2019-30807 ResolutionRESOLUTION NO. 2019 - 30807
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, STRONGLY URGING THE
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD TO CONDUCT AN ADDITIONAL
FOCUSED WATERWAY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
REVIEW OF THE SAFETY OF THE GOVERNMENT CUT JETTIES
FOLLOWING THREE RECENT FATALITIES OCCURRING
APPROXIMATELY 31 MONTHS AFTER THREE FATALITIES IN
SEPTEMBER 2016, ALL OF WHICH INVOLVED NIGHTTIME BOAT
COLLISIONS WITH THE NORTH ROCK JETTY AT GOVERNMENT
CUT; AND, FURTHER, REQUESTING THE IMMEDIATE
INSTALLATION OF LIGHTING TO ILLUMINATE THE NORTH
GOVERNMENT CUT JETTY AT NIGHT IN THE INTERIM.
WHEREAS, on September 25, 2016, a fatal boating accident involving Miami
Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, and two other occupants of a 32' open console boat,
occurred at night at the north side of the north jetty at the Government Cut inlet; and
WHEREAS, following this horrible accident, and in a letter dated October 10,
2016, Miami Beach City Manager requested that the United States Coast Guard initiate
a comprehensive safety review of the South Pointe jetty in order to improve its visibility
and the channel's safety; and
WHEREAS, while the Coast Guard conducted a Miami Main Channel Focused
Waterway Analysis and Management System review following the Fernandez boating
accident, the Coast Guard's conclusions in its June 29, 2017 Summary of Findings were
that "current buoys and ranges marking the Miami Main Channel are sufficient" and that
"[a]dding additional aids to navigation for the jetties would not conform to navigation
standards and could possibly confuse mariners due to existing lighted buoys "; and
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2019, little more than 21/2 years following the boating
accident that claimed the lives of Jose Fernandez and boating companions Eduardo
Rivero and Emilio Macias, another boating accident, again occurring at night, at the
north jetty at Government Cut, and in a 32' open console boat, has resulted in three
additional fatalities and the serious injury of a fourth passenger; and
WHEREAS, six fatalities and a seventh seriously injured boating accident victim
within less than three years at night and in the same north jetty vicinity is significant
cause for a renewed review and analysis by the United States Coast Guard regarding
the navigational safety of Government Cut and its jetties; and
WHEREAS, pending further Coast Guard review, lighting should be immediately
installed to illuminate the length of the north jetty beyond the end of the South Pointe
Park Pier at night to direct mariners away from the jetty, and east into the marked
channel, to prevent any further horrific nighttime collisions with the jetty rocks.
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 urge the United States Coast Guard to conduct an additional
Focused Waterway Analysis and Management System review of the safety of the
Government Cut jetties following three recent fatalities occurring approximately 31
months after three fatalities in September 2016, all of which involved nighttime boat
collisions with the north rock jetty at Government Cut; and, further, hereby request the
immediate installation of lighting to illuminate the Government Cut jetties at night in the
interim.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 24th day of April, 2019.
ATTEST:
A h et
Ra IE. ranado, City Clerk
an Gelb" Mayor
(Sponsored by Mayor Dan Gelber; Co- sponsored by Vice -Mayor Joy Malakoff and
Commissioners John E'Iizabeth Aleman, Ricky Arriola, Michael Gongora, Mark
Samuelian, and Micky Steinberg)
F:\ATTO \TURN \RESOS \Government Cut Inlet (Jetty).doc
AS TO
GUAGE
XECUTION
ate
City Attorney
MIAMIBEACH
Resolutions R7 D
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J, Aguila, City Attorney
DATE: April 24, 2019
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE UNITED STATES COAST
GUARD TO CONDUCT AN ADDITIONAL FOCUSED WATERWAYANALYSIS
AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REVIEW OF THE SAFETY OF THE
GOVERNMENT CUT JETTIES FOLLOWING THREE RECENT FATALITIES
OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY 31 MONTHS FOLLOWING THREE
FATALITIES IN SEPTEMBER 2016, ALL OF WHICH INVOLVED BOATS
COLLIDING WITH THE NORTH ROCK JETTYAT GOVERNMENT CUT.
RECOMMENDATION
Pursuant to the request of Mayor Dan Gelber, the above- referenced Resolution is submitted for
consideration by the City Commission at the April 24, 2019 Commission meeting.
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Mayor Dan Gelber and Co- sponsored by City Commission
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
a Resolution
Page 80 of 87
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD TO CONDUCT AN
ADDITIONAL FOCUSED WATERWAY ANALYSIS AND
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REVIEW OF THE SAFETY OF THE
GOVERNMENT CUT JETTIES FOLLOWING THREE RECENT
FATALITIES OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY 31 MONTHS
FOLLOWING THREE FATALITIES IN SEPTEMBER 2016,
ALL OF WHICH INVOLVED BOATS COLLIDING WITH THE
NORTH ROCK JETTY AT GOVERNMENT CUT.
WHEREAS, on September 25, 2016, a fatal boating accident involving Miami
Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, and two other occupants of an open console boat,
occurred at the north side of the north jetty at the Government Cut inlet; and
WHEREAS, following this horrible accident, and in a letter dated October 10,
2016, Miami Beach City Manager requested that the United States Coast Guard initiate
a comprehensive safety review of the South Pointe jetty in order to improve its visibility
and the channel's safety; and
WHEREAS, while the Coast Guard conducted a Miami Main Channel Focused
Waterway Analysis and Management System review following the Fernandez boating
accident, the Coast Guard's conclusions in its June 29, 2017 Summary of Findings were
that current buoys and ranges marking the Miami Main Channel are sufficient and that
adding additional aids to navigation for the jetties would not conform to navigation
standards and could possibly confuse mariners due to existing lighted buoys; and
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2019, little more than 21/2 years following the boating
accident that claimed the lives of Jose Fernandez and boating companions Eduardo
Rivera and Emilio Macias, another boating accident, again occurring at the north jetty at
Government Cut, has resulted in three additional fatalities and the serious injury of a
fourth passenger; and
WHEREAS, six fatalities and a seventh seriously injured boating accident victim
within less than three years in the same north jetty vicinity is cause for a renewed
review and analysis by the United States Coast Guard regarding the navigational safety
of Government Cut and its jetties.
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 urge the United States Coast Guard to conduct an additional
Focused Waterway Analysis and Management System review of the safety of the
Government Cut jetties following three recent fatalities, occurring approximately 31
Page 81 of 87
months following three fatalities in September 2016, all of which involved boats colliding
with the north rock jetty at Government Cut.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 24th day of April, 2019.
ATTEST:
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
(Sponsored by Mayor Dan Gelber)
F,\ATTO \TURN \RESOS \Government Cut Inlet (Jetty).doc
Page 82 of 87
Dan Gelber, Mayor
APPROVED AS 10
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FO EXE UTION
. City Attorney Dote