Resolution 2020-31524 RESOLUTION NO. 2020-31524
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE
FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE, FROM ITS JULY 31, 2019
MEETING, TO PROCEED WITH THE CREATION OF A PEDESTRIAN
CONNECTION BETWEEN OCEAN DRIVE AND LINCOLN ROAD THROUGH
ESPANOLA WAY; FURTHER DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO DEVELOP A
FEASIBILITY STUDY CONSISTING OF A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS,
DEVELOPMENT OF PRELIMINARY DESIGN CONCEPTS AND COST
ESTIMATES, AND COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, IN AN
AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED$195,000 WHICH FUNDS ARE INCLUDED IN THE
TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY DEPARTMENT'S FY 2020/2021 BUDGET;
AND FURTHER PROVIDING THAT PROPOSALS BE BROUGHT BACK TO
THE CITY COMMISSION AT A LATER DATE FOR REVIEW AND INPUT.
WHEREAS, the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee ("FCWPC") placed a referral
on the June 5, 2019 City Commission agenda regarding the creation of a pedestrian connection
between Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road through Espanola Way; and
WHEREAS, at the June 5, 2019 City Commission Meeting, the Mayor and City
Commission requested that the FCWPC take the next step and consider linking Ocean Drive
through the Betsy Hotel alleyway to Espanola Way, through the Drexel Avenue neighborhood
greenway to Lincoln Road, creating a long, fluid pedestrian pathway which would link the City's
major economic engines; and
WHEREAS, at its July 31, 2019 meeting, FCWPC passed a motion to approve $208,000
to be allocated from the Fiscal Year 2019/2020 Capital Budget South Beach Quality of Life Funds
for this project, and for the Administration to return to the Finance Committee with proposals;
and
WHEREAS, the Public Works Department has completed the lighting improvements,
including upgrading existing street lighting to LED and wrapping the coconut palm trees on
Espanola Way between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue with LED string lighting; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation and Mobility Department has established an immediate
pedestrian and bicycle connection by extending the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Slow Streets
pilot project north along Pennsylvania Avenue to Lincoln Road and is working with the
Department of Marketing and Communications to create tailored way-finding signage to raise
awareness and formally designate the pedestrian connection along Pennsylvania Avenue from
Lincoln Road Mall to Espanola Way; and
WHEREAS, Transportation and Mobility Department staff worked with Miami-Dade
County Commissioner Eileen Higgins' Office to secure County approval and implementation of
an exclusive pedestrian phase at the intersection of Espanola Way and Washington Avenue to
improve pedestrian crossing safety; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation and Mobility Department's Fiscal Year 2020/2021
Operating Budget includes $195,000 to fund a planning feasibility study consisting of a traffic
impact analysis, development of preliminary design concepts and cost estimates, and
community and stakeholder engagement; and
WHEREAS, the traffic analysis will require review and approval by Miami-Dade County
and the Florida Department of Transportation given the proposed pedestrian promenade would
impact and traverse roadways and intersections under both County and State jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, draft concept proposals will be developed and vetted by City staff and will
be brought before the City Commission at a future date for review and input; and
WHEREAS, the Administration recommends that the Mayor and Commission approve
this Resolution and accept the recommendation of the FCWPC to proceed with the creation of a
pedestrian connection between Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road through Espanola Way, and to
direct City staff to proceed with a planning feasibility study in an amount not-to-exceed $195,000,
which funds are already included in the Transportation and Mobility Department's Fiscal Year
2020/2021 Operating Budget.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby accept the recommendation of the Finance and Citywide Projects
Committee,from its July 31, 2019 meeting, to proceed with the creation of a pedestrian connection
between Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road through Espanola way; further directing City staff to
develop a feasibility study consisting of a traffic impact analysis, development of preliminary
design concepts and cost estimates, and community and stakeholder engagement, in an amount
not-to-exceed $195,000 which funds are included in the Transportation and Mobility Department's
FY 2020/2021 budget; and further providing that proposals be brought back to the City
Commission at a later date for review and input.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 9th day December, 2020.
