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Home My WebLink About2006-26280 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2006-26280 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA URGING THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION TO REJECT THE REQUEST FOR A D.E.R.M. PERMIT FOR THE ISLAND GARDENS/ MEGA YACHT MARINA PROJECT PROPOSED FOR WATSON ISLAND; AND URGING THAT A SECOND PUBLIC REFERENDUM ON THE CURRENT PROJECT BE HELD DUE TO THE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN THE PROJECT SINCE THE 2001 REFERENDUM. WHEREAS, in 2001, City of Miami voters approved a plan for the Island Gardens/Mega Yacht Marina Project ("Project") proposed for Watson Island which originally consisted of two towers to be sixteen (16) and twenty (20) stories in height on five acres; and WHEREAS, during the last five years, the Project has substantially changed to include two towers, twenty-six (26) and forty-two (42) stories, which are nearly double their original height, on more than twenty (20) acres; and a new configuration for the marina which will create a significant impact upon the natural resources of Biscayne Bay, including excessive dredging in the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, a legislatively designated Outstanding Florida Water; and WHEREAS, currently the developer of the Project is seeking a D.E.R.M. permit for the Mega Yacht Marina; and WHEREAS, the Urban Environment League of Greater Miami ("UEL") has studied the Project and has urged the Miami-Dade County Commission to reject the Project's request for a D.E.R.M. permit and to hold a second public referendum on the current Project which has substantially changed since 2001; and WHEREAS, the UEL opposes the commencement of construction on Watson Island based upon a variety of reasons including that the bidding of the public land was an invalid act based upon the language of restrictive deed No. 19447 filed by the State in 1949 that states that Watson Island was deeded to the City of Miami provided that the City "not give or grant any license or permit to any private person, farm or corporation to construct... structures, buildings or other things on the.. .lands or any part thereof for any private use or purpose;" and WHEREAS, the UEL also maintains that, due to the significant changes in the Project over the past five years, a public process is necessary in order to update the City's Master Plan for Watson Island because said plan, which was created in 1989, was prior to such events as the opening of Parrot Jungle, the Children's Museum, the rebirth of South Beach, the construction of the Performing Arts Center in downtown Miami, and the construction of a multitude of new residential structures in the downtown area; and WHEREAS, due to the significant changes in the areas surrounding Watson Island and the changes which have occurred on the Island, it is urged that there be no further diminishment of public land until the Watson Island Master Plan is updated to address issues such as infrastructure capacity, impact on municipal services, impacts on McArthur Causeway traffic related to the existing and proposed Project and of the surrounding environs of Miami Beach and downtown Miami, the public need for more open space, public access to the bay and baywalk access for the entire Island, pedestrian amenities and enhancements, and the environmental impact ofthe existing and planned construction on the Island; and WHEREAS, the Project, as currently planned, contains sparse public amenities and is contrary to the stated purpose for the Project which was to be "open to the public" as much as practical and the location of the main public amenities for the Project on a third level roof of the parking garage does not meet this criteria; and WHEREAS, further approvals and development of the Project should not occur until the City of Miami has confirmed that the public amenities, which were a justification for the State to provide a waiver of the restricted deed requirements, have been confirmed including guarantees with regard to the development of a series of unique gardens, a