95-21629 Reso •
RESOLUTION NO. 95-21629
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA, DONATING THE CITY OWNED FORMER
PRESSURE STATION BUILDING, LOCATED
BETWEEN RIVO ALTO ISLAND AND BELLE ISLE
WITH APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS OF 16 FEET BY
11 FEET, TO DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, TO BE
USED AND MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY TO
HOUSE THE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AND
MACHINERY NECESSARY FOR THE OPERATION
OF THE RESTORED AND REHABILITATED EAST
BASCULE BRIDGE (BRIDGE NO.10) OF THE
VENETIAN CAUSEWAY.
WHEREAS, the portion of the Venetian Causeway within the Miami Beach City limits,
beginning at the east side of San Marco Island and ending at the Western Terminus of Dade
Boulevard, whs designated a local historic site by the City in December of 1988, and the entirety of
the Venetian Causeway, beginning at the eastern terminus of Northeast 15th Street in Miami, and
ending at the western terminus of Dade Boulevard on Miami Beach, was listed on the National
Registry of Historic Places in July 1989; and
WHEREAS, on April 13, 1995, the City of Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board
reviewed a proposal from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for major historic
rehabilitation work on the Venetian Causeway bridges that lie within the City limits of Miami Beach;
and
WHEREAS, as part of its presentation, FDOT presented plans to replace the existing single-
story control house on the east drawbridge (Bridge No. 10) with a new two-story control house
which would more readily meet contemporary engineering and safety requirements, yet recall
significant architectural features of the original architecture; and
WHEREAS, the Historic Preservation Board, however, found that the existing single story
control house was a significant original element of the Venetian Causeway, and requested it be
preserved and restored, and suggested that FDOT locate the additional new equipment required for
the rehabilitated bridge, in the vacant pressure station structure, situated approximately 250 feet
west, on the Spoil Island; and
WHEREAS, the subject pressure station structure was built by the Miami Beach Public
Works Department, on Dade County's right-of-way, (and thus on County owned property), and has
not been used for thirty seven (37) years, as well as there being no future use planned for this
structure; and
WHEREAS, in a meeting with the County's Public Works Department, the Administration
stated that it had no objection to the pressure station structure being used to house the
aforementioned bridge equipment, subject to the County becoming fully responsible for the operation
of the structure and the equipment housed therein, and that a donation of the structure would be
recommended to the Mayor and City Commission on those terms, if the County could demonstrate
conclusive evidence that it owned the land (i.e. right-of-way) on which the pressure station is built;
and
WHEREAS, on May 15, 1995, a letter was received from the Dade County Public Works
Department, which included the attached Warranty Deed, evidencing that Dade County owns the
land on which the subject pressure station structure is currently located.
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 herein donate the City owned former pressure station building, located between Rivo
2
Alto Island and Belle Isle, with approximate dimensions of 16 feet by 11 feet, to Dade County,
Florida, to be used by the County to house the additional equipment and machinery necessary for the
operation of the restored and rehabilitated east bascule bridge (Bridge No.10) of the Venetian
Causeway, subject to the County agreeing to be solely responsible for the operation and maintenance
of the structure and the equipment to be housed therein.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 12th day of July , 1995.
ATTEST:
MAYOR
,FOR�M APPROVED
[
CITY CLERK fBy
Date 0¢ y / P T
RJA:lm
A:PRESSTA.RES
3
CITY OF MIAMI , BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA 33139
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. "-l.0
TO: Mayor Seymour Gelber and
Members of the City Commission DATE: July 12, 1995
FROM: Jose Garcia-Pedrosa
City Manager
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTIO F THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MI BEACH, FLORIDA DONATING TO DADE COUNTY,
FLORIDA A CITY-OWNED STRUCTURE LOCATED ON THE WESTERLY
SPOIL ISLAND BETWEEN RIVO ALTO ISLAND AND BELLE ISLE,
APPROXIMATELY 250' WEST OF BRIDGE#10.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the City Commission approve the attached Resolution
donating to Dade County,Florida the former pressure station building, located between Rivo Alto
Island and Belle Isle, with approximate dimensions of 16 ft. by 11 ft., to house the additional
equipment and machinery necessary for the operation of the restored and rehabilitated east bascule
bridge(Bridge#10)of the Venetian Causeway. The structure is located on Dade County property.
