C6A-Report- Joint NCAC And LUDC Meeting Of March 19 2013MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachA.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Mem y Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 17, 2013
SUBJECT: REPORT OF THE NEIGHBORH OD/COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND
LAND USE DEVELOPMENT COM ITTEE (LUDC) HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 19,
2013.
A meeting of the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee and Land Use Development
Committee was held on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 3:00PM in the City Manager's Large
Conference Room. Commissioners in attendance: Commissioners Ed Tobin, Jerry Libbin,
Michael Gongora and Jorge Exposito. Members from the Administration and the public were also
in attendance. Please see the attached sign-in sheet.
THE MEETING OPENED AT 3:30 PM.
1. a) DISCUSSION REGARDING MIAMI BEACH MASS TRANSIT LOOP
b) DISCUSSION REGARDING TRANSIT ENHANCEMENTS FOR NORTH BEACH
Jay Fink, Public Works Assistant Director presented the item and introduced Alan Brick-Turin
(MPO Consultant) to present the background on the item.
Mr. Brick-Turin gave an extensive overview of the Miami Beach Mass Transit Loop, stating the
plan was to reduce the number of trips in the neighborhood; operate sustainable vehicles utilizing
natural gas, hybrid vehicles; and not be subject to Miami-Dade Transit (MDT). He indicated that
MDT is currently offering services to City of Miami Beach residents, but not the type of services
the City wants to offer to its visitors.
He also indicated that a survey was conducted with City residents, hotel guests and 25 buildings'
residents, asking them about their travel behavior. The response was good from a number of full-
and part-time visitors as well as residents working outside Miami Beach, aged 17-99 years old. Of
all peopled surveyed, 48% indicated they use public transportation. This is the same percentage
reflected for the City of Miami Beach Survey.
Mr. Brick-Turin stated that the reason people were not using public transportation is consistent
with his own experience that transit in the City is not reliable, does not go where people want to
go, and is not the type of service that makes people feel good about public transportation.
Commissioner Libbin asserted that the lack of accurate information is an obstacle for riders as
bus information differs at bus stops. He also inquired as to pricing for digital signs. Mr. Brick-Turin
indicated that he didn't have information on pricing and agreed with Commissioner Libbin as to
the importance of having schedule information for riders at bus stops. He also expressed concern
that not all buses are operational all the time.
As Mr. Brick-Turin continued, he stated that MDT was initially willing to continue with the same
funding deal (split 60%-40%) for the South Beach (SB) local when the study commenced, but that
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Report of the Joint Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee and Land Use Development Committee of March 19, 2013
Page 2 of 3
is no longer the case. MDT has concerns about its ability to even meet the current bus schedule
and is beginning to cut back. He went on to project that the cost of the equipment and
maintenance to operate the buses would be around $17 million over a 5-year period. The City
has the ability to contract with them for service but at the City's expense.
Alternatively, the City can buy the buses and contract a private operator. When comparing these
two options, the biggest difference would be the cost of the City employee driver and the benefits
associated with it as you would pay a private contractor less.
The absence of a maintenance facility is another concern. Building a maintenance facility is not
cost-effective because the estimated cost would be around $4 million for only 7-9 buses.
Commissioner Tobin inquired about the City's costs for the SB local. Jay Fink responded $1.2
million.
Members of the Public spoke.
Commissioner Libbin made the motion to create loops on the NB and look to also having an
express ride from 71 51 street to SB. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Exposito.
ACTION: The Committee (Commissioner Tobin, Gongora, Libbin and Exposito present) with a
split vote 3-1 (Commissioner Tobin opposed) moved to have the item for the next NCAC meeting.
2. MASS TRANSIT CONNECTIVITY. (5:45PM)
Kathie G. Brooks, Interim City Manager presented the item, and asked for direction from the
Committee. The original grant application lists the City as the standalone entity; if we decide to do
this, this item will be presented to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in April, after our
Commission meeting, so it will have the time to go to the Commission meeting as well.
Commissioner Exposito asked for more specificity as to the integration and connection points
within the City and connecting points throughout the County.
Kathie Brooks responded that the intent is to connect the main land through various points
throughout the City, and explore the appropriate terminals of such connections.
Commissioner Gongora made the motion to participate in the study and allocate the necessary
funds. The motion was second by Commissioner Tobin.
Commissioner Gongora made a second motion to refer to Transportation and Parking Committee
and formulate a more direct plan. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tobin with the
further direction to send to Land Use Committee.
ACTION: The Committee (Commissioner Tobin, Gongora, Libbin and Exposito present)
unanimously passed the motions.
3. a) DISCUSSION REGARDING THE BIKE MASTER PLAN
b) DISCUSSION REGARDING THE COMPREHENSIVE BIKE MASTER PLAN
c) DISCUSSION REGARDING THE IMPACT OF BICYCLES-INCLUDING THE
DEC BIKE PROGRAM AND THE BIKE MASTER PLAN -AND OTHER
VEHICLES, SUCH AS SEGWAYS AND SKATEBOARDS, ON SIDEWALKS
AND PEDESTRIAN PATHS
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City Commission Memorandum
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Report of the Joint Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee and Land Use Development Committee of March 19, 2013
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d) DISCUSSION REGARDING UPDATING THE BIKEWAYS MASTER PLAN TO
BETTER INTERACT WITH THE CITY'S TRAFFIC CALMING PLANNING
(4:56PM)
Kathie G. Brooks, Interim City Manager presented the item followed by a presentation by
members from Street Plans.
Commissioner Libbin asked administration to encourage and obtain feedback from City residents.
Commissioner Exposito asked the presenters, based on their expertise, what the opinion was
with regards to bicycles on collector versus non-collector roads. A Street Plan member responded
stating that the challenge in Miami Beach is connectivity as most streets north to mid beach and
South Beach are going to be collector arterial road-based and that it is a design challenge with
which they are working with the county and FOOT to resolve.
Members from the public spoke.
Commissioner Tobin made a motion to negotiate this scope to do the revision to the AGN and to
bring back to commission.
ACTION: The Committee (Commissioner Tobin, Gongora, Libbin and Exposito present)
unanimously moved to bring this item to Commission.
4. a) DISCUSSION REGARDING STATUS OF BEACH WALK FROM SUNRISE PLAZA
TO 4TH STREET.
b) STATUS UPDATE FOR THE BEACH WALK FROM SUNRISE PLAZA TO FIFTH
STREET. (4:30PM)
Jay Fink, Public Works Assistant Director gave the status on the items, stating that project had
two phases. Phase I is Sunrise plaza to 3rd street and Phase II is 3rd street to 5th street. The cost
of the project is $2.2 million, fully funded by the City.
The issue is to ensure that any future addition to any portion of the Beach Walk or Board Walk
should have an elevation such that you can see the water.
Kathie G. Brooks also suggested that in the future, the Commission should be extraordinarily
careful regarding putting anything in the dunes since they are the first line of defense against
storms surges.
Linda Meners and Jeff Ringler spoke
Commissioner Exposito for NCAC and Commissioner Libbin from LUDC made the motion to
move forward with the project, and report back in 60 days to the NCAC meeting, seconded by
Commissioner Tobin for both committees.
ACTION: The Committee (Commissioner Tobin, Gongora, Libbin and Exposito present)
unanimously moved to have this item discussed on 60 days at the NCAC meeting.
THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:30 PM.
J LM/MAS/BH/jen
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