ATTEST: ,412-211----__
72)/ Dan Gelber, Mayor
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Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
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MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: December 9, 2020
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE FINANCE AND CITYWIDE PROJECTS COMMITTEE, FROM ITS JULY
31, 2019 MEETING, TO CREATE A PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION
BETWEEN OCEAN DRIVE AND LINCOLN ROAD THROUGH ESPANOLA
WAY.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission approve the resolution
accepting the recommendation of the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee, from its July
31, 2019 meeting, to create a pedestrian connection between Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road
through Espanola Way.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
A referral to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) was placed on the June
5, 2019 City Commission agenda by Commissioner Ricky Arriola, regarding the creation of a
pedestrian connection between Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road through Espanola Way.
At the June 5, 2019 referral, Commissioner Arriola referenced the Betsy Hotel alleyway as
having received worldwide accolades for its creative placemaking. Commissioner
Arriola requested that the FCW PC take the next step and consider linking Ocean Drive through
the Betsy Hotel alleyway to Espanola Way, through the Drexel Avenue neighborhood greenway,
and finally to Lincoln Road, creating a long, fluid pedestrian pathway which would link the City's
major economic engines. Such a public infrastructure enhancement would also serve to activate
the 200-400 blocks of Espanola Way (between Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue) that
have remained underlit.
At the July 31, 2019 FCWPC meeting, several short-term options were discussed, including
making the area of Espanola Way from Washington Avenue to Collins Avenue more pedestrian-
friendly by improving street lighting, wrapping the existing coconut trees with decorative lighting,
similar to Washington Avenue, installing street pavers, activating the street with programming,
and the possibility of projecting art onto the walls of existing buildings.
Preliminary cost estimates for some of the short-term considerations discussed were as
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follows:
Replacement of mainstream pedestrian lighting with LED's: $6,000
Wrapping of coconut palm trees with decorative lighting: $2,000
Road asphalt removal and installation of standard brick pavers: $200,000
Projection of art could potentially be funded by the Washington Avenue Business Improvement
District.
At the meeting, the FCWPC passed a motion to approve the $208,000 to be allocated from the
Fiscal Year 2019/2020 Capital Budget South Beach Quality of Life Funds for this project and
for the Administration to return to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee with
proposals.
ANALYSIS
The Public Works Department has completed the lighting improvements, including upgrading
the existing street lighting to LED and wrapping the coconut palm trees on Espanola Way
between Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue with LED string lighting. No work has been
done regarding the brick pavers as that would entail a much more extensive effort.
The Transportation and Mobility Department has established an immediate pedestrian and
bicycle connection by extending the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Slow Streets pilot north along
Pennsylvania Avenue to Lincoln Road and is working with the Department of Marketing and
Communications to create tailored way-finding signage to raise awareness and formally
designate the pedestrian connection along Pennsylvania Avenue from Lincoln Road Mall to
Espanola Way. In addition, staff worked with Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen
Higgins'office to secure County approval and implementation of an exclusive pedestrian phase
at the intersection of Espanola Way and Washington Avenue to improve pedestrian crossing
safety.
In order to advance the vision of creating a pedestrian promenade connecting Lincoln Road Mall,
Espanola Way, and Ocean Drive via Drexel Avenue, and should the City Commission accept the
FCWPC's recommendation, the Transportation and Mobility Department will take the lead in
coordinating with various City departments, including Public Works, Office of Capital Improvements,
Tourism and Culture, Economic Development, and Planning to initiate a planning feasibility study
consisting of a traffic impact analysis, development of preliminary design concepts and cost
estimates, and community and stakeholder engagement.
The traffic analysis will require review and approval by Miami-Dade County and the Florida
Department of Transportation given the pedestrian promenade would impact and traverse
roadways and intersections under County and State jurisdiction.
Draft concept proposals, once developed and vetted by City staff, will be brought before the
City Commission at a future date for review and input.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The Transportation and Mobility Department's Fiscal Year 2020/2021 operating budget includes
$195,000 to fund a traffic study and the development of preliminary design concepts, public
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involvement, and cost estimates for a pedestrian promenade pursuant to the
Committee's recommendation.
Ultimately, once the study is completed and approved by the City Commission, funding will need to
be identified through the capital budget process to fund the design and construction of the
recommended long-term infrastructure improvements.
Amount(s)/Account(s):
$195,000 -Account No. 106-9615-000312-30-403-529-00-00-00-
Applicable Area
South Beach
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item, pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
No No
Strategic Connection
Mobility- Improve the walking and biking experience.
Legislative Tracking
Transportation and Mobility
Sponsor
Commissioner RickyArriola
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