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2013-28110 Resolutioni RESOLUTION NO. 2013-28110 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHANGING THE MAYOR'S BLUE RIBBON BIKEWAYS COMMITTEE TO A PERMANENT COMMITTEE, ENTITLED BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WHEREAS, the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee was established to promote the use of bicycles as a viable and sustainable mode of transportation in the City and to review, coordinate and promote better and safer bicycling and bicycle facilities throughout the City for residents and tourists alike; and WHEREAS, the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee's objectives are to provide input on the City's bicycle infrastructure plans/projects and to ensure the safety and mobility of bicyclists traveling in the City, both for recreational and commuter purposes; and WHEREAS, the City has recently made great strides in welcoming bicyclists by providing safe accommodations for cycling and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation; and WHEREAS, it is important that the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee build upon the City's recent success and national recognition and continue to advocate for cycling as a sustainable and safe mode of transportation throughout the City at a local, regional, and national level; and WHEREAS, this can best be achieved through the creation of a permanent and reconstituted Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee serving in an advisory capacity to the City Commission on all matters pertaining to bicycle and pedestrian mobility in the City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby accept the recommendation of the Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee changing the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee to a permanent committee, entitled Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of January, 2013. ATTEST: B ` R C `Matti H rrera Bower Mayor �- Y Rafael Gr nado, City Clerk APPROVED S TO FORM ` s T AND LANGUA E, AND F ORA LC ..... ;' APPROVED AS TO City Attorney Da 2� 7 FORM&LANGUAGE OR EX TION T:\AGENDA\2013\January 16\Changing the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee to a perman t co ittee, titl ed Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee-RESO.docx I A ne Date COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY Condensed Title: A Resolution Of The Mayor And City Commission Of The City Of Miami Beach, Florida, Accepting The Recommendation Of The Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee Changing The Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee To A Permanent Committee, Entitled Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee. Key Intended Outcome Supported: Enhance Mobility Throughout The City Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.) In the 2012 Citywide Survey, 48% of the respondents would be willing to use bicycles as an alternative form of transportation. Item Summa /Recommendation: The Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee was established originally by Mayor David Dermer and subsequently continued by Mayor Mattie Herrera-Bower to promote the use of bicycles as a viable and sustainable mode of transportation in the City and to review, coordinate and promote better and safer bicycling and bicycle facilities throughout the City for residents and tourists alike. Initially, the concept of a Bicycle Committee was brought forth by residents and bicycle advocates in the City that felt that the City of Miami Beach was in dire need of bicycle infrastructure coupled with the need to foster the well-being and quality-of-life of residents and communities through the development of a progressive bicycle plan. The Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee is comprised of neighborhood activists, business owners,and City staff. The Committee has typically convened on the third Wednesday of every month. Its objectives are to provide input on the City's bicycle infrastructure plans/projects and to ensure the safety and mobility of bicyclists traveling in the City, both for recreational and commuter purposes. In,the last few years, however, there has been diminishing interest from committee members. It is important that the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee build upon the City's recent success and national recognition and continue to advocate for cycling as a sustainable and safe mode of transportation throughout the City. However, this can best be achieved through the creation of a permanent and reconstituted Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee serving in an advisory capacity to the City Commission on all matters pertaining to bicycle and pedestrian mobility in the City. By becoming a permanent City Committee serving in an advisory capacity to the City Commission, the Bicycle- Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee can accomplish the goals set forth by the City Commission and make a difference at the local level by advocating,at a regional and national level,for a more pedestrian and bike-friendly Miami Beach. Upon approval of this item and further direction by the Commission,the Administration will present an Ordinance on creating a Committee entitled the Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee for City Commission approval at the Commission meeting on February 6, 2013. The Administration recommends approving the Resolution. Advisory Board Recommendation: This item was referred to the Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC) by Mayor Matti Herrera- Bower at the City Commission meeting on October 24,2012 and subsequently discussed and approved at NCAC on November 19, 2012. Financial Information: Source of Amount Account Funds: 1 2 3 OBPI Total Financial Impact Summary: N/A City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking: Jose R. Gonzalez, P.E., Transportation Manager, EXT. 6768 Sign-Offs: Department Director Assistant CityJAfinager City ManaRr Of FHB JGG KGB TAAGENDA\2013\January 16\Changing the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeway o ittee to a Permanent Committee-SUMMARY.docx