97-22260 RESO
RESOLUTION NUMBER
97-22260
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ACCEPT FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GRANT FUNDS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE WATER TOWER ARTIFICIAL REEF PROJECT; ESTABLISHING A
GENERAL FUND SPECIAL PROJECTS ACCOUNT TO RECEIVE THE GRANT AND
DONATIONS; APPROPRIATING THE COLLECTED FUNDS FOR THE PROJECT; AND
FURTHER APPROVING A WAIVER, BY 5/7THS VOTE, OF THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING
PROCESS AND AUTHORIZING THE AWARD OF A PURCHASE ORDER TO BEYI:=L
BROTHERS CRANE AND RIGGING COMPANY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REli=F
PROJECT.
WHEREAS, the City's water tower near Alton Road and First Street is obsolete, derelict and a hi rricane
hazard to the surrounding residences and property; and
WHEREAS, the City's Development Agreement with the Portofino Entities requires the City to n~m Jve the
tower; and
WHEREAS, the re-use of the tower as an artificial reef is an innovative way to recycle the structure th It offers
significant potential marine recreation and tourism benefits to Miami Beach; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has awarded a $45,000 gr;.mt and
local businesses and water sports interests have pledged to donate an additional $42,000 for the construGtic n of the
reef project; and
WHEREAS, in addition to being the lowest bidder, in a bid issued by Metropolitan Dade County, fc r Beyel
Brothers Crane and Rigging Company has offered to donate a 200 foot ship (appraised at more than $50 000) to
the City, upon which to erect and sink the water tower reef; and
WHEREAS, the FDEP and DERM experts have evaluated the Beyel Brothers proposal and foun j that it
offers a sufficiently unique opportunity as to warrant a competitive bidding waiver by the City, and the aw Ird of a
contract to Beyel Brothers for the construction of the reef project; and
WHEREAS, based upon the recommendations of the State and the County and the significant cost .;avings
presented by the Beyel Brothers' offer of donating a ship upon which to erect and sink the water:ov 'er, the
Administration would recommend that the Mayor and City Commission herein waive, by 5/7ths vote, the corr petitive
bidding process, finding such waiver to be in the best interest of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Administration is authorized to accept Florida Department of Envi ror mental
Protection grant funds and private donations for the construction of the water tower artificial reef proje ct; that
establishment of a general fund special projects account to receive the grant and donations is approved; end that
the funds collected for the reef project are appropriated. Additionally, upon the Administration's recommer dation,
a waiver, by 5/7ths vote, of the competitive bidding process is herein approved, finding such waiver to be in t 1e best
interest of the City, and the Administration is authorized to award a purchase order to Beyel Brothers ere ne and
Rigging Company, for the construction of the reef project.
Rok~ f~
CITY CLERK
4?i#i!f
Passed and Adopted this 22nd day of January, 1997.
APPROVED /4S TO
FORM & LANGUAG
& FOR EXECUTION
ATTEST:
\..::J ) -11
Date
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
m
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMi BEACH FLORIDA 33139
I_I!
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. 3~-Cf 1
TO:
Mayor Seymour Gelber and
Members of the City Com ission
DATE: January 22, 1 H9"
FROM:
Jose Garcia-Pedrosa
City Manager
SUBJECT:
A RESOLUTION UTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ACCE P"
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GRAN"
FUNDS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE:
WATER TOWER ARTIFICIAL REEF PROJECT; ESTABLISHING J,.
GENERAL FUND SPECIAL PROJECTS ACCOUNT TO RECEIVE THE.:
GRANT AND DONATIONS; APPROPRIATING THE COLLECTED FUND~i
FOR THE PROJECT; AND FURTHER APPROVING A WAIVER, B"
517THS VOTE, OF THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS A!ND
AUTHORIZING THE AWARD OF A PURCHASE ORDER TO BE't'EL
BROTHERS CRANE AND RIGGING COMPANY FOR THE:
CONSTRUCTION OF THE REEF PROJECT.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
Approve the resolution.
BACKGROUND
The City's water tower located on the southeastern corner of Alton Road and First Str3e:
was built in the late 1920's. Historically, it was used to boost water pressure in the SOJtt
Beach area. Over the years, the usefulness of the tower declined and for the past severa i
decades the tower was only intermittently used. The tower was permanently taken oU': 0':
service in 1991 following the installation of high pressure water mains in the South POi'ltEr
area.
The structural integrity of the tower also declined over time. In 1985, the failure of (!
structural support rod caused the death of a painter who was working inside the tower. Ir
the six years since it was used, the tower has become a derelict structure which serves a~,
a dangerous magnet for graffitists and vandals and now poses a significant threat to thE'
residents and property in the area in the event of a hurricane.
-AGENDA ITEM C-. l_t)
DATE 1-27-.-('1
Under the terms of the City's Development Agreement with the Portofino Entities, the Cit ,
is required to remove the water tower. The re-use of the tower as an artificial reef is all
innovative way to recycle the structure that offers significant potential marine recreation and
tourism benefits to Miami Beach. Based on this potential, the Florida Department cf
Environmental Protection (FDEP) has awarded a $45,000 grant ~or the construction of thn
reef project. In addition, local businesses and water sports interests such as the Greate'
Miami Billfish Tournament, the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and DERM havu
pledged to donate an additional $42,000 for the project.
Last summer, the DERM solicited bids from three contractors for the construction anI I
deployment of the water tower as an artificial reef. Only two responses were received, onE!
from Pittsburgh Tank & Tower Company for $210,000 and one from Beyel Brothers CremE!
and Rigging Company for $87,000. In addition to the lower bid, Beyel Brothers also offe"ed
to donate a 200 foot ship (appraised at more than $50,000) upon which to erect and sink thE!
water tower. Based upon the bids received and the opportunity to obtain a free ship (DEI~~ 'I
was seeking to acquire a suitable ship for the project), the DERM requested permission fr:::m I
the State to waive competitive bidding and award a contract to Beyel Brothers. The St3tE
evaluated the Beyel Brothers proposal and found that their substantially lower bid combine(
with the significant cost savings associated with the donation was sufficient cause. to warr3n:
a competitive bidding waiver.
Based upon the recommendations of the County and the State and the significant c::>s..
savings presented by the Beyel Brothers' offer of donating a ship upon which to erect c:lnc
sink the water tower, the Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commiss lor
waive, by 517ths vote, the competitive bidding process, finding such a waiver to be in ::he
best interest of the City.
The artificial reef will be constructed with the grant funds and donations and will help
'. augment the local scuba diving and sportfishing industries which are important
components of the City's tourism industry.
CONCLUSION
The City Commission should approve the attached resolution authorizing the administrat or
to accept Florida Department of Environmental Protection grant funds and private donatiom
for the construction of the water tower artificial reef project; establishing a general fu nc
special projects account to receive the grant and donations; appropriating the fur d~
collected for the reef project; and, waiving the competitive bidding process and awardin!} c
purchase order to Beyel Brothers Crane and Rigging Company for the construction of 1hE
reef project.
J~P/bdh