Loading...
RESOLUTION 92-20689 t 1 RESOLUTION NO. 92-20689 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING CONCEPTUAL SUPPORT FOR LOCATION OF A "COLUMBUS" STATUE AND ASSOCIATED INTERPRETIVE CENTER AT THE END OF THE NORTH GOVERNMENT CUT JETTY ADJACENT TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH. WHEREAS, Bennett Lebow, in conjunction with the New World Foundation, has requested conceptual support from the City of Miami Beach for the location of a monumental statue of Christopher Columbus, created by artist Zurab Tsereteli and developed with private funding, at the end of the north Government Cut Jetty, as a symbol of the developing friendship between the Commonwealth of the Independent States (formerly the Soviet Union) and the United States: and WHEREAS, the City Commission wishes to obtain public input regarding conceptual support for the monument. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that a public hearing for consideration of conceptual approval for location of a "Columbus" statue and associated interpretive center at the end of the north government cut jetty adjacent to the City of Miami Beach is hereby called to be held before the City Commission in its chambers on the third floor of City Hall , 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida, Wednesday, January 6, 1993 beginning at 5 : 01 p.m. ; and the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish the appropriate Public Notice of said Public Hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Miami Beach, at which time and place all interestedparties will be he -d. �. / , PASSED and ADOPTED this 16th day/o,, December, 1992 / dit'/ ATTEST: (//r--\\„,_ YOR CITY CLERK SWS:scf:disk3\columbus.res FORM APPROVED 1 LEGAL DEPT. By Date ,wS l- 6—93-- ‘. CITY OF MIAMI BEACH 1!!!]:::1 CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA 33139 OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER TELEPHONE: (305) 673-7010 FAX: (305) 673-7782 COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. 16 -92_, Dec. 16, 1992 TO: Mayor Seymour Gelber and DATE: Members of the City Commission FROM: Roger M. Carl , /t -,Z/� City Manager 'G SUBJECT: COLUMBUS STATUE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Commission adopt a statement of conceptual support for the Columbus Statue project subject to the successful completion of environmental, engineering, parking/traffic and feasibility studies by independent consultants and a public workshop to gather community input regarding the project. BACKGROUND In early 1992, Bennett LeBow, in conjunction with the New World Foundation, approached the City of Miami Beach regarding the development of a monumental statue of Christopher Columbus to be located at the end of the north Government Cut jetty. The statue was to be developed entirely with private funding and would be operated by the New World Foundation. The artist, Zurab Tsereteli, is a native of the Commonwealth of the Independent States (former Soviet Union) and is currently completing the statue entitled "Novy Svyek" as a symbol of the developing friendship between the Commonwealth of the Independent States and the United States. Subsequent to the initial introduction of the statue, a model was presented which appears in the fourth floor lobby of City Hall. A major presentation was made to the community on October 12, 1992, when the Mayor of Moscow and the artist were in town. The event was attended by members of the South Florida Congressional Delegation, and over 200 civic leaders. ANALYSIS The City of Miami Beach and the New World Foundation are at a crossroads in the decision-making process regarding the statue. The Foundation has expressed a willingness to fund the conceptual study which is necessary to reach a final determination at an estimated cost of $150, 000. However, without the expression of conceptual support, there is a hesitation to make this investment. The suggested approach to reach closure regarding the statue is to provide a resolution of conceptual support subject to the review of the independent consultant studies as well as a public workshop to be held on January 6, 1993 , in conjunction with the regular City Commission meeting at a time certain of 2 :30 p.m. The proposed resolution is attached. 189 AGENDA ITEM DATE I - 1� � I �� - f Commission Memorandum Page Two December 16, 1992 REQUIRED CONSULTANT STUDY The main issues which must be addressed prior to the City Commission determining to support development of the statue include: • an environmental assessment which would determine the ecological impacts of the statue; • an engineering study which would determine the hurricane safety of the statue; • a traffic and parking study which would determine how the pedestrian and vehicular impacts of the statue would be managed. The study will address the projected number of visitors and the method of arrival and location of parking so that the impacts on South Pointe Park and the residental/commercial patterns of the South Pointe area would be determined. • an economic feasibility study that would project the financial viability of the statue to ensure that the City of Miami Beach would have no financial responsibility in the future. This study would further project the statue-related revenue to various units of government as well as surrounding businesses. DEVELOPMENT PERMITTING PROCESS While the final number of state, federal, regional and local agencies that will impact on the development permitting process is not yet known, the final determination regarding the statue should it be located at the proposed location will be made by the City of Miami Beach. Should the Commission adopt the attached Resolution, the next step will be to hold the public workshop on January 6, 1993 . If the Commission determines after the workshop to move forward, the New World Foundation will complete the above-referenced studies. When these studies are complete, the City Commission will make a determination regarding support for the statue based upon the information contained in the studies and a recommendation from the City Manager. Should the Commission determine to support the statue then a complex multi-agency review will begin which could require a minimum of six months. CONCLUSION Rarely in the history of a community is an opportunity provided to develop a monument of the magnitude of the Columbus Statue. The decision to conceptually support the statue subject to successful completion of environmental studies and input from a public workshop is a responsible process to reach closure on this matter. Therefore, your support of the process above is recommended. RMC:ap Attachment 190 Calling a public hearing regarding conceptual support for location of a "Columbus" statue and associated interpretive center at the end of the north Government Cut Jetty adjacent to the City of Miami Beach.