MPO specifically directed the MPO staff to work with the
City of Miami Beach to address all of the conditions contained within the City of Miami
Beach Resolution to the extent possible. The City of Miami Beach will actively be
monitoring the next phase of the Bay Link Study (the FEIS Phase) and ultimately only the
City of Miami Beach will be the party to determine whether our conditions have been
satisfactorily addressed during the process. There is no reason to be concerned by the
MPO reference or approach to the recommended conditions.
2. The adopted MPO Resolution referred to a light rail transit/streetcar system while
the City of Miami Beach LPA Resolution specifically addressed streetcar
technology. Mr. Del Vecchio expressed concern that there may be an ambiguity
that should be resolved.
City Analysis:
The City of Miami Beach and the City of Miami clearly recommended a specific type of
technology that was appropriately reflected in the MPO Resolution. There is no ambiguity
in the recommendation that was made by the City of Miami Beach or that was approved by
the MPO as to the type of technology thatthe City of Miami Beach and City of Miami would
pursue. Both cities technology recommendation is clearly represented and understood by
the MPO to be streetcar, not the heavier light rail transit.
3. Mr. Del Vecchio expressed concern that the Resolution adopted by the MPO reflects
a route in the City of Miami Beach different than that adopted by the City of Miami
Beach.
City Analysis:
Mr. Del Vecchio is correct that the Resolution in the MPO agenda materials incorrectly
reflected the route which was recommended by the City of Miami Beach as part of the
City's Locally Preferred Alternative. This information was brought to the attention of the
MPO staff in advance of the MPO consideration ofthe item with the specific understanding
that the route as reflected in the City of Miami Beach materials would be reflected in the
final MPO action. The Administration will be certain that the route that was recommended
by the City of Miami Beach is that which is pursued by the MPO as part of the next phase
of the analysis and if formal corrective action is necessary, it will be undertaken.
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c: Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Fred Beckmann, Director of Public Works