children's playground, Festival Terraces, public recreation spaces, a Promenade of Palms, and a learning center; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami has no plans to open additional green space and park land as approved by City of Miami Ordinance No. 12131 dated October 11,2001 that requires "all land not subject to a lease or authorized development shall remain as open green space and park use;" and WHEREAS, the lease for the Project further allows for gambling boats, possible gambling casinos, if legalized, and potential private clubs which were strictly prohibited in the RFP; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach wishes to join the Urban Environment League of Greater Miami as well as all other concerned citizen and environmental groups that oppose the issuance of a D.E.R.M. permit for the Project and further requests that the Miami-Dade County Commission require the City of Miami to hold a second referendum for the Project due to the drastic alteration in the Project's plan over the past five years. 2 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that the Miami-Dade County Commission is hereby urged to reject the Project's request for authorization to secure a D.E.R.M. permit and further the Miami-Dade County Commission is urged to require the City of Miami to hold a second public referendum with regard to the Project so that significant changes to the Project in the surrounding community may be adequately and appropriately analyzed and taken into consideration prior to any further development on Watson Island. PASSED AND ADOPTED this (~ " day of );;.pI&J11Bt.1z.. , 2006. , 1 I / APPROVED:!/ , ' , I t>/ /,/1 'J rt ATTEST: ~! p~~ CITY CLERK Robert Parcher STATE OF'FlOP!DA COVr~.rfy'{jF ~);'i,i)~=:: I, ROBERT PARCHER, Citr Clem of City of Miami tH)j:!ch, Florida, do ,hereby eartHy that the above and {.:>rego!ng is a tm;) and correct copy of the original thereof on file in this- office. APPROVED AS 10 FORM & lANGUAGE 11 FO -CUTION ~ Y 1Jt' Dete WITNESS my 'hand and the seal of said City this iJtb day of ~.D. 200ft, , ' ROBERT PARCHER Citl C!er't( of the City of Miami BGacll. Aorlda, " ',' , " ~_'!1~it 0"",/" """"':l:Y ~ L,;;: .... .i.... ,'" ".,p~.;;, F:\attoITURNIRESOS\Watson Island - Island Gardens Mega Yacht Marina,doc 3 ~ MIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager CC, Jose Smith, City Attorney FROM: Commissioner Matti H. Bower '/7 "~I !I'~ /t /, fl.,1 "', /',",','':1( '" c'I'-~ ~'---- DATE: August 25, 2006 SUBJECT: Agenda Item -Island Garden/Mega Yacht Marina project for Watson Island. Please place on the September 6,2006 Commission agenda a Resolution urging the Miami-Dade County Commission to oppose substantial increases to development for the Island Garden/Mega Yacht Marina project located on Watson Island's waterfront property owned by the City of Miami. I thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me or my Aide, Yvonne at extension 6091. \,r-:*l MHB/yws V\/e ore ('()mrniitc:d ,ie' (.'XC\;'J/~'.;nt ,ol,'biiC :,ervice (irr.:i to of! \'""ho five, ".'I/ork, one/ prO}i in cur Agenda Item 1(9 F Date 9-6 -t7?- Page 1 of 1 Hatfield, Liliam To: Miami-Dade County Commissioners Cc: Dermer, David; Bower, Matti H.; Garcia, Luis; Cruz, Simon; Gross, Saul; Steinberg, Richard; Libbin, Jerry; Gonzalez, Jorge; Parcher, Robert Subject: Transmittal Resoiution No. 2006-26280 Attachments: 2006-26280 Reso.pdf Honorable Mayor Alvarez and County Commissioners: The attached Resolution No. 2006-26280 was passed and adopted by the City of Miami Beach City Commission at the Commission Meeting of September 6, 2006. The Miami-Dade County Commission is hereby urged to reject the Project's request for authorization to secure a D.E.R.M. permit and further the Miami-Dade County Commission is urged to require the City of Miami to hoid a second public referendum with regard to the Project so that significant changes to the Project in the surrounding community may be adequately and appropriately analyzed and taken into consideration prior to any further deveiopment on Watson Island. Respectfully submitted, MIAMIBEACH Llliam Hatfield, Office Associate V for Robert E. Parcher, City Clerk CITY CLERK'S OFFICE 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Tel: 305-673-7411/ Fax: 305-673-7254/ www.miamibeachfl.gQv We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community. 