Loading...
2016-29459 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2016-29459 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH MORE AGGRESSIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPERS TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEE TRANSPORTATION PLANS AND TO REFER THIS MATTER TO THE LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND INPUT. WHEREAS, City of Miami Beach staff reviews Transportation Impact Studies as part of Planning Board applications and some Historic Preservation Board and Design Review Board applications; and WHEREAS, currently, the City Code only requires certain applications to the Planning Board, Historic Preservation Board, or the Design Review Board seeking land development approvals to provide an employee transportation plan; and WHEREAS, an employee transportation plan consists of outlining how an employer would incentivize employees to utilize alternative modes of transportation to commute to and from work, other than personal automobiles; and WHEREAS, employee transportation plans currently recommended by staff, as part of staff's review of traffic studies, include some of the following alternatives: • Convenient and safe bicycle parking, • Financial assistance with Citibike membership, • MDT transit pass subsidy, and • Participation in the Commuter Services of South Florida Carpool or Vanpool Program; and WHEREAS, given that this process is not codified, there is currently no legal requirement for employers to provide or comply with employee transportation plans, and the implementation of these plans is not currently enforced unless a plan is specifically required by a land development board order; and WHEREAS, pursuant to direction from the Neighborhood/Community Affair Committee _ (NCAC) at its May 13, 2016 meeting, the City researched municipalities with policies addressing employee transportation plans for land developments; and WHEREAS, such municipalities include the City of Boca Raton, which adopted an ordinance implementing such requirements; and . WHEREAS, the Program in Boca Raton requires that all developments exceeding 50 employees or 30 residential units in the downtown area provide a Transportation Demand Management Plan including one or various demand management strategies, such as flex time, compressed work weeks, telecommuting, car pooling and van pooling, use of transit, and secure indoor bicycle parking; and WHEREAS, as a further step, the Boca Raton ordinance also requires that developments larger than the established threshold provide van pooling to employees by the fifth year after the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or the entering of a Transportation Demand Management Program; and WHEREAS, in order to implement these practices for developments in the City of Miami Beach, the City would need to develop an ordinance requiring that all developments larger than a previously determined threshold be required to provide an employee transportation plan; and WHEREAS, to ensure the success of the program, the City would need to develop a method for training and oversight of the program, as well as require developments to provide annual reports on their employee transportation plan; and WHEREAS, at its May 13, 2016 meeting, the NCAC recommended that the City develop more aggressive requirements for employee transportation plans and that this matter be referred to the Land Use and Development Committee for further input ; and WHEREAS, City staff will prepare a proposed ordinance to comprehensively address the thresholds and requirements for a City of Miami Beach employee transportation plan program. 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 hereby accept the recommendations of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee to establish more aggressive requirements for employee transportation plans and to refer this matter to the Land Use and Development Committee for further discussion and input. PASSED and ADOPTED this 8th day of June, 2016. ;% ATTEST: A. Philip,"°evi' ayor A,. O Rafail E. ranado, City Clerk ' T:AGENDA\2016\June\Transportation ACCEPTING THE RECOMME A."ra "14,41„• ETAB • M•'E AGGRESSIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYEE TRANSPORTATION PLANS RESO.tloc I� \ {L-ll • oa• * i APPROVED AS TO INCORP ORATED: FORM&LANGUAGE &FOR EXECUTION H26 (1) City Attorney Date Iv 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 NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH MORE AGGRESSIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYEE TRANSPORTATION PLANS AND REFERRING THE ITEM TO THE LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND INPUT Key Intended Outcome Supported: Ensure Comprehensive Mobility Addressing All Modes Throughout The City Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc: N/A Item Summary: The City of Miami Beach Staff reviews Transportation Impact Studies as part of Planning Board applications and some Historic Preservation Board and Design Review Board applications. Currently,the City Code does not require development applicants to provide a Transportation Plan unless the Plan is part of a traffic study that has to be submitted for a development application. Even in instances when a Transportation Plan is required from a development,guidelines are vague as to requirements. As part of the City's review of traffic studies for development applications,applicants are requested to provide a Transportation Plan for employees that will work at the site.The Transportation Plan consists of outlining how the employer proposes to incentivize employees to utilize alternative modes of transportation to commute, using modes other than the personal automobile. Transportation Plans approved by the City,as part of the review of traffic studies, include some of the following alternatives: • Convenient and safe bicycle parking • Financial assistance with membership to Citibike • MDT transit pass subsidy • Participation in the Commuter Services of South Florida Carpool or Vanpool Program However,when a transportation plan is required from a development,guidelines are vague as to requirements which may result in plans that have little or no real impact. In addition,as part of the Transportation Plan,the applicant is required to provide the contact information of the person that will administer the Plan at the site and provide a follow-up report to the City once the business opens and the Transportation Plan is implemented (approximately after six months of opening date). Given that this process is not codified, there is no real requirement for employers to comply with Transportation Plans and the implementation of these Plans is not being enforced.The City does not have any penalties for employers that do not fully implement the Plans as proposed as part of the application's traffic study.Since receiving support from the Neighborhood/Community Affair Committee(NCAC)at the May 13,2016 meeting, the City has conducted research in other local and nationwide municipalities that have policies addressing Employee Transportation Plans. Local examples include the City of Delray Beach and the City of Boca Raton.The City of Boca Raton has implemented an ordinance addressing the Transportation