HomeMy WebLinkAbout97-22417 RESO
RESOLUTION NO.
97-22417
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING
THE EFFORTS OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND METROPOLITAN DADE
COUNTY TO CONSTRUCT A TEMPORARY BRIDGE
BETWEEN BISCAYNE ISLAND AND WATSON ISLAND
DURING THE PERIOD OF RECONSTRUCTION OF THE
HISTORIC VENETIAN CAUSEWAY WEST BASCULE
DRAWBRIDGE.
WHEREAS, the historic Venetian Causeway West Bascule Drawbridge will undl:rg::>
reconstruction for a period of two or more years which will eliminate the Venetian Causeway as an
exit and evacuation route for the residents and visitors of the City of Miami Beach; and
WHEREAS, without a temporary bridge between Biscayne Island and Watson Island as a 1
alternate route, all Venetian Causeway traffic will be forced to evacuate east onto Miami Beach i 1
the event of a disaster with limited and overloaded escape options; and
WHEREAS, without the benefit of the proposed temporary bridge, access by Police, Fit e
and emergency vehicles will be severely restricted which will place residents, visitors, and propert y
at risk; and
WHEREAS, without the proposed temporary bridge, commerce between neighboring C ltit S
of Miami Beach and Miami will be seriously curtailed; and
WHEREAS, no additional costs would be incurred by taxpayers, the State, loc, I
governments, or by the federal government by the proposed temporary bridge because the Flo rid 1
Department of Transportation has estimated that the temporary bridge will cost $1,400,000.00 whic 1
would be more than offset by the estimated user fees and toll revenues which ranged bet" ee 1
$730,000.00 and $915,700.00 respectively in fiscal years 1995 - 1996 and 1994 - 1995 wCiull
continue to be collected during the period of bridge reconstruction; and
WHEREAS, the construction ofa temporary bridge would protect jobs in that many penon;
employed on the Venetian Islands as employees and independent contractors rely on pUJli:
transportation connecting at the major bus and people mover stations adjacent to the Omni, and to] l
booth personnel currently working at the Venetian Causeway West Bascule Drawbridge cculd
continue their employment at the temporary bridge; and
WHEREAS, temporary bridge components are already available in the immediate area an i
it is relatively simple to relocate available components and add the few necessary componems t)
construct the temporary bridge between Biscayne Island and Watson Island; and
WHEREAS, a temporary bridge would help to maintain property tax revenues in 1ha",
without a temporary bridge, difficulty of access may result in depressed property values which we)lil i
reduce property tax assessments; and
WHEREAS, the construction of a temporary bridge would pose no serious impact to bOl t
traffic in the area because the corridor of water between Biscayne Island and Watson Island he S
minimal use by pleasure boaters and convenient alternate waterways exist.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CIT'(
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the construction )f 1
temporary bridge between Biscayne Island and Watson Island for use during the period (f
reconstruction of the historic Venetian Causeway West Bascule Drawbridge is hereby endorsed an 1
supported by the City of Miami Beach.
PASSED and ADOPTED this ~ day of
, 1997
ATTEST:
J2,,~( r~
CITY CLERK
Dffikw
F:\A TTO\nIRN\RESOS\ VENTBRDG.RES
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
4It ~ ~9/9?
City ttomey Dote
2
CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA 33139
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. 3~3-9l
TO:
Mayor Seymour Gelber and
Members of the City Commission
DATE:
June 4, 1997
FROM:
Jose Garcia-Pedrosa
City Manager
SUBJECT:
A RESOLUTIO OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF TUlle
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS O,li~
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION A NJI!)
METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY TO CONSTRUCT A TEMPORAR'{
BRIDGE BETWEEN BISCAYNE ISLAND AND WATSON ISLAND DURlN4;
THE PERIOD OF RECONSTRUCTION OF THE HISTORIC VENETIAN
CAUSEWAY WEST DRAWBRIDGE.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION:
To approve the Resolution.
BACKGROUND:
The historic Venetian Causeway West Drawbridge will undergo reconstruction for a period oftw)
or more years which will eliminate the Venetian Causeway as an exit and evacuation route fOl th~
residents of Miami Beach. Without a temporary bridge between Biscayne Island and Watson Is an 1
as an alternate route, all Venetian Causeway traffic will be forced to evacuate east onto Miami B(:ac 1
that, in the event of a disaster, already has limited and overloaded escape options. Police, Fire an 1
Emergency vehicles will be severely restricted without the benefit of the proposed temporary br dg.~
which will place residents, visitors and property at risk. Finally, FDOT has estimated that the::o: t
of the proposed temporary bridge, $1,400,000.00, will be more than offset by the estimated user fet S
and toll revenues which would continue to be collected during the period of bridge reconstructiOl .
Therefore the proposed temporary bridge would pose no additional costs to residents, taxpayers, th.~
County, State or Federal government.
ANAL YSIS:
The temporary bridge components are already available in the immediate area at the East Bridge an 1
it is relatively simple to relocate available components and add the few necessary componen1s t)
construct the temporary bridge between Biscayne Island and Watson Island. A temporary bridg.~
would help to maintain property tax revenues in that, without a temporary bridge, difficulty of ao~e~ ;;
and the resulting depressed property values may result in a move to reduce property tax assessmmt: .
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AGENDA ITEM
DATE
Construction of a temporary bridge would pose no serious impact to boat traffic in the area.
CONCLUSION:
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the atta( he j
Resolution endorsing the construction of a temporary bridge between Biscayne Island and Wa.:sol
Island fOf use during the period of reconstruction of the historic Venetian Causeway \'11 e,t
Drawbrid&e.
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