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2010-27455 ResoRESOLUTION NO 2010-27455 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MEDIAN ALONG LINCOLN ROAD, BETWEEN WASHINGTON AVENUE AND COLLINS AVENUE, AS CURRENTLY DESIGNED IN THE CITY CENTER BID PACKAGE 9C RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AND AS APPROVED BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD, AT ITS JANUARY 16 2007 MEETING, AND AGAIN AT ITS JUNE 8, 2010 MEETING. WHEREAS, on October 19, 2005, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2005- 26035, approving the City Center Right of Way Improvement Project (Project) final Basis of Design Report (BODR); and WHEREAS, the Project was also approved by the Historic Preservation Board (HPB) on January 16, 2007; and WHEREAS, in October and November 2009, concerns were raised regarding the installation of a median on Lincoln Road, between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue; and WHEREAS, during the February 3, 2010 City Commission meeting, a referral was made to the Neighborhoods Community Affairs Committee to discuss the issue of the median further; and . WHEREAS, during the February 16, 2010 Neighborhoods Community Affairs Committee meeting, several members of the community spoke in favor of moving the Project forward, as currently designed with the median; and WHEREAS, during several meetings of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Tourism Lincoln Road Beautification Sub-Committee (Mayor's Task Force), the median concept was also discussed and supported; and WHEREAS, on March 10, 2010, the City Commission voted to move forward with the Project without the median; and WHEREAS, staff agreed to explore whether the changes to eliminate the median could be made administratively, without returning to the HPB, and without a formal amendment to the BODR; and WHEREAS, staff determined that in order to modify the previously approved Project design, it would be necessary to re-submit the Project to the HPB and have the City Commission approve an amendment to the BODR; and WHEREAS, during its June 8, 2010, meeting, the HPB again voted in favor of moving forward with the construction of the Project with the median. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, the Mayor and City Commission hereby approve the construction of the median along Lincoln Road, between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue, as currently designed in the City Center Bid Package 9C Right-of-Way Improvement Project, and as approved by the Historic Preservation Board, at its January 16, 2007 meeting, and again at its June 8, 20.10 Meeting. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS ~yfti DAY OF u/ 2010. ATTEST: Qi1, ~ CITY CLERK MAYOR APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE 8~ F(7H EXECUTION ~ ~~~~~ i m "~' ey T:\AGENDA\2010\July 14\Consent\City Center Bid Paclage 9C -Lincoln Road Median Reso.doc COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY Condensed Title: A Resolution of the Mayor and City commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, approving and authorizing the construction of the median along Lincoln Road, between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue, as currently designed in the City Center Bid Package 9C Right-of-Way Improvement Project, and as approved by the Historic Preservation Board, at their June 8, 2010 meetin . Ke Intended Outcome Su ooted: Ensure value and timely delivery of quality capital projects. upporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.): The 2009 Customer Satisfaction Survey indicated that 79% of businesses rated recently completed capital improvement projects as excellent or good. Completing this Project will add to the needed upgrades in this area and improve overall ratin . Issue• Should the Ci Commission a rove construction of the median alon Lincoln Road? item summa ~Kecommendation: The City Commission during its October 19, 2005 meeting adopted Resolution 2005-26035, approving the Project's final BODR. The Project was approved by the HPB on January 16, 2007. In October and November 2009, several local merchants communicated to the City, their opposition to the installation of a median on Lincoln Road between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue. During the February 3, 2010 City Commission meeting, a referral was made to the Neighborhoods Community Affairs Committee to further the discussion of the median. During the February 16, 2010, Neighborhoods Community Affairs Committee meeting, the median was discussed and several members of the community spoke in favor of moving the project forward as currently designed with the median. During the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Tourism Lincoln Road Beautification Sub-Committee (Mayor's Task Force) meetings of March 4, and May 21, 2010, the median concept was also supported. On March 10, 2010, the City Commission voted to move forward with the project without the median, and that an alternative material used for the sidewalks to allow a clear path. Staff agreed to explore whether the changes could be done administratively. Staff later determined that in order to modify the previously approved design, it was necessary to re- submit the Project to the HPB, and on June 8, 2010, the project was reviewed and discussed. Members of the Mayor's Task Force attended the HPB meeting. The Mayor's Task Force Chairman presented a letter to the HPB and strongly recommended that the City maintain the median as currently designed. Following further discussion, the HPB voted unanimously in favor of moving forward with the construction of the Lincoln Road median as currently designed. The Administration recommends that the current project design with a median be accepted and approved by the City Commission. J /1M ~I ~.7V~ ova~u Rr~wmmenaatwn: CIP Oversi ht Committee Financial Information: Amount Account Approved Source of Funds: OBPI N/A N/A Total ci clerk's Office Le islative Trackin Carla Dixon t. 6264 Sign-Offs:A D ent irector Assi t City Manager Ci Manager COC T:IAGENDA OUuly 141(`.nncantl(:fh. r .,* JGG e. g•d p ~ JMG i a -Lincoln Road Median : Summary.d ~ MIAMIBEACH x AGENDA ITEM DATE _ 7~~~-1!