09/07/2006 Hatfield. Liliam Distribution List Name: Miami-Dade County Commissioners Members: Audrey Edmonson district3@miamidade.gov Carlos Alvarez (mayor@miamidade.gov) mayor@miamidade.gov Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan District1@miamidade.gov Commissioner Bruno A. Barreiro district5@miamidade.gov Commissioner Carlos A. Gimenez District7@miamidade.gov Commissioner Dennis Moss, Vice-Chairman DennisMoss@miamidade.gov distric12@miamidade.gov district10@miamidade.gov Commissioner Dorrin D. Rolle Commissioner Javier D. Souto Commissioner Joe A. Martinez, Chairman Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz Commissioner Katy Sorenson Commissioner Rebecca Sosa Commissioner Sally Heyman Dennis C. Moss George Burgess Natacha Seijas District11@miamidade.gov district12@miamidade.gov District8@miamidade.gov distric16@miamidade.gov district4@miamidade.gov District9@miamidade.gov Manager@miamidade.gov District13@miamidade.gov 1 Miami-Dade County - Coupty Commissioners Page 1 of 1 County Commissioners Search I iii a Commission Web - Home Board of County Commissioners Who is my Commissioner? Contact Your Commissioner Calendar Agendas and Minutes About Legislation Search Legislation About the Commission Rules of Procedure Committees \. http://www.miamidade.gov/commiss/ a Resident a Visitor a Business a Employee a Governmt Miami-Dade County Commissioners' Web We are the people that have been elected in 13 districts to represent you On our web sites, you will find information that will bring Miami-Dade County government closer to the people. Our government is strengthene( by civic participation and increased involvement from our citizens. .I Barbara J. Jordan District 1 Dorrin D. Rolle District 2 Audrey Edmonson District 3 Sally A. Heyman District 4 Bruno A. Barreiro District 5 Rebeca Sosa District 6 carlos A. Gimenez District 7 Katy Sorenson District 8 Dennis C. Moss, Vice Chairman District 9 Senator Javier D. Souto District 10 Joe A. Martinez, Chairman District 11 Jose "Pepe" Diaz District 12 Natacha Seijas District 13 In addition to web pages for each of the 13 commission districts, our website enables you to search County legislation, view Commission meeting agendas and minutes, learn about the roles and responsibilities' the Board of County Commissioners and send emailto your Commissioner. Date Last Edited: Wed Apr 2616:38:142006 County Commissioners - Home I About the Commission I Who ismy Commissioner? I Commission Committees I Meeting Calendar I Contact Your Commissioner I Commission Auditor Home ILJsing Our Site I About I Phone Directory I Privacy I Disclaimer E-mail your comments, questions and suggestions to Webmaster Web Site @2006 Miami-Dade County. All rights reserved. 09/07/2006 ~'-'>'- NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that the Miami-Dade County Commission is hereby urged to reject the Project's request for authorization to secure a D.E.R.M. permit and further the Miami-Dade County Commission is urged to require the City of Miami to hold a second public referendum with regard to the Project so that significant changes to the Project in the surrounding community may be adequately and appropriately analyzed and taken into consideration prior to any further development on Watson Island. PASSED AND ADOPTED this (~~ day of );,P/&-n1Bt,k , 2006. i) APPROr~D" I / / I '/ ATTEST: lnM4! PAAd~ CITY CLERK Robert Parcher STATE OF-FLORIDA COUNTY OF O/\DE: r, ROBERT P,ARCHER, CilI,' Clem of City of Miami B;.:;:!ch, Florida, do ,hereby eertHy that the above and fJregoing is a tru~ and correct copy of the original thereof on file in thilt office, 1 WITNESS my nand and the seal of said City this '1 (!:J day of ~,D, 2QOG, .' ROBERT PARCHER · CI Clerk olll1e City of M"'!J'I Beac~, FIo"~'~ APPROVED AS 10 FORM & lANGUAGE &FO CUT/ON ~ if Oee By. F:\atto\TURN\RESOS\Watson Island - Island Gardens Mega Yacht Marina.doc 3