BACKGROUND
The portion of the Venetian Causeway within Miami Beach city limit, beginning at the east side of
Marco Island and ending at the western terminus of Dade Boulevard,was designated a local historic
site by the City of Miami Beach in December of 1988. The entirety of the Venetian Causeway,
beginning at the eastern terminus of N.E. 15th Street in Miami,and ending at the western terminus
of Dade Boulevard in Miami Beach,was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July
of 1989.
On April 13, 1995,the City of Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board reviewed a proposal by the
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for major historic rehabilitation work on the ten
Venetian Causeway bridges that lie within the city limits of Miami Beach. As a part of its
presentation at this public hearing,FDOT presented plans to replace the existing single story control
house on the east drawbridge (Bridge #10)with a new two story control house which would more
readily meet contemporary engineering and safety requirements, yet recall significant architectural
features of the original structure. The Historic Preservation Board,however,found that the existing
single story control house was a significant original element of the Venetian Causeway, dating to
1925 (although somewhat modified over time),and requested that it be preserved and restored. The
Board suggested that FDOT locate the additional new equipment required for the rehabilitated
AGENDA ITEM C'7"
DATE /' 2' -I
bridge, in the vacant"pressure" station structure situated approximately 250 feet west, on the spoil
island.
The subject "pressure" station structure was built by the Miami Beach Public Works Department
(PWD) on the County's right-of-way but has not been used for 37 years. According to PWD
Director,Vincent Akhimie,there is no future use planned for the structure. PWD would have no
objection to it being used to house the aforementioned bridge equipment with ownership being
transferred to the County (see attached letter).
On May 4, 1995, a meeting was held with Assistant City Manager Harry Mavrogenes, Israel
Magrisso of FDOT,Vincent Akhimie,Miami Beach PWD Director, Earl Brown and Jack Clark of
Dade County PWD, Raul Aguila, First Assistant City Attorney, and William H. Cary, Historic
Preservation Coordinator. At this meeting it was concluded that if the County would produce
evidence it owns the property the small City PWD structure is situated on,the Administration would
recommend to the City Commission the donation of the structure to Dade County for the
aforementioned use. Upon such donation, the County would become fully responsible for the
operation and maintenance of the structure and its equipment.
On May 15, 1995,a letter was received from Dade County PWD enclosing copies of the documents
that indicate Dade County owns the land on which the subject structure is located on the south side
of the Causeway between Rivo Alto and Belle Isle (see attached).
ANALYSIS
FDOT's project proposal is an outstanding effort to retain, restore and/or replace in a sensitive
manner the significant components of this historical landmark. The low profile of the Venetian
Causeway and its drawbridges is a highly significant aspect of the original design which must be
preserved. It is this low profile which enables the entire causeway to be compatible with the
residential architecture of the Venetian Islands.
The existing one-story control house on the east bascule bridge (Bridge #10) is too small to
accommodate the auxiliary generator and additional operational equipment associated with the
rehabilitated bridge. FDOT has determined that all of this equipment can be remotely located in the
unused PWD"pressure" station structure on the spoil island west of the bridge. This will eliminate
the need to demolish the existing single story control house on the bridge and replace it with a two-
story structure.
The transfer of ownership of the subject PWD pressure station structure to Dade County will
accomplish the following objectives:
1. Provide a remote location for the installation of additional operational equipment associated
with the rehabilitation of the east bascule bridge.
2. Satisfy the request of the City of Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board to preserve and
restore the original single-story control house on the bridge, dating to 1925.
3. Eliminate the need for a two story control house structure on the east bascule bridge.
4. Preserve the special low profile of the Causeway on the Miami Beach side which is highly
compatible with the residential scale of the Venetian Islands' architecture.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the Administration recommends that the City Commission approve by
Resolution the donation of the former pressure station building located on the south side of the
Causeway between Rivo Alto and Belle Isle to Dade County,to be used for the installation of bridge
operating equipment being proposed by the Florida Department of Transportation.
JGP:WHC:ml
c:\MI.\wpwin60\general\ven-cswy.cm