98-22861 RESO
RESOLUTION NO.
98-22861
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, DIRECTING
THE ADMINISTRATION TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION, IN
COORDINATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE,
URGING THE UNITED ST A TES COAST GUARD TO
MAINTAIN THE EAST BASCULE BRIDGE ON THE
VENETIAN CAUSEWAY IN A CLOSED POSITION IN THE
INTERESTS OF PUBLIC HEAL TH, SAFETY, AND
WELFARE UNTIL THE WEST BASCULE BRIDGE ON THE
VENETIAN CAUSEWAY IS COMPLETED AND OPERABLE
WHEREAS, the Venetian Causeway in Miami Beach, Florida is currently under renovation;
and
WHEREAS, the only access off the Venetian Islands is now via the East Bascule Bridge,
located at the east end of the causeway across the Miami Beach Channel, since the West Bascule
Bridge is presently closed due to the renovation project,; and
WHEREAS, the United States Coast Guard's policy will allow the opening of the new East
Bascule Bridge on the Venetian Causeway to boat traffic, even though the West Bascule Bridge is
still under renovation; and
WHEREAS, during those times when the East Bascule Bridge would be opened pursuant
to Coast Guard policy, the residents of the Venetian Causeway would be stranded up to ten minutes
for the complete raising and lowering of the span in order for boat traffic to clear; and
WHEREAS, in an emergency, such delay caused by the opening of the East Bascule Bridge
would impede the prompt response of police, fire rescue, and other emergency vehicles and place
the health, welfare and safety of the persons living and working on the Venetian Islands at risk; and
WHEREAS, should an accident occur on the East Bascule Bridge, or the Bridge becomes
stuck in an up position, persons living and working on the Venetian Islands could be stranded for
significant lengths of time which would also severely impact upon the health, safety and welfare of
those who would remain stranded on the Venetian Islands; and
WHEREAS, boat traffic has not been inconvenienced by travelling a short distance to the
waterway access provided through the West Bascule Bridge, while the temporary pontoon bridge
remained in a closed position during restoration of the East Bascule Bridge, and boat traffic would
not be inconvenienced by continuing to use this route pending completion of the West Bascule
Bridge; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Planning Organization of the Miami-Dade County
Commission has adopted a resolution supporting the continued closing of the East Bascule Bridge
until the West Bridge is complete and in place; and
WHEREAS, ownership and control of the East Bascule Bridge will be transferred to
Miami- Dade County on or after July 20, 1998; and
WHEREAS, the Miami Dade County Commission will be and become the policy making
body as relates to said bridge and its use and maintenance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FULLY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA
1) That the United States Coast Guard is hereby urged to change its policy regarding the
opening of the East Bascule Bridge on the Venetian Causeway to boat traffic by
requiring that the East Bascule Bridge remain closed during the remainder of the time
period in which the West Bascule Bridge on the Venetian Causeway is undergoing
renovation so that the residents living and working on the Venetian Islands are not
put at risk with regard to their health, safety, and welfare; and
2) The Miami-Dade County Mayor,Manage~andCommission are requested and urged
to take action, adopt a resolution, similar to this one, declaring it to be the intent and
order of the County that said East Bascule Bridge remain in a closed position until
completion of the West Bridge; and
3) That the County and City join together to communicate with the U.S. Coast Guard
and any other state or federal agency in order to accomplish the aforegoing at an
early date and in failing to do so to take such action as indicated necessary in the
protection of the residents of the Venetian Islands.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 15th day of
July
F:IA TTOIDUBMIRESOLUTII VENETBAS.OPN
APPROVED AS TO
~")RM & LANGUAGE
t< ~OR EXECUTION
.~.., '~'I
.. ..,'.
. ,'~ . .',~,,,
ITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
~ITY OF MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO.
S'33-9S
FROM:
Mayor Neisen Kasdin and DATE: July 15, 1998
Members of the City Commission
Sergio Rodriguez d__
City Manager ~
STATUS UPDATE ON THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY EAST BASCULE
BRIDGE
TO:
SUBJECT:
Following the incident of Friday, April 17, 1998, when the east bascule bridge malfunctioned,
several meetings have been held with representatives of the Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT), United States Coast Guard, Miami-Dade County Public Works and the City of Miami.
During these meetings, the City has restated its request to maintain the east bascule bridge in a
closed position until the west bascule bridge becomes operational in mid-1999.
Additionally, a resolution in support of the City's request was issued by the Metropolitan Planning
Organization, and written requests of the United States Coast Guard, sent by Representative E. Clay
Shaw and Senator Ron Silver.
Presently, the bridge is still being tested under the direction of the FDOT and openings restricted to
daytime hours, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the aid of a qualified bridge technician. Recently, the
FDOT informed the City that the testing period will conclude on July 20, 1998, and a semi-final
inspection scheduled for that date. Ifno deficiencies are noted at the time of this inspection, it will
be considered the final inspection, and acceptance by Miami-Dade County is then expected to occur
on July 24, 1998.
As of the writing of this memo, the United States Coast Guard has yet to agree to the City's urging,
via City Resolution No. 98-22716, to maintain the east bascule bridge closed, until the west bridge
becomes operational in mid-1999. At this time, and after having exhausted other administrative
channels, legal action by the City appears to be the next viable step. To this end, and if so directed
by the City Commission, the Administration will pursue legal action, in coordination with the City
Attorney's office.