Management Program. The plan requires that all developments exceeding 50 employees or 30 residential units in the downtown area provide a Transportation Plan.The Transportation Plan can include various initiatives such as flex time,compressed work weeks,telecommuting,car pooling and van pooling,use of transit, and providing secure indoor bicycle parking.In addition,the City of Boca Raton Transportation Demand Management Ordinance required that all existing developments above the established threshold would be required to participate in the program prior to an established date.As a further step,the ordinance also established that developments above the established threshold would • need to provide van pooling to employees by the 5'h Year of Certificate of Occupancy or entering the Employee Transportation Program.It is worth noting that some other Cities also require developers to include bicycle lockers and showers for employees traveling by bicycle. In order to implement these practices for developments in the City,the City would need to develop an ordinance requiring that all developments above a previously determined threshold be required to provide an Employee Transportation Plan.To ensure the success of the program, the City will have to develop a method for training and oversight of the program, as well as require developments to provide annual reports on their Employee Transportation Program. Based on the positive results found in other cities, it is recommended that the City of Miami Beach Commission accept the recommendation of the NCAC to establish more aggressive requirements for employee transportation plans and refer the item to the Land Use and Development Committee for further discussion and input. Advisory Board Recommendation: Financial Information: Source of Amount Account Funds: OBPI Total Financial Impact Summary: City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking: Jose R. Gonzalez, P.E. Sign-Offs: Department Director Assistant City Manager City anager JRG KGB 4 JL !i1 AGENDAITEM MIAMIBEACH DATE 6- �G MIAMI BEACH City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov COM SSION MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members • the City C., mission • FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager 11 DATE: June 8, 2016 SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MA •R AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH MORE AGGRESSIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYEE TRANSPORTATION PLANS AND REFERRING THE ITEM TO THE LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND INPUT. BACKGROUND The City of Miami Beach Staff reviews Transportation Impact Studies as part of Planning Board applications and some Historic Preservation Board and Design Review Board applications. Currently, the City Code does not require development applicants to provide a Transportation Plan unless the Plan is part of a traffic study that has to be submitted for a development application. As part of the City's review of traffic studies for development applications, applicants are requested to provide a Transportation Plan for employees that will work at the site. The Transportation Plan consists of outlining how the employer proposes to incentivize employees to utilize alternative modes of transportation to commute, using modes other than the personal automobile. Transportation Plans approved by the City, as part of the review of traffic studies, include some of the following alternatives: • Convenient and safe bicycle parking • Financial assistance with membership to Citibike • MDT transit pass subsidy • Participation in the Commuter Services of South Florida Carpool or Vanpool Program However, when a Transportation Plan is required from a development, guidelines are vague as to requirements which may result in plans that have little or no real impact. In addition, as part of the Transportation Plan, the applicant is required to provide the contact information of the person that will administer the Plan at the site and provide a follow-up report to the City once the business opens and the Transportation Plan is implemented (approximately after six months of opening date) Commission Memorandum Accepting NCAC Recommendation to Establish More Aggressive Requirements for Employee Transportation Plans. June 8,2016 Page2of2 Given that this process is not codified, there is no real requirement for employers to comply with Transportation Plans and the implementation of these Plans is not being enforced. The City does not have any penalties for employers that do not fully implement the Plans as proposed as part of the application's traffic study. ANALYSIS Since receiving support from the Neighborhood/Community Affair Committee (NCAC) at the May 13, 2016 meeting, the City has conducted research in other local and nationwide municipalities that have policies addressing Employee Transportation Plans. Local examples include the City of Delray Beach and the City of Boca Raton. The City of Boca Raton has implemented an ordinance addressing the Transportation Program. The plan requires that all developments exceeding 50 employees or 30 residential units in the downtown area provide a Transportation Plan. The Transportation Plan can include various initiatives such as flex time, compressed work weeks, telecommuting, car pooling and van pooling, use of transit, and providing secure indoor bicycle parking. In addition, the City of Boca Raton Transportation Demand Management Ordinance required that all existing developments above the established threshold would be required to participate in the program prior to an established date. As a further step, the ordinance also established that developments above the established threshold would need to provide van pooling to employees by the 5th Year of Certificate of Occupancy or entering the Employee Transportation Program. It is worth noting that some other Cities also require developers to include bicycle lockers and showers for employees traveling by bicycle. In order to implement these practices for developments in the City, the City would need to develop an ordinance requiring that all developments above a previously determined threshold be required to provide an Employee Transportation Plan. To ensure the success of the program, the City will have to develop a method for training and oversight of the program, as well as require developments to provide annual reports on their Employee Transportation Program. If approved by City Commission, staff will commence work on the proposed ordinance to comprehensively address the thresholds and requirements for a City of Miami Beach Employee Transportation Program. RECOMMENDATION Based on the positive results found in other cities, it is recommended that the City of Miami Beach Commission accept the recommendation of the NCAC to establish more aggressive requirements for employee transportation plans and refer the item to the Land Use and Development Committee for further discussion and input. JLM /K B/JRG/JFD JFDT:AGENDA\2016\June\Transportation\A ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NCAC TO ESTABLISH MORE 'AGGRESSIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYEE TRANSPORTATION PLANS MEMO.docx