LTC 201-2019 Cherokee Avenue Seawall Update MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
Tel: 305-673-7010 , Fax: 305-673-7782
201-2019
NO. LTC # LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager mow'
DATE: April 8, 2019
SUBJECT: Cherokee Avenue Seawall Update
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to update the Mayor and City Commission on on-
going coordination with environmental agencies regarding the Cherokee Avenue seawall.
In spring 2017 the seawall at the Cherokee Avenue street-end, whose condition was deemed to
be poor during a 2011 citywide seawall condition assessment, was rehabilitated. While the
seawall repairs were designed and permitted as a stand-alone project, the street-end is located
within the proposed project area of the former La Gorce and Lakeview Neighborhood
Improvements project. The neighborhood improvements project was on track to begin
construction by July 2017 as part of a design-build contract that included the installation of new
drainage features through this seawall, among other work within the public right-of-way.
However, the project was halted to allow the City an opportunity to assess its approach.
Since the drainage improvements were scheduled to follow shortly, the former City Engineer
directed the seawall contractor, Shoreline Foundation Inc., to build knock-out plugs in the panels
to minimize the damage to the new seawall during construction of the drainage improvements.
These plugs were built out of wood with the understanding that they would only be in place for a
few months. However, since the neighborhood improvements project did not move forward, the
plugs were left in place for much longer than anticipated.
On March 12, 2019, residents in the Lakeview neighborhood brought to the City's attention that
material appeared to be seeping out of the seawall and causing turbidity with wave action. Upon
immediately inspection, Public Works staff identified that the wooden plugs had deteriorated and
were allowing sediment from the landward side of the seawall to enter the waterway. They
immediately stabilized the area from the landward side of the seawall using metal plates and
rock bags to stop any further discharges. However, they waited to coordinate with the
environmental agencies with jurisdiction on in-water activities before removing the material from
the waterway.
The City has been contacted by Miami-Dade County and the South Florida Water Management
District (SFWMD) to confirm reports that work had recently occurred at the seawall and that
material had entered the waterway. It should be noted that the City had all permits in place for
the seawall rehabilitation and that no construction work has occurred at this location since
spring 2017. We are working with both environmental agencies to ensure that the sediment is
carefully removed from the waterway and that the seawall is properly stabilized to prevent any
further release of sediment.
On March 22, 2019, City staff met with County staff to review the on-site conditions and develop
Cherokee Seawall
April 8, 2019
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a plan of action. On March 29, 2019, Public Works began removal operations with oversight
from Environment and Sustainability, as well as County staff. This morning the County sent a
formal notice of violation requesting the removal of all remaining fill and the sealing of the
seawall. Final removal is scheduled to be completed on Thursday, April 11 and the sealing of
the seawall will be scheduled as soon as a plan is approved by the environmental agencies.
Should you have any questions, please contact Roy Coley, Public Works Director, at 305-673-
7080 or Elizabeth Wheaton, Environment and Sustainability Director, at 305-673-7010.
ST/ C/ESW/'e0 C/MKW