Resolution 2023-32852RESOLUTION NO! 2023-32852
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO
PROCURE THE SERVICES OF DR. SOLO-GABRIELE TO CONDUCT A POST -
STUDY ON THE WATER QUALITY IN THE PARK VIEW ISLAND CANAL, IN
ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE WATER QUALITY HAS IMPROVED
FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF PROPOSED .SHORT-TERM REMEDIAL
MEASURES; AND FURTHER, PROVIDING THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF
THE POST -STUDY SHALL NOT EXCEED $75,000.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach is committed to maintaining and improving the quality
of its waterways and Biscayne Bay as they are critical to environmental, economic, and
recreational prosperity, and to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City of Miami
Beach; -and
WHEREAS, since 2020, following a sanitary sewer overflow caused by a contractor, the
water quality at the Park View kayak launch and canal has contained chronically elevated bacteria
levels, and a "No'Contact Advisory" has been issued for the Park View Canal Kayak Launch (the
"Canal") location since that time; and
WHEREAS, the City implemented various strategies to isolate potential sanitary sewer
leaks, including multiple dye testing, deep cleaning of the stormwater lines, water quality testing
throughout the stormwater system, sediment sampling in the canal, CCTV inspections, and
smoke testing to determine potential illegal cross connections between private properties sewer
lines and the City's stormwater system; and
WHEREAS, the City performed advanced gene. biomarker analysis to identify fecal
indicators for humans, dogs, or birds at locations within the canal, and the results of the analysis
in 2020 and 2021 indicated that fecal coliform from dogs and birds were present at high
concentrations in samples; and
WHEREAS, the City retained .ESciences, a third -party consultant specializing in'
environmental investigations, to conduct a thorough analysis of the data which indicated more
studies were necessary to draw conclusions in the data set, as trends could not be identified; and
WHEREAS, in light of the continued elevated levels, the City procured the services of Dr.
Solo-Gabriele, Associate Dean for the University of Miami College of Engineering, a global water
quality expert in evaluating microbes in water and sediments; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Solo-Gabriele and the University of Miami team conducted a four -month
sampling study to help determine the geographic or point-source(s) of bacteria; and
WHEREAS, the study discovered that freshwater surface layer of the canal had higher
levels of bacteria, and that rainfall was the main predictor of poor water quality in the canal, with
sediments from the canal shoreline, the streets, and sediments in catch basins, and shallow
groundwater entering the canal from the 81-acre catchment area to the east and despite rigorous
sanitary sewer testing, the system including private connections is aging and cannot be ruled out;
and
WHEREAS, the study identified many sources contributing to degraded water quality
including exotic and feral animal feces, the homeless population, dog waste, litter, and leaking
dumpsters in commercial areas; and
WHEREAS, City staff from several Departments have worked to address many of these
findings by providing an increased level of services, and have developed an action plan that
combines the study recommendations with actions that include both funded and unfunded items;
and
WHEREAS, there are several impactful short-, mid-, and long-term recommended actions
that include dredging within the Park View Canal to increase flushing and target stormwater and
sanitary sewer infrastructure improvements; and
WHEREAS, following the completion of proposed short-term remedial measures to
improve the water quality in the Canal, the Mayor and City Commission wish to authorize the City
Administration to procure the services of Dr. Solo-Gabriele to conduct a post -study on the water
quality in the Canal in order to determine whether the water quality has improved, provided that
the total amount of the study shall not exceed $75,000.
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 authorize the City Administration to procure the services of Dr. Solo-Gabriele
to conduct a post -study on the water quality in the Park View Island Canal in order to determine
whether the water quality has improved following the completion of proposed short-term remedial
measures; and further, provide that the total amount of the post -study shall not exceed $75,000.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 13 day of becem&e- , 2023.
ATTEST:
DEC 19 2023 Steven Meiner, Mayor
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
(sponsored by Vice -Mayor Kristen Rosen Gonzalez)
APPROVED AS TO
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Attome Y � / Date
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Resolutions. - C7 L
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney
DATE: December 13, 2023
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITYADMINISTRATION
TO PROCURE THE SERVICES OF DR. SOLO-GABRIELE TO CONDUCTA
POST -STUDY ON THE WATER QUALITY IN THE PARK VIEW ISLAND
CANAL, IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE WATER QUALITY
HAS IMPROVED FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF PROPOSED
SHORT-TERM REMEDIAL MEASURES; AND FURTHER, PROVIDING THAT
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE POST -STUDY SHALL NOT EXCEED
$75,000.
ANALYSIS
The proposed Resolution was prepared at the request of the sponsor, Vice -Mayor Kristen
Rosen Gonzalez.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The fiscal impact, if the study is authorized by the City Commission, shall not exceed $75,000.
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Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
•: IM377=1chi
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Sponsor
Vice -Mayor Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
Page 397 of 1118
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Resolution
Page 398 of 1118