061-2000 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.fl.us
L.T.C. No.
1';]-2000
LETTER TO COMMISSION
April 4, 2000
TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
FROM:
Lawrence A. Levy ~
City Manager
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE CITY'S APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA'S
FAST TRACK TRANSPORTATION GRANT PROGRAM
In early 1999, Governor Bush eliminated a proposed $70 million high speed rail project and directed
the Florida Department of Transportation to develop a program to use this funding to "fast track"
transportation projects around the State. The creation of this grant program addressed the
Governor's justification of his 1999 vetoes, citing a lack of independent review of the merits of
projects.
The 1999 State Legislative Session concluded at the end of April with funding for several projects
in the City of Miami Beach included in the State Budget. After the Legislature passed the budget,
it then went to the Governor. Using his line-item veto power, the Governor erased $313 million from
the $48.6 billion State Budget that took effect on July 1, 1999, including some funding items that
the Legislature had approved for Miami Beach.
City of Miami Beach items vetoed by the Governor were $175,000 for Youth Diversion Programs,
$400,000 for an underground wiring project, $200,000 for the Youth Center at North Shore Park,
and a $150,000 appropriation for the New World Symphony.
Governor Bush said in his veto message that "while many member projects may be valuable to their
local communities, without an independent review of their merits and a fair, statewide allocation,
it is impossible to fairly make sound determinations. There is simply no way to know whether many
of these projects are an effective use of the State's limited resources."
On October 31,1999, the City Administration submitted an application to the State of Florida's Fast
Track Transportation Grant Program in the amount of $950,000 for the Atlantic Corridor
Tourist/Commuter Transportation Enhancement Network. This project will create a regional
network that connects key intermodal centers, area business districts, cultural/tourism centers,
residential neighborhoods, parking facilities, parks and the beaches. The City's proposal requested
$810,000 to complete the funding package and construct the North Beach Recreational Corridor
(NBRC) and $140,000 to develop a master plan for the Citywide Atlantic Corridor, which includes
a series of projects in various stages of planning, and/or funding and construction readiness.
The Fast Track Program received 174 proposals totaling $1.5 billion. On November 21, 1999, the
selection committee met and recommended 29 projects for a $57.5 million, including $950,000 for
the City's Atlantic Corridor Project. The selection committee was comprised of the following
members:
. Marion Hart, Jr.
Florida Department of Transportation
. Kenneth Krauter
Jackson Port Authority
. David R. Mills
Sarasota County Government
. Richard Null
Office of Tourism, Trade & Economic Development, State of Florida
Executive Office of the Governor
. Peter A. Rutski
CSX Intermodal
On January 19, 2000, the City received a letter from Florida Department of Transportation Secretary
Barry, informing the City that he had removed the City's proposal from his budget recommendations
to the Governor. The Secretary stated that the Fast Track program was created to "substantially
impact facilities that carry large volumes of people and goods," and that the City's project failed to
meet this purpose. In his budget recommendations to the Governor, the Secretary eliminated six
projects statewide, including the City of Miami Beach's proposed project, and added the following
four projects:
. Broward County Transit - Plan and construct neighborhood transit center
. City of Homestead - Urban transit land purchase
. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority - Extension of the Tampa Electric Streetcar
. Greater Orlando Aviation Authority - Construction of an Intermodal Transit System for the new
South Terminal Complex
On February 18,2000, Mayor Kasdin sent a letter to Governor Bush, pointing out the inconsistency
between the selection committee's review and recommendation and the subsequent recommendation
by Secretary Barry. In this letter the Mayor pointed out that both Governor Bush and Secretary
Barry each had voting representatives on the Selection Committee, who had ample opportunity to
voice their concerns if they felt that the City's application did not meet on the program's criteria. The
letter further pointed out that the extended review by Secretary Barry and his subsequent substitution
of projects made the selection process superfluous.
On March 9,2000, the City received a response to Mayor Kasdin's letter from Marion Hart Jr., the
State's Public Transportation Administrator. In his letter, Mr. Hart informed the City of the budget
recommendation process that begins with the Secretary, continues on to the Governor, and then to
the Legislature, but he failed to respond to the Mayor's request that the selection committee's
recommendations be respected and that funds be made available in the budget for the Atlantic
Corridor. Mr. Hart, who was Secretary Barry's representative on the committee that initially
recommended funding the Atlantic Corridor, also failed to address the apparent change in process
that was made by the Secretary. Mr. Hart indicated that while City staff is working with the Fast
Track Manager on how to approach next years program, the Legislature will probably change some
components and criteria of the program.
On March 16,2000, the City's State Lobbyists met with Senator Silver and Representatives Bloom
and Barreiro to discuss the status of the City's appropriation items. The City's delegates and
lobbying team are approaching the "Fast Track" issue from the perspective of the grant process
violation rather than from the merits of the grant application. Senator Silver and Representative
Barreiro spoke to the entire Dade Delegation at its weekly meeting, and Senator Silver has gotten
the attention and the ear of the Transportation Committee Chairman. Additionally, Senator Silver
took the opportunity to speak about the grant process during discussion of the transportation package
on the Senate Floor.
At the March 23,2000 Senate Budget Committee meeting, Senator Silver introduced an amendment
to the Senate Budget recommendation to include funding for the city's project. The amendment was
adopted, but the funding amount was reduced by 50% to $450,000. The Senate budget now goes
to the full Senate where it will face additional amendments.
On March 24,2000, Representative Barreiro attempted to amend the House Budget to include the
Atlantic Corridor. Despite his efforts, the House Budget Committee did not accept the amendment.
The House Budget will now go to the full House where it will also face additional amendments.
The appropriation item introduced by Senator Silver is eligible for conference and the City's
lobbyists will continue to work on this item with the City's legislators.
af!.c I~
LAL:CMC:K.C/ebs
c: Assistant City Managers & Executive Assistants to the City Manager
Kevin Crowder, Legislative Coordinator
Amelia Johnson, Transportation Coordinator
William Cary, Design, Preservation & Neighborhood Planning Division Director
Stacy Kilroy, Grants Coordinator
Bruce Henderson, Environmental Specialist
Mercy Lazamares, Senior Planner