Resolution 2021-31865RESOLUTION NO. 2021-31865
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE VENETIAN
CAUSEWAY AS PART OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY RFP NO. 01982, AND URGING
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA TO EXCLUDE THE
VENETIAN CAUSEWAY FROM THE PLANS TO PRIVATIZE THE RICKENBACKER
CAUSEWAY.
WHEREAS, the historic scenic Venetian Causeway is a 2.5 -mile two lane roadway
winding through a residential neighborhood with 10 low stationary bridges and two
bascules (drawbridges) which join City of Miami to the west, and City of Miami Beach to
the east; and
WHEREAS, the Venetian Causeway has been designated as a Historic Place by
the prestigious National Register of Historic Places since 1989 and is also designated -as
historic by adjacent cities and Miami -Dade County; and
WHEREAS, on March 3, 2021, the Miami -Dade County (the "County") received an
unsolicited proposal from a consortium of firms consisting of equity investor entity
Partners Group (USA) Inc., and consultant entities Zyskovich Architects, and J Kardys
Strategies, LLC, for, among other projects, sea level rise coastal resiliency improvements
and maintenance of the Venetian Causeway; and
WHEREAS, consequently, the County issued RFP No. 01982, soliciting proposals
to develop, maintain and operate Rickenbacker and Venetian Causeways; and
WHEREAS, the County's decision to solicit proposals to maintain and operate
Venetian Causeways caused immediate opposition from Venetian Causeway residents,
prompting letters from Venetian Way Neighborhood Alliance (VWNA), the Venetian
Islands Homeowners Association (VIHA), the Belle Island Residents Association (BIRA),
Venetian Isle Condominium Association, and 1000 Venetian Way Condominium
Association declaring their opposition and calling on the County Mayor and the Board of
County Commissioners to remove the Venetian Causeway from RFP No. 01982; and
WHEREAS, Miami -Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman and state
Representative Michael Grieco issued similar statements, opposing the inclusion of the
Venetian Causeway with the Rickenbacker Bridge in RFP No. 01982, and calling for the
County to engage in meaningful conversations with the City of Miami Beach, City of
Miami, and their residents on how the privatization of the Venetian Causeway will impact
them; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach join
County Commissioner Sally Heyman and state Representative Michael Grieco, as well
as the Venetian Causeway residents in opposing the inclusion of the venetian Causeway
with the Rickenbacker Bridge in RFP No. 01982; and
WHEREAS, as computed by the County, annual toll revenue for the Venetian
Causeway ranges from $6.2 million to $5 million between 2018 and 2021 (reflecting the
COVID-19 pandemic), with the annual operation and maintenance expenses totaling
approximately $3 million; and
WHEREAS, allowing a private company to operate the Venetian Causeway will
result in an annual financial loss of approximately $2 million to $3 million profit for the
County and its general fund; and
WHEREAS, according to RFP. No. 01982, the County anticipates entering into ,an
Interim Agreement for a base term of forty (40) years with two (2), twenty (20) year options
to renew, which means a potential total loss of revenue and cash reserves of the County
of over $200 million dollars; and
WHEREAS, moreover, it is unlikely that privatization of the Venetian Causeway
will result in a faster or better solution to fixing the bridges, as private companies will not
prioritize residents but will rather seek to monetize profits for their partners and investors;
and
WHEREAS, the Venetian Causeway, as a long-standing and unique feature of
Miami -Dade County, should be managed by a government chartered to help the people.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that the Mayor and City
Commission oppose the privatization of the Venetian Causeway, as part of Miami -Dade
County RFP No. 01982, and urge Miami -Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to
exclude the Venetian Causeway from the plans to privatize the Rickenbacker Causeway.
PASSED and ADOPTED this _0,,, ep4�mber 2021.
.: �y
iINCORP ORATED:
i
SEP, 12 2021
�.t
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
(Sponsored by Commissioner Micky Steinberg)
Dan Gelber, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
City Attorney �,� Pate
Resolutions - R7 Q
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael A. Paz, Acting City Attorney
DATE: September 17, 2021
SUBJECT. A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE VENETIAN
CAUSEWAY AS PART OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY RFP NO. 01982, AND
URGING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA TO
EXCLUDE THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY FROM THE PLANS TO PRIVATIZE
THE RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY.
ANALYSIS
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Micky Steinberg, the attached Resolution is submitted
for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission at the September 17, 2021 Commission
meeting.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
Is this a "Residents Right
to Known" item pursuant to
City Code Section 2-14?
No
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
SponsQr
Commissioner Micky Steinberg
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Resolution
Does this item utilize G.O.
Bond Funds?
No
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