~ m MIAMIBEACH City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl:gov COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager DATE: July 14, 2010 SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND OMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MEDIAN ALONG LINCOLN ROAD, BETWEEN WASHINGTON AVENUE AND COLLINS AVENUE, AS CURRENTLY DESIGNED IN THE CITY CENTER BID PACKAGE 9C RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AND AS APPROVED BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD, AT THEIR JUNE 8, 2010 MEETING. ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION Authorize staff to proceed with the construction of the median as designed. FUNDING Funding appropriation is not required for this Commission action. ANALYSIS This Project's limits are along the eastern two block portion of Lincoln Road from Washington Avenue to Collins Avenue. The scope of work comprises the installation of a new six-foot wide landscaped median along the center of Lincoln Road, new sidewalks, bump-outs at the intersections to facilitate pedestrian crossings, roadway repaving, landscape, irrigation, lighting, and brick paver crosswalks. The Basis of Design Report for the City Center Neighborhood identified two design options for this portion of Lincoln Road. Numerous meetings with the community were held as noted below: September 15, 2005 Lincoln Road Public Meeting April 26, 2006 Visioning Session May 22, 2006 Community Design Workshop No. 1 July 11, 2006 Community Design Workshop No. 2 Consensus was reached during community design workshops, with the recommended design option 2, which included the landscaped median. Other issues discussed included the location of the existing loading zone/bus stop lane, which will remain under the approved design option. However, the City has continued its discussions with the County to determine an alternate bus route and terminus. The design team also expressed that the new medians would enhance pedestrian safety by providing a "refuge" area and mid-street crossing points for pedestrians. C/ty Commission Memorandum - Clty Center Bid Package 9C -Lincoln Road Median July 14, 2010 Page 2 of 3 The Project Draft Basis of Design Report (BODR) was presented as an informational item during the September 12, 2005 General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee meeting, and to the Historic Preservation Board (HPB) on October 11, 2005. The City Commission during its October 19, 2005 meeting adopted Resolution 2005-26035, approving the final BODR. The Project was approved by the HPB on January 16, 2007. During the advanced design development phase, the Administration requested that Chen and Associates retain the services of Raymond Jungles, Inc., the design consultants for the 1111 Lincoln Road project, to provide a concept plan for the right of way improvements along Lincoln Road between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue. The intent at that time was to harmonize the design of the eastern and western Lincoln Road street ends. The concept plan introduced design elements such as cobblestone sidewalks; the use of shade trees that would enhance the pedestrian experience along the sidewalks; various palms, landscaping materials and up-lighting within the median; and reorganization of street furniture within the sidewalks. The concept plan recommended the construction of the landscaped and lighted center median and it was incorporated into the Chen and Associates construction documents. The project plans were completed and permitted in fall 2009. They remain ready for release of the issuance of the Invitation to Bid. In October and November 2009, several local merchants communicated to the City, their opposition to the installation of a median on Lincoln Road between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue. The median plan is consistent with the Raymond Jungles concept developed in 2009, and the plans are100% complete. During the February 3, 2010 City Commission meeting, a referral was made to the Neighbofioods Community Affairs Committee to further the discussion of the construction of a median. On February 16, 2010, during the Neighbofioods~CommunityAffairs Committee meeting, the overall project was presented and the medians discussed. Several members of the community spoke in favor of the proposed median, and moving the project forward as currently designed. The Lincoln Road median was also discussed during the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Tourism Lincoln Road Beautification Sub-Committee (Mayor's Task Force) meetings of March 4, and May 21, 2010. Members of the committee were advocates of the proposed median, and submitted a letter to the Historic Preservation Board (HPB) in support of the project and planned median. On March 10, 2010, the City Commission discussed the Lincoln Road median and was informed by staff that the Neighbofiooc~ommunity Affairs Committee recommended keeping the median and the Administration's concurrence with this position. The Administration also explained that the 100% construction documents were completed and the project was ready to be issued for bids. As a compromise, the discussion of a minor change to the plan that would not require extensive re- engineeringand HPB re-submittal was discussed. The City Commission voted to move forward with the project with the deletion of the median, and then directed that an alternative material be used for the sidewalks to allow a clear (accessible) path and maintain the sidewalk widths as