S~~dP\MA\Ch
Attachn1ent
TIAGENDA VULl598\REGULAR\EBASC715 HM
,..
AGENDA ITEM C-
DATE I - J$"-::J8
J:JL.07 '96 (':'UE) :5:04 VENETIAN CS'N'[ CO:-rSTRUC':'ION
305 356 7640
PACE. 1/1
c
o
v
E
R
FAX
S ' H
E
E
T
To:
Fax #:
Subject:
Date:
Pa~e8:
Distribution
see Distribution
Semifinal Inspection Venetian Causeway Rehabilitation Project
July 7, 1998
1 (includina cover sheet)
COMMENTS:
~
By receipt of this facsimile you or your designee are requested to attend the Semif"anal
Iuspcctionofthe above mentioned project. This inspection will be of the East Bascule bridge
only, as the roadway portions of the project were inspected on June S, 1998. The iaspec:tion is
to begin at 10:00 A,M. on Monday, July 20, 1998 at the bridge tenders parking area on the
Venetian Causeway. . If no deficiencies are noted at the time of the inspection the Semifinal
Inspection will be considered the Final Inspection with Final Acceptance expected fot Jut)' 24, 1998.
Distribution: E. B. Perez de Morales 305-499-2351, G. Romanach 305-410-S369,
1. Magrisso 305.470-6725. S. Smith 305-499-2351. M. Calvo 305-470-5205,
E. Brown 30S-37S~2931, E. Nu.ftez 305~375- 293 I, D. Cates 305-673-7028)
J. C. Grave de Peralta 305.673-7028, R. R. Rivas 305-666-4658, A MandoI30S<~72-7684,
R, Steiner 305-470-5369, K. Saing 350-470-5293, M. Alvarez 305-673-7028.
From It'M dIIIsk oL
~A7mllT1IT
Tr:s, G ((1111 rJtI R-(~~
FWul3"la~~
F",~. \-\ <.( t"'\",-"J~)
Phon.,
EwDa Hef.-.Ida:
ConsWdIOn ~.......
Florida ~otT~ClItb.
1000 N.W. 11 Uti A..
MIam., ~ JJ172
(305) 35&-n31 or (305) <499-2370
Fax: r.sos) 35&-7'&40
RESOLUTION NO.
98-22716
A RESOLUTION OF THE l.\-'lA YOR AND CITY COMIHISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIA1\'U BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD TO __
lVLUNT AIN THE EAST BASCULE BRIDGE ON THE VENETIAN CAUSEWAY IN
A CLOSED POSITION IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC HEAL TIl, SAFETY, A. 'iD
WELFARE UNTIL THE WEST BASCULE BRIDGE ON THE VENETL\..'i
CAUSEW A Y IS COMPLETED A1~ OPER.-\BLE .
WHEREAS, the Venetian Causeway in Miami Beach, Florida is currently under renovation; and
WHEREAS, the only access off the Venetian Islands is now via a temporary bridge located at the
east end of the causeway across the Miami Beach Channel since the West Bascule Bridge is presently closed
due to the renovation project; and
WHEREAS, the United States Coast Guard's policy will allow the opening of the new East Bascule
Bridge on the Venetian Causeway to boat traffic even though the West Bascule Bridge is still under
renovation; and
WHEREAS, during those times when the East Bascule Bridge would be opened pursuant to Coast
Guard policy, the residents of the Venetian Causeway would be stranded up to ten minutes for the complete
raising and lowering of the span in order for boat traffic to clear; and
\VHEREAS, in an emergency, such delay caused by the opening of the East Bascule Bridge would
impede the prompt response of police, fire rescue, and other emergency vehicles and place the health,
welfare and safety of the persons living and working on the Venetian Islands at risk; and
WHEREAS, should an accident occur on the East Bascule Bridge or the Bridge becomes stuck in
an up position, persons living and working on the Venetian Islands could be stranded for significant lengths
of time which would also severely impact upon the health, safety and welfare of those who would remain
stranded on the Venetian Islands; and
WHEREAS, boat traffic has not been inconvenienced by travelling a short distance to the waterway
access provided through the West Bascule Bridge while the temporary pontoon bridge remained in a closed
position during restoration of the East Bascule Bridge, and boat traffic would not be inconvenienced by
continuing to use this route pending completion of the West Bascule Bridge.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE lVLo.\. YOR A..:."L> CITY
CO~L\llSSION OF THE cm' OF lVIIAJ.\'II BEACH, FLORIDA that the United States Coast Guard is
hereby urged to change its policy regarding the opening of the East Bascule Bridge on the Venetian
Causeway to boat traffic by requiring that the East Bascule Bridge remain closed during the remainder of
the time period in which the West Bascule Bridge on the Venetian Causeway is undergoing renovation so
that the residents living and working on the Venetian Islands are not put at risk with regard to cheir health,
safety, and welfare.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 15th day of
April
, 1998.
tf;f;f41
l.\-'lA YOR
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
~~,6 POActM
CITY CLERK
"A T'T'Oln.:..yl!.SOS\vO'E'nIAolU,....
1ill&QljL - L//'" 0 9