MIAMMEACH AGENDA ITEM SATE HL MIAMI BEACH City®f 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: Kathie G. Brooks, Interim City Manager Date: January 16, 2013 SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHANGING THE MAYOR'S BLUE RIBBON BIKEWAYS COMMITTEE TO A PERMANENT COMMITTEE, ENTITLED BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE. This item was referred to the Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee(NCAC)for discussion by Mayor Matti Herrera-Bower at the City Commission meeting on October 24,2012. On November 19, 2012,the NCAC recommended to change the Blue Ribbon Committee to a permanent Bicycle- Pedestrian Committee. RECOMMENDATION The Administration recommends that this item be approved. BACKGROUND The Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee was established originally by Mayor David Dermer and subsequently continued by Mayor Mattie Herrera-Bower to promote the use of bicycles as a viable and sustainable mode of transportation in the City and to review, coordinate and promote better and safer bicycling and bicycle facilities throughout the City for residents and tourists alike. Initially,the concept of a Bicycle Committee was brought forth by residents and bicycle advocates in the City that felt that the City of Miami Beach was in dire need of bicycle infrastructure coupled with the need to foster the well-being and quality-of-life of residents and communities through the development of a progressive bicycle plan. The Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee is comprised of neighborhood activists, business owners, and City staff. The Committee has typically convened on the third Wednesday of every month and its objectives are to provide input on the City's bicycle infrastructure plans/projects and to ensure the safety and mobility of bicyclists traveling in the City, both for recreational and commuter purposes. In the last few years, however, there has been diminishing interest from committee members. Only two or three committee members typically attend a given meeting. Notwithstanding, the City has recently made great strides in welcoming bicyclists by providing safe accommodations for cycling and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation. For example, the DecoBike bicycle rental program has recorded over one million bicycle trips since inception with a majority of those trips being commuter bicycle trips by residents. The statistic is substantiated by new census data which has revealed that the City of Miami Beach is the number ten (10)city in the country in the percentage of people using bicycles to commute to work. The City of Miami Beach registered an estimated 6.3% of total workers using bicycles as their mode of transportation to reach their workplace. These are impressive statistics given the country's average Commission Memorandum — Resolution on Changing the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee To a Permanent Committee, Entitled Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee January 16, 2013 Page 2 of 2 for commuter bicycle trips is 0.56%. The City's mode split percentage is a clear indicator that Miami Beach is well on its way to becoming a more livable, bikeable, sustainable, and healthier City. ANALYSIS It is important that the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee build upon the City's recent success and national recognition and continue to advocate for cycling as a sustainable and safe mode of transportation throughout the City. However, this can best be achieved through the creation of a permanent and reconstituted Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee serving in an advisory capacity to the City Commission on all matters pertaining to bicycle and pedestrian mobility in the City. The short-term goals of a new or reconstituted Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee will include the following: • Interacting with schools, business entities, communities, and residents to raise bicycle- pedestrian awareness in the City. • Promoting annual Bicycle Day and coordinating family-friendly bicycle events throughout the year, such as Bike Miami Beach, Bike Rides, and other events. • Advocating for future bicycle-pedestrian improvements in the City at the regional level through involvement in the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) transportation planning process via the MPO Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee. • Becoming more engaged in the ongoing update of the Atlantic Greenway Network (AGN)/Bicycle Master Plan to promote the use of alternative and sustainable forms of transportation throughout the City. Furthermore, the Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee should work closely with the League of American Bicyclists. The League of American Bicyclists is a non-profit membership organization which promotes cycling for fun, fitness, and transportation through advocacy and education. The League is one of the largest membership organizations of cyclists in the United States and provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities that actively support bicycling. It is important that the City, through the Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee, engage and foster a partnership with the League. Upon approval of this item and further direction by the Commission, the Administration will present an Ordinance on creating a Committee entitled the Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee for City Commission approval at the Commission meeting on February 6, 2013. CONCLUSION By becoming a permanent City Committee serving in an advisory capacity to the City Commission, the Bicycle-Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee can accomplish the goals set forth by the City Commission and make a difference at the local level by advocating, at a regional and national level, for a more pedestrian and bike-friendly Miami Beach. KGB/J G G/FHB/J J F/RM/J R G T:\AGENDA\2013\January 16\Changing the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Bikeways Committee To a Permanent Committee, Entitled Bicycle- Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee MEMO.doc