currently designed. Staff also agreed to explore whether the changes can be done administratively by removing trees and bringing the central median to grade level. Staff later determined that it was necessary to re-submit the Project to the HPB, and on June 8, 2010, the project was reviewed and discussed. The Board inquired as to the reasoning behind the merchants request to remove the median. City Commisslon Memorandum - Clty Center Bid Package 9C -Lincoln Road Medan July 14, 2010 Page 3 of 3 Staff expressed that there was concern that the sidewalk widths would be decreased in order to accommodate the proposed median. Staff confirmed that the existing sidewalks would be minimally affected with 26.4 feet proposed to the south and 19.6 feet to the north between Washington and James Avenue, and the width-for the median being accomplished for the most part by reducing the four travel lanes, which meet the required standards as currently proposed. Members of the Mayor's Task Force attended the HPB meeting. The Mayor's Task Force Chairman presented a letter (see attached) to the HPB and strongly recommended that the City maintain the median as currently designed. Following further discussion, the HPB voted unanimously in favor of moving forward with the construction of the Lincoln Road median as currently designed. CONCLUSION The project Invitation to Bid (ITB) issuance is pending a decision regarding whether to remove the median from the construction documents, re-design and re-permit the drawings to remove the median and associated landscape and up-lighting, or to maintain the median as currently designed, with the exception of the pavement material, and proceed with the bidding and construction phases of the project. The Administration recommends that the current project design with median be accepted and approved by the City Commission. JMG/JGG/COC/CF/CD T:WGENDA\2010Wu1y 14\Consent\City Center Bid Package 9C -Lincoln Road Median - MEMO.doc May 21, 2010 City of Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board 1700 Convention Center Drive Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Members of the Board, This letter is pursuant to meetings held by the Lincoln Road Beautification Sub-Committee of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Tourism on March 4, 2010, March 10, 2010, April 16, 2010, and May 21, 2010. Employees of the City of Miami Beach representing the Manager's office, code enforcement, the police department as well as other representatives, were asked to appear before the committee to provide suggestions, ideas and remedies for certain situations that occur in the area of Lincoln Road East, Collins Avenue and the Bay. Several matters were discussed, including crowd control, the bus depot, cleanliness, beautification, neon lights, all issues that impact the historic nature of the Lincoln Road neighborhood and quality of life for residents and tourists. After thorough discussion and evaluation of existing situations, and after hearing the reports of the City of Miami Beach employees, the committee recognizes that the following concerns fall into the areas of reasonability of the Historic Preservation Board and we wish to bring these to your attention, as follows: 1. The committee strongly suggests that a median is needed on Lincoln Road between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue, so that the east end of Lincoln Road conforms with the rest of Lincoln Road, by including fountains and foliage. Staff have confirmed that the sidewalk on the south side will not be negatively impacted at all; the sidewalk on the north side may lose less than a foot of width, which is a negligible reduction. Hoteliers and retail merchants, residents and tourists have requested this beautification and conformity through the placement of a visually connective median. This committee supports the staff and community assessment of the need for this median. Several specific signs at the corner of Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue in the unique two-block district are creating a problem; signs are overly large in comparison with the rest of the neighborhood, both on the Collins/Washington Avenues corridor and on Lincoln Road. The signs in question face both Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue. light shining from these large neon signs is a problem for guests in the hotels and for residents who live in the immediate area. Drafting of legislation that would limit future signage and control lighting on these corners, bringing it into conformity with the rest of Lincoln Road, will ameliorate the situation. Such legislation is supported by residents, hoteliers and retailers .Staff believe that these current "Time's Square" like signs are probably "grandfathered-in"; however, the signs currently create a nuisance by bringing noisy crowds of people under them. A great deal of light is generated at night. The crowds create a noise issue. The visual conformity of Lincoln Road is negatively impacted. All these issues can be controlled by appropriate legislation, safeguarding the physical beauty of a primary historic district. The committee has also reviewed the bus stop situation on Lincoln Road with representatives ofMiami- Dade Transit and Miami Beach professionals who are studying the impact of the high usage of this bus depot and are reviewing options. As the committee continues to work on developing solutions and options for area improvement, the committee requests that the Historic Preservation Board review the specific matters pertaining to the median strip lighting and signage. , The committee wishes to thank the Historic Preservation Board for its review of their recommendations. The Mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Tourism Lincoln Road Beautification Sub-Committee Shaun Hauver, Chairman Cc: VCA Board Mayor and Commission City Manager