LTC 624-2019 Cherokee Avenue Seawall Update - Construction SchedI\ A A/:\1\ I
City of Miami Beach. 1700 Convention Center Drive , Miami Beach , Florida 33139 . www.miamibeachfl.gov
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Jimmy L. Morales. City Manager 1 '
Tel : 305-673-7010 , Fax : 305-673-7782
' 624-2019
NO . LTC# LEITER TO COMMISSION
TO :
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: November 26, 2019
SUBJECT : Cherokee Avenue Seawall Update Construction Scheduled
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to announce that, thanks to assistance from Miami-
Dade County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued approval to begin sealing the
Cherokee Avenue seawall. Construction of this work is scheduled to begin on Monday,
December 2 following a pre-construction meeting with the contractor, the permitting agencies,
and City staff.
Background
In 2011, the City completed a citywide seawall condition assessment. Based on the results of
the assessment, the seawall at the Cherokee Avenue street-end was deemed to be in poor
condition. Therefore, in spring 2017, the city rehabilitated the seawall as a stand-alone
reconstruction project and permitted the work through Miami-Dade County ("the County"), the
South Florida Water Management District ("SFWMD"), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
("the Corps "). During construction, the former City Engineer directed the seawall contractor,
Shoreline Foundation Inc., to build knock-out plugs in the panels . The plugs were intended to
minimize future damage to the new seawall during the construction of planned drainage
improvements scheduled to begin in July 2017 in the La Gorce and Lakeview neighborhoods.
However, these improvements were halted to allow the City an opportunity to assess its
approach.
The knock-out plugs were built out of wood with the understanding that they would only be in
place for a few months . However, since the neighborhood improvement projects 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 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.
Temporary Fix (March-April 2019)
As soon as the issue was identified, Public Works .staff immediately stabilized the area from the
landward side of the seawall using metal plates and rock bags to stop any further discharges.
On March 22, 2019, City staff met with County staff to review the on-site conditions and develop
a plan of action. From March 29 through April 11, 2019, the City carefully removed the sediment
that entered the waterway using shovels and a vacuum truck with oversight from the County.
Upon completion of the temporary fix, the permitting agencies asked the City to submit a plan
for a permanent fix.
Cherokee Seawall
November 25, 2019
Page 2 of 2
Permanent Fix (April-December 2019)
On April 26, 2019, the City submitted a plan for sealing the openings at the Cherokee Avenue
seawall. The scope of work consists of installing steel plates on the landward side of the
seawall and placing bricks finished with a layer of hydraulic cement on the waterside. Based
on the nature of these activities, the City was required to permit this work again through the
County, SFWMD, and the Corps. The County approved the plan and issued authorization to
conduct the work under the previous Cherokee Avenue seawall project permit on May 1,
2019. Similarly, SFWMD issued their authorization to conduct the work under their previously
issued permit for the project on May 7, 2019 .
Federal authorization for the seawall project was initially issued by the County under a
delegated authority from the Corps. However, the County rescinded that authorization since
the plugs were not a part of the permitted plans, meaning the City had to apply for and obtain
a new permit from the Corps before it could begin the work . While the City submitted a new
permit application on May 31, 2019, the Corps did not assign a project reviewer until August
and had not completed their review as of October 24. As such , the City requested assistance
from the County. After weeks of negotiations with the Corps, the County was able to obtain
approval from the Corps to reinstate the federal authorization for the project on November 5,
2019.
Now that the necessary permitting approvals have been issued , the City can begin
constructing the permanent fix at the Cherokee Avenue seawall. Work is scheduled to begin
on Monday , December 2 and is expected to be completed in two weeks . A pre-construction
meeting has been scheduled on-site with the contractor, the permitting agencies, and staff
from the Public Works and Environment and Sustainability Departments to review the
approved scope of work and required best management practices, ensuring that all parties are
aware of and strictly adhere to the permitting requirements .
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 .
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